The Pulitzer Center invites applications for proposals for Rainforest Journalism Fund grants. Journalists reporting on environmental and climate issues relating to tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia and the Congo Basin are now encouraged to apply.
The calls for proposals and guidelines for Rainforest Journalism Fund grants are available in English (for Southeast Asia and the Congo Basin), bahasa Indonesia, and French.
Supported by a grant from the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment through the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), the Rainforest Journalism Fund represents a major investment in international environmental and climate reporting. The initiative will support nearly 200 original reporting projects over the five-year period along with annual regional conferences designed to raise the level of reporting on global rainforest issues. During the course of the grant, the Fund will also provide hostile-environment and first-aid training to 75 journalists operating in rainforest regions.
Worth of Award
- The amount of individual travel grants will depend on the specific project and detailed budget planning.
- Most awards fall in the range of $2,500 to $7,500 but depending on project specifics may be higher.
Eligibility
The supported journalism projects will focus on the following themes:
- The tropical forests’ role in the overall climate equation and weather patterns globally, regionally and locally, and the resulting consequences for human life and living conditions (in broad terms) caused by deforestation.
- Deforestation drivers (in broad terms)
- Solutions to halt deforestation (in broad terms)
- The Pulitzer Center will fund costs associated with reporting projects on tropical rainforests, with an emphasis on issues that have gone unreported or under-reported in the local and regional media.Grants are open to all journalists, writers, photographers, radio producers or filmmakers; staff journalists, as well as freelancers of any nationality, are eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applications is online and include the following:
- A description of the proposed project, including distribution plan, in no more than 250 words
- A preliminary budget estimate, including a basic breakdown of costs. Our typical grants cover hard costs associated with the reporting. Fixer/translator/driver fees are acceptable and stipends can be considered depending on the circumstances.
- Three samples of published work.
- Three professional references. These can be either contact information, or letters of recommendation. The latter is encouraged when letters from interested producers or editors are available.
- A copy of your curriculum vitae.
- Applications may also include a more detailed description of the project but this will be considered as optional supplement only. The most important part of the submission is the 250-word summary.
Deadline: Rolling – Within a week of your submission, you should receive a confirmation of receipt.