In the most difficult of times, journalism can play several roles in supporting communities around the globe. It can disseminate critical information to keep people safe and informed, it can illuminate stories that bring us hope and remind us of our shared human experience, and it can help us find and share solutions to wicked problems.
As COVID-19 continues to evolve and impact communities around the globe, the National Geographic Society is launching an emergency fund for journalists all over the world who wish to cover COVID-19 within their own communities. This fund will place particular emphasis on delivering news to underserved populations, particularly where there is a dearth of evidence-based information getting to those who need it. They are interested in local and even hyper-local distribution models. This fund is designed to quickly deliver support so that both individual stories and longer series of the content may be created.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Reporting may cover any aspect of the virus and its fallout, including but not limited to:
- Social consequences of COVID-19 and measures to contain it, particularly related to equity—such as its impact on immigrant communities, domestic violence, and early childhood education.
- Stories of resilience and solutions that could be applied on a regional or global scale.
- Novel forms of data visualization or science communication to help communities better understand how to protect themselves.
- Lessons learned from local response(s) to COVID-19 that could be applied to other large-scale challenges, such as climate change or the refugee crisis.
- Best practices of how educators, students, and schools are reacting to this crisis, particularly as they illuminate under-resourced schools.
- Priority communities include Those at high risk or hit especially hard by the virus, indigenous communities, immigrant or refugee communities, underserved, urban, rural, elderly populations, and children.
Applicants may use up to 100 per cent of their budget as personal reimbursement for their reporting time. They ask that applicants estimate their standard fee for reporting on or creating such content.
Feature Image Source: National Geographic Website
Benefits
- Journalists will get support ranging from $1,000–8,000 USD for local coverage of the preparation, response, and impact of this global pandemic as seen through evidence-based reporting.
- Opportunity to showcase journalism skills
Eligibilities
- Journalists should seek placement of this work within their local media ecosystems and must attribute their support to the National Geographic Society’s Emergency Fund for Journalists.
- You do not need to submit any formal commitments of publication or letters of support from editors or publishers.
- All application materials must be in English
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time they submit an application.
Application Process
Apply online through the given link.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2020
Application ClosedOfficial link
