Application Deadline: June 23, 2019 at 5pm IST.
Indian and African Journalists can apply to report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP 14 in New Delhi, India.
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network is pleased to announce a Fellowship program that will allow selected journalists to attend and cover the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place in New Delhi, India, in early September, 2019.
The UNCCD COP14 will be a key gathering to review progress made to
control and reverse further loss of productive land from
desertification, land degradation and drought. A mix of representatives
from national, regional and local governments, science and research
communities, the private sector, international and non-governmental
organizations and all forms of media are expected to address these
issues during the two-week event.
As part of this Fellowship program, the 2019 group will comprise five selected journalists from Africa and India. We’re putting particular emphasis on selecting reporters from arid regions, or regions impacted by drought and desertification. Fellows will attend the conference between 6-14 September, where they will engage with other participants and Fellowship program organizers in a series of specially designed activities that will include mentorship, an orientation workshop, breakfast briefings and interviews and sessions with high-level officials.
Benefits:
Amongst costs covered will be nonrefundable economy-class airfare,
hotel, meals, and transportation both in-location and in transit. We
will also assist with the press accreditation process and provide other
support services relating to travel. Please note that the process of
obtaining any necessary visas is a Fellow’s responsibility; however,
visa costs can be reimbursed.
REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from a developing country;
- Fill out the application form using the link below, including
answering essay questions that illustrate his/her experience reporting
on desertification and degradation issues. We also ask you to describe
the kinds of stories you might pursue at the conference; - Be available to arrive in India on Friday, 6th September and stay until departure on Saturday, 14th
- Commit to participate in all Fellowship activities;
- Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer or supervisor
who can confirm your ability to publish or broadcast your material in an
established media outlet. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must
provide a letter of support.
Criteria for evaluating applicants will include the prospective
Fellow’s demonstrated experience covering desertification, climate
change and other environmental topics, their interest in continued
coverage of these issues and their audience and outlet’s reach.
As part of the application process, journalists will be asked to
submit examples of their work. These can be uploaded as text pasted into
a Word document or as links. Stories can be sent in a native language
as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. A good
command of English, however, will be needed to answer the essay
questions and will also be important to participate in Fellowship
activities.
The Earth Journalism Network fully respects the editorial
independence of all journalists. Throughout the conference, Fellows are
free to report as they see fit. As well as the requirements above, we
ask that journalists agree to cross-post all stories they file during
the UNCCD COP14 on the Earth Journalism Network website
and local and regional partner sites (we expect the stories will first
be published or broadcast by a Fellow’s home media outlet).
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Earth Journalism Network 2019 Reporting Fellowships