The Metcalf Institute, located in the University of Rhode Island in the United States, which provides education, training and resources to journalists, scientists and science communicators, has announced the commencement of applications for the 2024 Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists (AWJ), a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the environmental change gap and providing a crucial resource for journalists across various beats.
The 2024 Workshop which will be conducted in person at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on June 3 to 8, 2024, will focus on water issues and climate change. Fellows will explore issues such as water quality, plastics and public health, and ecosystem restoration, all through a social justice lens.
The AWJ fellowship is open to full-time professional journalists working in any medium who wish to enhance their coverage of climate change and related topics. The programme is designed for both early- and mid-career journalists seeking to expand their understanding of climate science and journalism practices. No prerequisite science background is required.
The Annual Workshop seeks to equip fellows with new insights, diverse sources, and valuable resources to enhance their reporting skills. Fellows will engage with leading researchers and policymakers to gain a solid foundation in research practices, climate science, and adaptation measures.
The Fellows will enjoy a number of benefits including: gain a deeper understanding of how scientists conduct research and handle scientific uncertainty; develop the skills and confidence to interpret and translate the language of scientific journals for news audiences; build confidence in their abilities to discern the credibility of scientific sources; discover new ways to write about energy and climate change to build audience understanding and engagement; cultivate new sources by interacting with leading researchers and policy experts in an informal, off-deadline atmosphere; and network and developed lasting relationships with journalists from a wide range of media and backgrounds
As a result of participating in the Annual Science Immersion Workshop, Fellows will be able to identify important climate change and energy stories that are relevant to their news audiences; understand how academic scientists plan, fund, conduct, and publish their research; and be better prepared to understand and communicate scientific uncertainties, among other things.
The Metcalf Annual Workshop focuses on the science and policies underlying globally significant issues from a U.S. perspective. Metcalf Institute receives applications from journalists worldwide but journalists must be reporting for audiences in the United States and U.S. territories.
While the fellowship covers lodging, meals, and ground transportation during the in-person workshop, fellows are responsible for upfront travel expenses and will receive travel reimbursement of up to $500 within the continental U.S. and $1000 outside of the continental U.S.
The application deadline for the 2024 Fellowship cohort is February 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Interested journalists are required to submit their applications electronically, including the 2024 fellowship application form, a resume, and two professional references.
Interested applicants should visit https://metcalfinstitute.org/2024awj/ for further information and ensure they fill out the 2024 fellowship application form.
