Call for Fellows: Environmental Investigators Citizen Journalism Fellowship

Are you an environmental journalist based in Europe with a passion for community-driven investigations? Want to know how to work with citizens to expand and improve your environmental investigations? 

Then join our Environmental Investigators: A Citizen Journalism Fellowship, a programme designed to support you to collaborate with citizens to involve communities in environmental investigations. If you cover environmental topics and want to explore new ways of involving your audience in investigative work, this is for you. 

About the fellowship
This fellowship will train three journalists from European newsrooms on how to involve citizens in their environmental investigations. Fellows will learn practical skills for turning communities into active researchers and co-investigators, increasing reach and impact in reporting critical environmental issues. Fellows will be mentored by experienced investigators and will publish an environmental investigation involving their communities by the end of the year.  By joining this fellowship, you’ll gain the skills to transform your environmental reporting by tapping into citizen-driven data and narratives. In an era of limited resources for investigative journalism, this fellowship provides you with the tools to expand your reach and improve the quality of your stories.

Fellows will receive:

• Training and mentorship which will include online workshops and sessions with international seasoned trainers and investigative experts.
• Practical experience through the production of an environmental investigation of your choice involving citizen collaboration, resulting in a published story in your newsroom.
• A grant of 1,000 EUR, which can be transferred to the journalist or the newsroom.

Criteria
This fellowship is for environmental journalists based in Europe, whether at local or national levels. To apply, you must be working in an editorial capacity for a European newsroom and have an interest in learning how to engage citizens in your environmental investigations.

Timeline

• April 2025: Fellowship kick off with learning and training sessions. 
• May – September 2025: Mentoring sessions and collaborative work on investigations.
• December 2025: Publication of the final investigations.

Apply Now

Applicants should send CV, motivation letter and project proposal describing an environmental topic they would like to investigate with their communities to hello@seekinitiative.com. 

Deadline: 28th February 2025 

This fellowship is supported by Journalismfund Europe. 

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About Seek Initiative
Seek Initiative is a non-profit organisation with a track record in training journalists and citizens in investigative techniques. We work to build partnerships between newsrooms and communities to drive grassroots investigations in the public interest.