Applications for the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Without Borders Media Fellowship 2023 are now open. The Without Borders Media Fellowship aims to encourage cross-border and hyper-local reporting. It leverages scientific storytelling to draw attention to emerging crises in public health and humanitarian aid. Fellows work on their field-intensive projects by engaging closely with mentors, who are experts and thought leaders in journalism and public health, as well as medical and operations specialists from the MSF movement.

Stories from the heart of crises give a voice to the vulnerable, support medical and humanitarian advocacy, and encourage dialogue on humanitarian values. MSF is looking for journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and newsrooms to work together, build communities of practice, and support humanitarian actors to better understand crises and contexts, while working with compassion.

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There are two grant categories available for applicants to choose from: the General Grant, which allows applicants to choose from a range of themes, or the MSF-DNDi Grant on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Benefits from Without Borders Media Fellowship

• Media Fellows who are selected in the MSF program are provided with comprehensive support throughout their journey. This includes mentorship, subject matter sensitization, and training, as well as access to MSF projects and experts.
• They also receive funding for reporting costs for field visits, based on reasonable and detailed budgets. Most awards range between INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000, and amounts may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Eligibility for Without Borders Media Fellowship

• Open to applicants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and Pakistan.
• They are committed to supporting journalists from diverse backgrounds, including professional reporters, photographers, radio/audio journalists, and television/video journalists working in print, television, online media (including YouTube), as well as freelancers based in the countries above.
• Professionals in media with proven expertise in writing about gender, public health, development, public policy, or related topics.
• Journalists who work for both English and regional language publications can apply for this fellowship.

Selection Criteria

• Reporting proposals must be grounded in a significant public health or humanitarian crises, in the countries mentioned above.
• Proposals must align with MSF’s work, social mission, and values.
• Current relevance of the story pitch.
• Innovative storytelling that has the potential to bring new insights to an issue.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience is required for applicants.
• Former fellows are eligible to apply, priority will be given to first-time applicants.

Application of Without Borders Media Fellowship

As the selection for the Without Borders Media Fellowship is competitive, they ask applicants to provide:

• Story pitch: Description of the story you seek to pursue during your Fellowship. MSF expects a concrete story pitch.
• Pre-reporting by the applicant on the subject will be of advantage to the application.
• A compelling, well-researched pitch (with references to add context) with a reporting plan will help stand out among dozens of applicants. (500-750 words).
• Travel and dissemination plan: Applicants must share a travel plan that lists out the preferred start and end dates of the fellowship, field visit dates, locations, risks involved (legal and physical), stakeholders involved, etc.
• Three examples (links) of your most relevant stories (to the pitch) published in the last one year.
• A letter of commitment or interest from a media organization(s) that would publish your story(ies) Names and contacts of two professional references.
• CV or Resume.

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Lastly, It is important to visit the official website link found below to access the application form.

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