Find out how you can take your climate reporting to the next level with two hot opportunities.
1. Journalism trends:
To podcast or not to podcast? If this is the question you’re asking yourself about creating platforms for your storytelling, consider this: 72% of leaders in 53 countries said they’d make 2023 the year of the podcast. “Amid the unpredictability of social media, most publishers see investing in podcasts and newsletters as the best way to build a deeper connection with audiences and to encourage them to come back more frequently,” according to the ‘Journalism, Media and Technology Trends and Predictions 2023 report. Meanwhile, according to this report by TRT Afrika, “African podcasting is poised to grow into a huge industry…(it’s) a game-changer for African media. It empowers individual African creatives to tell their stories and perspectives, challenging mainstream media narratives and stereotypes about Africa and Africans.”
2. Who’s funding: Another one for climate journalists: Do you want to have a deeper understanding of climate change, biodiversity, the ocean and One Health? Internews’ Earth Journalism Network has launched a new fellowship for journalists. The fellowship comes with mentorship from senior journalists, editorial support, training on data journalism, Mojo, solutions journalism, fact-checking, and data visualization. Fellows will also get a €6,000 quarterly stipend and an additional €6,000 for travel, production and professional development expenses. Deadline: 16 Nov. More info.
3. Training Opportunity: Are you an early-career journalist, content creator or storyteller who is passionate about climate change and climate stories? The Climate Storytelling from the Global South by the CNN Academy is looking for 15 climate storytellers to empower to take part in the media training program. It will cover aspects of climate change reporting. Participants will produce a compelling short documentary spotlighting the impact of the climate crisis. CNN Academy will cover the cost of the trip to Abu Dhabi. Deadline: 15 Nov. More info.
4. In the spotlight: One of the biggest stories in South Africa this year laid bare the extent of corruption in the country’s prisons when it was revealed that convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who faked his death while at Mangaung Correctional Centre, had escaped. The stories, published by GroundUp, led to the arrest of Bester and His girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumane, who helped him fake his death and escape from jail. The journalists behind the investigation, Daniel Steyn and Marecia Damons, were named the 2023 Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity.
5. Stories that moved us: Two African projects have emerged as finalists in the 2023 edition of the prestigious Earthshot Prize, a global challenge that champions environmental solutions with the potential for global impact. ABALOBI is a South African endeavor focused on ocean revival, while Sierra Leone’s Freetown the Treetown is dedicated to protecting and restoring nature through urban forestry. Up to 70% of Nigerians consume cassava on a daily basis, now farmers who bring this staple to Nigerian tables are increasing their earnings by selling the stems of improved cassava varieties.
It pays to tell good news. So we partnered with the Thomson Foundation on a digital course called African Stories: A guide for journalists on how to tell better stories about Africa. It’s free and takes three hours to complete. Then you can pitch to birdstory agency and get paid to publish stories that better represent Africa.
