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Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is excited to announce the awardees of our first-ever travel grant opportunity.
These travel grants, open to journalists in low- and middle-income countries as part of our Biodiversity Media Initiative, will enable reporters interested in attending upcoming biodiversity-related conferences and global summits to follow proceedings as they unfold on the ground – and to communicate how the outcomes that emerge will impact lives and livelihoods in their home countries.
For many journalists, the barriers to accessing – and reporting from – these critical decision-making spaces are manifold. Yet, coverage of the outcomes of these negotiations is extremely important, delayed as they’ve been for over two years as a result of the pandemic.
The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the treaty on the sustainable use of marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions, among many others, will define governments’ commitments and policies – and the future of hundreds of endangered species around the world – in the years to come.
We received more than 100 applications from journalists looking to report on these agreements as they unfold, and are pleased to announce we have awarded scholarships to eight journalists to attend the international conference of their choosing. With support from the Arcadia Fund, these scholarships will cover airfare, accommodation, meals, travel insurance, visa costs, COVID-19 testing and transportation costs.
Covering the World Biodiversity Forum in Switzerland:
- Christophe Assogba from Benin, reporting for SciDev.net
- Sofia Moutinho from Brazil, reporting for Science
Covering the 19th Conference of Parties to CITES in Panama:
- Emilio Godoy from Mexico, reporting for the InterPress Service.
- Koryna Herrera from Ecuador, reporting for GK
Covering the CBD negotiating session for the Global Biodiversity Framework in Kenya:
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Flavia Lopes in India, reporting for IndiaSpend
Covering the UN Ocean Conference in Portugal:
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Jennifer Rachel Dadyan from Turkey, reporting for Esmiyor İletişim A.Ş.
Covering the World Congress on Agroforestry in Canada:
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Shadrack Kavilu from Kenya, reporting for Mongabay and Equal Times
Covering the 68th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Slovenia:
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Sharada Balasubramanian from India, reporting for India Times and The Times of India
"We’re pleased to be able to offer these travel grants to enable experienced journalists to travel and report independently from the World Biodiversity Forum, CBD negotiations in Nairobi, the UN Ocean Conference, and many more, and ensure that the outcomes and commitments from these meetings are being communicated to their home audiences,” said Charlie Debenham, project manager, EJN’s Biodiversity Media Initiative.
Look out for more updates from EJN’s Biodiversity Media Initiative on our website.
Banner image: All eight species in the pangolin family are currently listed in Appendix II of CITES. Pictured here, a pangolin in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa / Credit: Flowcomm via Flickr.
