As part of the IWMF Latin America reporting fellowship initiative, Adelante, five pairs of journalists will travel to Mexico-Guatemala border from March 2 – 17, 2020. All reporting fellows will begin their trip in Mexico City on March 2. The fellows will complete a four-day Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) course from March 3 – 6. Fellows will then depart for the Mexico-Guatemala border for nine days of reporting in Tapachula, Mexico and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and the surrounding areas.

The IWMF will determine the exact number of days spent in Tapachula and Quetzaltenango after the reporting fellows have been selected. The focus of this reporting trip is to generate media coverage of under-reported issues in Mexico and Guatemala. Also, the journalists will help promote new narratives in international media. Fellows will have the opportunity to network with other journalists, report collaboratively with their teammates and peers. Further, they will also gain access to a variety of sources and sites related to their reporting. The feasibility of trips outside of the base location in Mexico and Guatemala will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and determined by IWMF security protocols. Any travel must be within a three-hour radius of the base location.

Fully Funded IWMF Adelante Mexico-Guatemala Reporting Fellowship

The IWMF arranges travel and in-country logistics for all fellows. The IWMF also covers fellowship-related costs within the framework of the reporting trip. This includes travel, visa fees, lodging, meals, and fixers/interpreters unless a selected journalist’s news organization wishes to assume these costs. Fellows living outside the U.S. are responsible for procuring all necessary visas for which they will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the fellowship.

Eligibility for the IWMF Adelante Mexico-Guatemala Reporting Fellowship

Journalists must apply for this reporting fellowship in pairs. All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Affiliated or freelance women-identifying journalists with three (3) or more years of professional experience working in news media. Internships do not count toward professional experience. Further, the journalists who identify as women, which include trans women, and non-binary people.
• Non-native English speakers must have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the program.
• Further, the applicant must be able to show proof of interest from an editor or have a proven track record of publication in prominent media outlets.

How to apply for the IWMF Adelante Mexico-Guatemala Reporting Fellowship

The IWMF’s 2020 Adelante Mexico-Guatemala Cross-Border Reporting Fellowship is only open to pairs of journalists. As a pair, both applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and submit a joint application. If selected as a finalist, each reporting pair will be offered a group interview. The IWMF highly encourages team applications that include at least one journalist from Latin America. Each applicant must provide their personal information and work samples, in addition to submitting a shared statement of interest, story plans, plans for publication and letter of support.

Deadline

The deadline for the fully funded IWMF Adelante Mexico-Guatemala Reporting Fellowship is on November 12, 2019. Applicants may not submit the form after the deadline.