About the Earth Journalism Network Virtual Reporting Fellowships
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network is pleased to announce two separate virtual fellowship programs that will support selected journalists in covering the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The UNCBD COP16 conference will take place in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1, 2024. Key stakeholders will assess progress towards safeguarding and restoring biological diversity.
COP16 aims to align countries’ National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Biodiversity Plan, enhance funding mechanisms, and address access and benefit-sharing (ABS), particularly concerning Digital Sequence Information and genetic material.
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UNFCCC COP29 is scheduled to occur in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024. It will be a pivotal event aimed at advancing the objectives of the Paris Agreement and achieving progress on Parties’ mitigation and adaptation targets.
Key priorities for COP29 include scaling up national efforts to reduce carbon emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and negotiating a revised climate finance objective to replace the current commitment of $100 billion annually until 2025.
The success of COP29 depends on establishing a new goal that addresses the needs and shortcomings of the previous commitment.
Eligibility
Requirements for the two Fellowships differ, so please review the following carefully:
To qualify for the CBD Virtual Fellowship covering UNCBD COP16 remotely, applicants must:
— Be a professional journalist representing an established media outlet and reporting from either of the eligible regions: Africa* or Latin America** (see below for a list of eligible countries).
— Commit to participating in all fellowship activities (totaling up to 20 hours across the fellowship period), including:
— Four weekly 60-90 minute virtual training sessions in the month preceding the COP
— 1-2-1 sessions with your mentor as required
— Daily 30-60 minute virtual briefings from the COP between October 21 and November 1, 2024
— Commit to dedicating 4-6 hours independently to craft each story from the conference.
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Ensure that you have adequate internet access, internet speed, and local broadband capacity to attend all Zoom sessions (1.0-1.5 Mbps), or have the ability to obtain reliable internet access using the stipend provided. You must also be capable of completing an Internet speed test.
Possess proficient English language skills
Demonstrate prior experience in reporting on biodiversity and environmental issues, and clearly outline the types of stories you plan to pursue during the conference.
Submit an updated resume/CV
Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer, or supervisor who can verify that your news reports will be published or broadcast by an established media outlet.
Freelancers are encouraged to apply but must include a letter of support from the media outlet they intend to report for.
To qualify for the CCMP Virtual Fellowship covering UNFCCC COP29 remotely, applicants must:
- Be a professional journalist representing an established media outlet, based in South Asia* or Europe and Eurasia** (see below for eligible countries).
- Commit to engaging in all fellowship activities, totaling up to 20 hours throughout the fellowship period.
- This includes:Attending four weekly virtual training sessions lasting 60-90 minutes each in the month preceding COP29.
Provide recent, relevant journalistic work samples focused on biodiversity topics.
These samples can be uploaded as documents or web links. Stories may be in any language but must include a brief English synopsis.
Clips must center on biodiversity and have been published within the past 12 months.
— One-on-one sessions with your mentor as needed.
— Daily 30-60 minute virtual briefings from the COP between November 11th and November 22nd.
— Commit to spending 4-6 hours independently crafting each of your stories from the conference.
— Must have sufficient internet access, internet speed, and local broadband capacity to attend all virtual sessions on Zoom (1.0-1.5 Mbps), or be able to secure good internet access using the stipend provided; also able to complete an internet speed test.
— Must have a strong command of the English language.
— Should have previous experience reporting on climate change and environmental issues, and be able to clearly indicate the types of stories they would like to pursue during the conference.
— Provide an up-to-date resume/CV.
Here’s the rewritten version in standard American English:
— Submit a letter of support from an editor, producer, or supervisor who can confirm that your news reports will be published or broadcast by an established media outlet. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must provide a letter of support from the media outlet they intend to report for.
— Provide recent, relevant journalistic work samples on climate change topics, which can be uploaded as documents or web links. Stories can be in any language but must include a brief English synopsis. Clips must focus on climate change topics and should have been published within the last 12 months.
Logistics
As part of the EJN’s CBD Fellowship, we aim to grant virtual fellowships to eight journalists—four from Africa and four from Latin America—to cover UNCBD COP16.
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As part of EJN’s longstanding Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP), organized in collaboration with the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, we plan to grant virtual fellowships to 10 journalists—five from South Asia and five from Europe and Eurasia—to cover UNFCCC COP29 remotely.
Judging Criteria:
— Demonstrated experience covering climate change issues for applicants to the CCMP COP29 fellowship, or biodiversity issues for applicants to the UNCBD COP16 fellowship.
— A preliminary reporting plan for the conference, outlining potential story ideas and key issues of focus.
— Affiliation with an established media outlet and a signed letter of support from an editor committing to publish or broadcast conference-related work.
— EJN and CCMP also prioritize assembling a diverse cohort of journalists from various types of media outlets, platforms, and regions.
Application Deadline: August 15, 2024, 11:59 PM (Pacific/Niue Time)
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