The International Reporting Project (IRP) is accepting applications from professional journalists for reporting fellowships on issues related to peace-building and conflict resolution in Africa. The fellowships will support stories in a variety of media, including print, online, radio, television, photography, blog posts, social media and video.
Interested Applicants may propose stories that relate to post-conflict peace building and cover topics such as leadership; human rights initiatives; access to education, healthcare and judicial bodies; status of marginalized communities and familial hierarchies; women and gender; violence and threats to safety and security; migration, land rights and borders; climate change, food security and natural resources; and more.
Proposals may focus on any African country, though special consideration will be given to projects in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. Citizens of all countries are eligible; journalists from across the continent are especially encouraged to apply, though proposed projects should take place in a country other than the journalist’s home country.
Applicants are encouraged to propose stories and destinations not recently covered by IRP fellows, although some exceptions may be made. Additionally, organisers are looking for applications in which journalists are proposing to cover new territory rather than stories they have been focusing on for years.
The application is also open for staffers and freelancers, and they should notify their projected outlets for publication as part of their pitch. The fellowships are not intended for students or for recent graduates without professional reporting experience but for experienced professional journalists who have a record of outstanding achievement in reporting for influential media outlets.
Interested applicants should fill out an application form and attach an essay of at least 1,000 words describing the stories they would pursue during the fellowship. Applicants should note their expected output (e.g. long form, short articles, radio or video documentary, photo essays, etc.). In order to be considered, all application essays must be submitted in English. However, the stories and other updates produced by the fellows may be in English or in other languages.
Applications must include a detailed budget proposal outlining how the funding will be used (i.e. airfare, accommodations, fixer fees, meals, etc.), which assists in determining the amount of the stipend awarded. Fellows are not required to submit receipts or post-fellowship expense reports.
The deadline for submission of application is June 30.
For more information, please visit https://docs.google.com/a/mediarightsagenda.org/forms/d/1oX5bmfOzelpO1ij_K9ix3fYdWQSydpn45WehLEF0S8U/viewform?edit_requested=true
