The application for the second Bertha Challenge Fellowship for 2020 is open on December 10, 2019. It is an opportunity for activists and investigative journalists to spend a year deep-diving into one pressing social justice challenge. Successful applicants will receive non-residential paid fellowships and project budgets to work independently and together. The Bertha Challenge works with investigative journalists and activists. This Challenge will offer the opportunity to engage with the complexity of the ecological and climate crises while strengthening relationships through shared work on the issue. In their fellowship year, Bertha Fellows will have to explore new ways of working collaboratively and outside their traditional silos while maintaining their integrity and autonomy.

The Bertha Challenge Fellowship will launch in July 2020 with the Opening Convening at one of Bertha’s partnered global retreat spaces, where Bertha Fellows will:

• Meet other Bertha Fellows in the Bertha Challenge 2020/21 cohort, spend dedicated time getting to know one another and get the opportunity to introduce individual work and perspectives.
• Find opportunities to refine the design of each fellow’s project work for the year within a supportive framework
• Discuss and frame possibilities for collaboration across the cohort.
• Debate current developments on the climate and ecological crises and responses.
• Learn from practitioners about innovative ways of reaching your target audience.

Benefits

To compensate and admire the effort of the activist and investigative journalist, Bertha Challenge offers the following benefits

• Income for each Bertha Fellow for one year, not exceeding USD $60,000.
• Project funding of up to USD $10,000 for each Bertha Fellow to produce a culminating product that responds to the question posed by the Bertha Challenge.
• A connect fund specifically designed to encourage collaboration between fellows.
• Training through regular webinars on different aspects and topics.
• Peer and mentor support in the form of regular virtual check-ins with Bertha staff and a cohort of Bertha Fellows.
• Network development through the global cohort of Bertha Fellows and exposure to relevant partners within and beyond the Bertha network.
• Global convenings of Bertha Fellows and selected guests at the start (July 2020) and end (June 2021) of the Bertha Challenge.

Eligibility

Applicants applying as an Activist must have the following qualifications

• At least five years’ experience working with activists, social movements, grassroots and community organizations, social justice organizations or campaigns.
• Strong connections to a diverse range of groups working in support of climate and ecological justice in the fellow’s city, country or region including social movements, community organizations, NGOs, academics, journalists, progressive government officials, etc.
• Experience in developing organizing tools or popular educational products and materials including training courses, publications, pamphlets, films, podcasts, arts, theater productions, etc. Similarly, experience in using research, media and the law in advocacy.
• Furthermore, affiliation to an appropriate host organization to amplify work produced during the Bertha Challenge.

Similarly, applicants applying as an investigative journalist must have the following qualifications

• Mid-career journalists with at least five years’ experience and a track record and passion for doing investigative journalism.
• Strong connections to a diverse range of people or groups working in the field of ecological breakdown and climate crisis including social movements, community organizations, NGOs, academics, scientists, etc.
• Research ability, comprehensive understanding of the political landscape concerning the subject matter, understanding of the law(s) and political structures determining policy direction and power and the ability to work independently.
• Affiliation to an appropriate host media organization that could publish/broadcast work produced during the Bertha Challenge.

Application procedure

All the candidates must submit online applying in order to apply for this position. In addition to the application, candidates must also submit the following attachments

• A brief resume/CV of no more than three pages.
• List of 2-4 referees including name, relationship to applicant and contact details.
• A signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from your prospective host organization – including commensurate salary and any benefits provided.

APPLY FOR ACTIVIST

APPLY FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST

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