Applications Invited for Virtual Media Workshop

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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 Event

In December 2022, more than 190 countries committed to achieve ‘30x30’ under target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework. This target calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, by the year 2030.

Yet summits since then have made it clear the world is not on track to meet this target. In fact, so far countries have only fully or highly protected 2.9% of our oceans, far from the 30% target.

As part of EJN’s Ocean Media Initiative, we are pleased to announce two virtual media workshops for journalists in coastal countries globally seeking to deepen their knowledge of the 30x30 target, to improve their reporting on solutions being implemented to reach the target, and equip their audiences with the information they need to hold governments accountable to their commitments.

Journalists who participate in the workshop will:

Gain a better understanding of the 30x30 target;

• Gain a better understanding of marine conservation strategies, including Marine Protected Areas and other area-based conservation mechanisms, regulations to reduce illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, newly developed tools like the 30x30 Progress Tracker and more.
• Understand best practices and journalistic techniques for covering the progress toward 30x30, including how to use accountability journalism to monitor actions taken by governments and other decision-making entities;
• Learn about equitable marine conservation and the extent to which biodiversity conservation efforts recognize and respect the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities over their traditional territories;
• Become more familiar with national and international policies and commitments related to marine conservation and the implementation of the 30x30 target.

After the training, we expect that the journalists will be better equipped to convey the latest threats, developments and solutions to achieve the protection of 30% of marine areas, deepening pressure on policymakers to accelerate and uphold their conservation commitments.

The workshops will be held at two separate times and tailored to support journalists in different time zones. This project is supported by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

Themes

The workshop will cover topics such as:

• How MPAs are designated using marine spatial planning
• The stages of establishing an MPA and the different levels of protection
• Participatory approaches in implementing and monitoring MPAs
• Cultural landscape approaches and the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in marine conservation
• MPAs and the High Seas Treaty
• Debates on the effectiveness of protected areas for conservation
• Technologies such as satellites, remote sensing, eDNA and artificial intelligence for the effective management of MPAs.
• National and international policy negotiations and instruments to achieve the 30 x 30 target
• Best practices in accountability, data and solutions journalism to enhance reporting on this issue
• Approaches to improve audience engagement with marine conservation issues

Eligibility

• Applicants can be from coastal countries anywhere in the world. We will not accept applications from countries with a freshwater coast; only coastal countries with a marine border will be considered.
• For the purposes of this training 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 have a working understanding of English to participate in and fully benefit from the workshop.
• Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other media practitioners with experience covering ocean issues.
• We welcome applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations – community-based, local national and international. We especially encourage women, rural, Indigenous and early-career journalists to apply.
• 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 from consideration 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 finalize the application.

Application Deadline: 16 January, 2025, 11:59 AM (Pacific/Niue)

For more information please check the Link

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