Story Grants to support Reporting on Climate and Environmental Solutions in Asia Pacific

They welcome stories on scalable and replicable solutions that build community resilience to climate change and environmental degradation.

They welcome proposals that seek to robustly evaluate both the efficacy and limitations of implemented solutions and local initiatives that demonstrate resilience, applying journalistic practices of rigor and nuance.

Thematic Areas

• According to the Solutions Journalism Network, a solutions story focuses on a response to a social problem – and how that response has worked (or why it hasn’t). It offers insight that makes the response relevant and accessible to others. It puts forth evidence (in the form of data or qualitative results that show effectiveness) or is transparent about the lack of evidence surrounding a particular response/solution. It reveals the limitations of the response/solution and offers informed critique of its shortcomings.
• They are looking to support stories on:
  • Community-led solutions, private sector interventions or government policies that curb environmental degradation and biodiversity loss and lead to more inclusive conservation efforts and sustainable natural resource management
  • Community-led solutions, private sector interventions or government policies related to climate resilience (adaptation) and disaster preparedness or climate change mitigation
  • Solutions – from the grassroots community level to those negotiated at international multilateral spaces – that address the intersecting health, environmental and climate crises
  • Solutions that address the disproportionate impact of climate and environmental challenges on women, youth, Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups, and/or are initiated by these groups
  • Investigations into false solutions that advance climate delayism narratives and or mis/disinformation.
• They seek to support stories that will drive conversation and make an impact among communities and policymakers at the local, national, and regional level. They are particularly interested in cross-border collaborations and stories. Proposals that focus on scalable and replicable solutions that have not been widely covered are preferred. Issues that have already received a lot of media coverage or don’t provide unique angles to environmental or climate challenges are less likely to be selected.

Funding Information

• 15-20 story grants of up to US$2000 each to support solutions-focused reporting by Asia-Pacific journalists. In addition to funding, selected journalists will receive 1:1 editorial mentorship and training on how to produce rigorous and impactful solutions journalism. They will also be supported to develop a social media strategy and amplify their reporting on social media to reach wider audiences.
• Duration: late February/early-March 2025 with the expectation that all stories will be published by July 31, 2025 at the latest.

Eligibility Criteria

• They will accept applications from journalists residing in low and middle-income countries in South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. Journalists from countries from Central Asia are not eligible to apply.
• Journalists from marginalized communities will be prioritized.
• They will also accept applications from groups of journalists. Lead applicants are responsible for communicating with EJN and receiving funds on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
• For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will accept applications in English only. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff.
• Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) with experience covering climate and/or environmental issues. They encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.
• EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, plagiarism and/or submitting AI-generated content as their own.

Judging Criteria

• Applicants should consider the following judging criteria when devising their story proposals:
  • Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Why does this story matter and to whom? Is the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly defined?
  • Objectivity: Is the proposed story likely to be a balanced and objective journalistic report? Journalists should take care that proposed sources represent (or at the very least, invite comment from) a diversity of stakeholders and perspectives: affected communities, scientists and researchers, policy experts and government officials and industry spokespersons. Advocacy-focused stories, opinion editorials and/or strategic communications pieces will not be considered for support.
  • Angle: If the story has been covered, does your proposal bring new insights to the topic or offer a fresh angle?
  • Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
  • Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.
  • Geographical diversity: Geographical distribution will be considered for the selection of grantees.
  • Outlet: Stories that will be published or broadcast by media outlets with a good reach that target local communities and policymakers are preferred.
  • Plan for timely publication: Reporters, whether freelance or employed at a media outlet, will need to include a letter of support from an editor in their application, committing to publish or broadcast their stories by the submission date.

For more information, visit Earth Journalism Network.