Applications Invited for Supporting In-depth Reports on Climate Change and India's Private Sector 2026

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About the Organization

Created in 2004, EJN is now a truly global network of reporters and media outlets in virtually every region of the world.

Environmental and climate change reporting is now more urgent than ever, but journalists face myriad and mounting challenges in covering these topics. The media industry is in crisis, and misinformation is on the rise. Reporters working for cash-strapped news agencies often don't have the resources to research a story properly; freelancers, even less so. That’s where EJN comes in.

About the Fellowship

From longer and more frequent heatwaves to irregular monsoon patterns, climate change is having destructive impacts on India’s economy, infrastructure, culture and people. With a recent study finding India’s economy to be one of the most dependent on nature—with a third of the economy reliant on it—there are social, environmental and economic impetus to tackle the factors contributing to rising temperatures.

Responses to this climate challenge in India range from heavy investment in renewable energy to the potential greening of its railways. India has also been held up as a model of public-private partnerships for climate solutions.

It is crucial the public understands the role of the private sector within this context—not simply its role in mitigating and fighting climate change but also in activities which cause climate change.

Communicators can play a key role in delving deeper into the private sector’s activities, ensuring businesses make good on their promises and commitments and deliver innovative and climate-resilient solutions.

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network’s (EJN) Business and Climate and Media Initiative (BCMI) aims to increase the quality and quantity of reporting on the private sector’s roles and responsibilities to mitigate and prevent climate change.

EJN is pleased to offer up to 10 fellowships to selected communicators to produce reports on climate change and the private sector. In addition to funding, selected fellows will receive support from experienced mentors through the story production process.

Themes

We welcome pitches for reports that focus on climate financing and carbon trading, greenwashing in the private sector, the efficacy and challenges of ESG frameworks such as Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), innovative and locally led solutions to climate change by the private sector, challenges around rare earth materials, renewable energy and clean mobility.

We aim to support the production of reports that raise awareness about the private sector and climate change and drive conversation among communities and policy makers at the local, national and regional levels. Proposals that focus on topics that have not been widely covered are preferred. Issues that have already received a lot of media coverage or don't provide unique angles to environmental or climate challenges are less likely to be selected.

Eligibility

Applicants can be from India only.

Groups of communicators are eligible. However, the application must be made in the name of one lead applicant. Lead applicants are responsible for communicating with EJN and receiving fellowship funds on the group’s behalf, if awarded.

For the purposes of this opportunity, we will only be accepting applications in English. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or have a translator available to assist with communication with EJN staff.

Applications are open to communicators working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other practitioners with professional reporting experience. We welcome applications from early-career communicators and experienced reporters with a track record of covering business and climate change issues. We encourage applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations— international, national, local and community-based.

Applicants are required to be transparent about the use of generative AI tools, if any, to revise their proposals. EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, submitting AI-generated content as their own.

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply now' button at the top of the page.

If you have an existing account, you'll need to log in. Since we recently updated our website, you might have to reset your password by clicking the “Forgot password?” link in the log in page. If you don’t have an account, you must register by clicking “Log in” on the top right of the page and click the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that opens. Click here for detailed instructions on how to create an account, and here for detailed instructions on how to reset your password.

If you start the application and want to come back and complete it later, you can click 'Save Draft.' To return to the draft, you'll need to go back to the opportunity and click 'Apply now' again to finalise the application.

Applications should provide a detailed budget in an Excel spreadsheet with justification for the amount requested. Download the budget template now by clicking on this link.

All applicants are required to provide a signed letter of support from their editor, explicitly stating that the media outlet will publish the stories produced as a result of this fellowship.

Applicants will also need to submit two samples of stories or links to relevant work.

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Leadership Others