Applications call for 2020 UN Ocean Conference Fellowships

Summary 

The UN Ocean Fellowships program is for journalists who have an interest in covering the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in June 2020. The UN Ocean Conference 2020 focuses on supporting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), which is to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” This year’s conference will also focus on how science and innovation can be used to scale up action on ocean conservation. Selected Fellows will have to attend the entire length of the conference in Lisbon from 2-6 June.

Benefits 

EJN will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals and transportation costs of selected Fellows. The organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide any other support relating to the trip. However, the visa costs can be reimbursed but the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the Fellow’s individual responsibility.

The Fellows will also have the opportunity to join a field trip related to the conference themes, attend daily breakfast briefings and interviews with high-level officials. They will also receive editorial support from senior journalists with experience in covering these types of events.

Fellows 

The UN Ocean Conference 2020 Fellowship will select

• 4 Fellows from a Portuguese-speaking country;
• 1 Fellow to be from the UK;
• and the remaining Fellows from a country in the Global South.

Requirements 

• Candidates must be available to arrive in Lisbon on May 30 so they can attend orientation and stay until June 7 2020.
• They must commit to participating in all Fellowship activities.
• Similarly, they must be ready to produce published stories as a result of their participation in this Fellowship.
• While the organizer doesn’t require a letter from your editor supporting their application, the organizer will give preference to those who can show an indication that their work will appear in a media outlet.

Selection Criteria 

Moreover, criteria for evaluating applicants include the prospective Fellow’s demonstrated experience covering marine issues and other environmental topics, their interest in continued coverage of these issues, and the audience reach of the proposed media outlet.

Interested applicants can find the application process and details in this link.