Applications Invited for Stories of Hope Media Fellowship

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About the Organization

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is a membership Union of government and civil society organisations. Together, we work to advance sustainable development and create a just world that values and conserves nature.

About the Fellowship

This fellowship will support the documentation and dissemination of impactful stories from the Indian Himalayan Region, bringing attention to the urgent need for sustainable solutions.

The Stories of Hope Media Fellowship aims to empower young media fellows to become voices for Himalayan conservation—elevating real stories that catalyse change and spotlight innovative, on-ground solutions.

Fellows will get the chance to create a compelling body of work from the region and publish these stories through their respective media platforms.

Objectives and indicative themes:

The Stories Hope Media Fellowship is designed to:

• Deepen media understanding and coverage of critical conservation issues in the Indian Himalayan Region, including biodiversity, water conservation, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, and cultural heritage preservation.
• Engage regional and local journalists, providing them with resources to create high-quality, research-based content for diverse media platforms.
• Foster collaboration between media professionals, conservation experts, and communities to ensure the stories told are grounded in local realities and inspire effective action.
• Strengthen local media capacity, enabling fellows to produce accurate and insightful stories that can influence public opinion, policymaking, and grassroots advocacy on conservation issue
• Indicative thematic areas:
• Forest and Ecosystem, Sustainable Livelihood, Wildlife Conservation, Water Resources, Clean Energy, Urban Resilience and Sustainable Waste Management

Cross cutting areas:

Climate Change, Nature-Based Solutions, Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction and Traditional Knowledge

Eligibility

Ideal young fellow include:

• Indian students, young journalists, and researchers aged 21–32, with a strong interest in HFF themes and cross-cutting areas and eager to tackle the critical areas facing the Himalayas using mass media and communication tools.
• Indian journalists from diverse backgrounds, including staff reporters, radio/audio journalists, and television/video journalists working in print, TV, online platforms (including YouTube)
• Fellows currently employed as journalists, including both full-time and freelance roles across various media platforms (print, digital, audio).
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in environmental or development reporting
• A portfolio showcasing consistent reporting over the last two years

The fellowship experience:

The fellowship will offer young fellows a comprehensive experience through:

• Field visits to conservation hotspots: Travel to the heart of the Indian Himalayas in any of the 13 States/UTs to witness firsthand the environmental challenges and innovative solutions being implemented on the ground. Engage with local communities, conservationists, and scientists working on the frontlines of the region’s ecological preservation.
• Access to exclusive resources and data: Receive behind-the-scenes access to the Himalaya for Future programme’s data, reports, providing you with in-depth insights into the region’s conservation efforts.
• Creative freedom: Whether it's writing a feature article, photo, fellows will have the opportunity to innovate in how they tell stories. This fellowship prioritizes original, bold ideas that push the boundaries of traditional environmental reporting.

How to Apply

All interested applicants must submit their applications by 18 July 2025 via Google Form

Applications must include:

• Career goals: How does this fellowship fit into your aspirations?
• Personal statement: Why do you want to be a Stories of Hope Fellow?
• Writing sample: A journalistic-style piece (published or unpublished), particularly related to environmental issues
• Statement of interest: A 400-500-word pitch on one of the themes of the fellowship above.
• References from two individuals who can speak to your passion for conservation and media work.
• Supporting documents: An updated CV

For more information please check the Link

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