Applications Invited for Communicators’ Workshop on Non-Economic Loss and Damage in the Sundarbans, West Bengal

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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.

About the Event

The UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) caused by climate change was agreed upon at COP27 in 2022. Till now, developed countries have pledged USD 768.40 million to the fund. Of this, USD 321.34 million has actually been paid. However, the loss and damage needs of developing countries has been estimated at USD 395 billion in 2025 alone, by an umbrella group of voluntary organizations known as Loss and Damage Collaboration.

In addition to this vast shortfall, climate justice experts have pointed out that in its current form, the fund will fail to recognize—or compensate vulnerable communities for—the myriad losses they bear that are harder to quantify, such as the depletion of biodiversity and ecosystem services, decline in physical and mental health, the loss of cultural heritage as a result of displacement and migration, schooldays lost as places of education are turned into storm and flood shelters, and so on.

"Non-economic loss and damage" (NELD) is the term used by the UN to describe such impacts not easily measured in monetary terms.

Watch EJN’s recent webinar, Uncounted: How to Cover Hard-to-Quantify Climate Change Impacts Along the Bay of Bengal Coast and check out the speakers’ presentations for a better understanding of NELD.

This workshop in the Sundarbans, which will be held from 18-20 September, 2025, will help communicators improve their understanding of these climate change impacts that are rarely counted or considered during policymaking. Sessions will also explore the disproportionate impacts on women, and consider how amplifying stories of resilience and adaptation can lead to better acknowledgement of the cultural, social and environmental dimensions of climate impacts, and help advance more equitable solutions and responses on the ground.

Participants will have the opportunity to go on a field trip and interact with members of a coastal community to understand the situation firsthand. Then, with support from EJN mentors, communicators will explore how to apply the solutions journalism framework to their stories, and brainstorm and refine their ideas for coverage in small-group discussions.

The organizers will cover the cost of travel, accommodation and meals for selected participants.

Eligibility

The call is open to communicators based in India from print, online, radio and television outlets. Preference will be given to applicants from West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. For the purpose of this workshop, we will only accept applications in English. We especially encourage women and early- and mid-career professionals to apply.

Applicants must:

• Commit to attending all days of the workshop.
• Have some experience reporting on social and/or environmental issues with a focus on climate change.
• Understand and be able to communicate in English.
• Permit republication by the organizers of any output as a result of participation in the workshop.

How to Apply

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

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 finalize the application.

Staffers must provide a letter from their supervisor approving their attendance at the workshop.

Applicants must submit two published samples or links to work that have appeared online.

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.

Application Deadline: August 10, 2025, 11:59 PM (Asia/Kolkata)

For more information please check the Link

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