Background
Stretching over 1 million square kilometers, the Indus basin supports more than 300 million people in Pakistan, India, China and Afghanistan.
Amidst rapid environmental, economic and social change, competition for scarce resources is growing and disaster risk is increasing.
The need for a more informed basin community able to respond effectively to these challenges has never been greater. At present media coverage is limited, and largely focused on political events or natural disasters. Underlying trends and structural changes go largely unreported.
The media fellowship aims to bridge this critical information gap and to bring to the fore the unreported stories affecting communities across the region.
About fellowship
The International Water Management Institute and its partners invite applications for the ICIB Media Fellowship. The Fellowship will fully fund reporting assignments for four journalists who can demonstrate the potential for incisive and original reporting on critical themes including, but not limited to:
- Increasing risk and uncertainty in water availability across the basin,
- Changes to key environmental resources and how this affects communities and ecosystems,
- Disaster risk management and response,
- Major (non-climate) drivers of change in the basin including population dynamics, employment and social protection
- Cross border conflict and cooperation.
We are interested in compelling narratives that get to heart of the natural resource challenges facing communities in the Indus basin. But we are also particularly interested in highlighting creative responses to these challenges, be they technological, institutional or simply inspiring individuals who are making a difference. Show us the problems, by all means, but let us hear about emerging solutions as well.
Eligibility
Professional journalists, including freelancers, working in print, broadcast or new media. Applicants should be able to demonstrate three years of professional experience in writing on environmental and/or related issues. Journalists should come from one of the four countries in the Indus Basin – China, Afghanistan, Pakistan or India (though exceptions will be made if particularly strong candidates apply from other neighbouring countries). Early career journalists, backpack/photo-journalists and women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Innovative cross border joint proposals are also welcome.
Duration and funding
The Fellowship will last for three months and each selected fellow will receive a stipend of USD 3,000 (subject to tax deductions at source). This will support research, travel and writing and/or production (for multimedia), in their country of origin.
Best Coverage Award
A USD 500 award will go to the journalist providing the best story of the year. This will be determined by a panel co-chaired by IWMI and the Third Pole Project.
Application Requirements
Applicants should include a cover letter, their CV (strictly within three A4 pages) along with the following documents and materials:
- A clearly defined project proposal not exceeding 500 words that sets out the thematic focus, the proposed approach and the key target audience(s).
- A breakdown of story ideas based on the project proposal (within 200 words). It could be one core story with the potential to have several angles or multiple stories. Applicants can also jointly develop story ideas with their counterparts in different countries looking at similar issues but across the border.
- A rough break-down of travel/subsistence requirements.
- Two samples of previously published work (or Radio/TV programmes). If the work is in regional language, please provide English translation.
- A supporting letter from the editor of their current employer/contractor assuring leave for 4 weeks and agreeing the use of their fellowship output in the publication (freelancers must also provide a supporting letter from the editor of a publication/channel agreeing to use the fellowship output). The letter should also include that the reports can be republished or rebroadcast by IWMI and its partner organizations.
- The applicant would be required to provide a summary in English if the output and story idea is in a vernacular language.
- Letter of recommendation from a referee (other than their current employer) setting out the candidate’s past record, journalistic abilities and suitability for the programme.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/2016/07/informing-change-in-the-indus-basin-icib/