Applications for the Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP) Reporting Fellowship Programme to cover the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) are now opened for interested journalists. The conference is scheduled to take place in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024.
This year’s CCMP is led by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) in partnership with the Stanley Center for Peace and Security with generous support from SIDA, Marisla Foundation, Friends Family Foundation, and Smart Family Foundation.
Launched in 2007, the CCMP has enabled more than 500 journalists from developing countries to attend and report on the annual UN climate talks and for them to cover the climate negotiations for their home audiences, while benefiting from working alongside knowledgeable media trainers and gaining a multifaceted understanding of the actions countries are taking – or not taking – to address climate change’s global impact.
This year, the CCMP Reporting Fellowship aims to take up to 20 journalists from developing countries to report in-person at COP29. In light of the climate summit being hosted by Azerbaijan, journalists from countries of varying incomes in neighbouring regions including the Balkans, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia are encouraged to apply.
CCMP Fellows will travel to Baku to attend the entire duration of the UN climate negotiations, with arrival planned for November 9, 2024 and departure on November 24, 2024.
The CCMP will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to Fellowship participation. Organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical support relating to the trip. However, the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the Fellow’s responsibility, though the organizers may reimburse visa costs.
Prior to the start of COP29, Fellows will receive informational resources and technical support to help prepare for reporting at the conference, including a pre-COP virtual workshop to meet the team, discuss reporting opportunities, and ask any questions. Once in Baku, Fellows will participate in a series of specially designed activities over the two weeks on the ground, including an orientation session with seasoned climate journalists and experts on the key issues at this COP, daily briefings, networking events and interviews with high-level officials. They will also be guided by EJN trainers, who are senior journalists with experience covering UN climate summits.
To be eligible for the Fellowship, the applicant must:
• Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from developing countries.
• Be available and willing to travel to Baku to attend COP29 in person, arriving on November 9 and departing no earlier than November 24, 2024.
• Have a good command of the English language.
• Have previous experience reporting on climate change issues and clearly indicate the kinds of stories you might pursue about the conference.
• Commit to participate in all Fellowship activities.
• Share an up-to-date resume/CV.
• Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer, or supervisor who can confirm that your news reports will be published or broadcast in an established media outlet. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must provide a letter of support from a media outlet for which they intend to report.
• Provide recent, relevant and journalistic work samples on climate change topics, which can be uploaded as documents or web links. Stories can be in any language as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. Clips must focus on climate change topics and should have been published in the last 12 months.
Criteria for evaluating applicants include the prospective Fellow’s demonstrated experience covering climate change, climate policy and other environmental topics; a clear and well-researched reporting plan for the COP, including potential story ideas, an estimated number of stories they’ll produce during the Fellowship and demonstrated intention to continue developing their plan as the COP draws closer; a relationship with an established media house and a signed letter of support from an editor agreeing to publish or broadcast work produced at the COP
To apply for the fellowship, interested journalists need to first register an account to join the Network and thereafter, log in with the registration details.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Please consider submitting at least one day in advance of the deadline to avoid any issues.
For more information about the Fellowship, please visit https://bit.ly/3WNiOXn.
Applicants who encounters difficulties with submitting their applications or have questions about the grants should send an email to info.ejn@internews.org.
Deadline for submission of applications is June 6, 2024, 11:59 PM (Pacific/Niue)
