Tag Archives: reporting

Columbia Earth Institute travel opportunities for journalists

VERY long list of international travel opportunities for journalists through the Earth Institute. NOTE: Journalists must pay their own way, but they do want to support coverage of their research. Check it out. Or click here if you want the pdf version from their website.
-mia

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Kevin Krajick
Senior science writer,The Earth Institute
The Earth Institute <http://www.earth.columbia.edu/>

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
MEDIA ADVISORY

MAY 20, 2010

Upcoming Scientific Travel Opportunities for Journalists

Journalists are encouraged to cover expeditions by Earth Institute researchers, who work on every continent and ocean. Here are upcoming trips of potential interest, in rough chronological order (some dates approximate). Work in the New York City/Hudson Valley region is in a separate section below. Journalists may accompany scientists on a case-by-case basis; news organizations must pay for travel to sites.

Unless otherwise stated, projects originate with our Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory <http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/>.   For those wishing to follow remotely, many teams post blogs on our State of the Planet pages <http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/> .

Go to our Media Advisory page: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2637, where updates also are posted.

More info: Kevin Krajick kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu 212-854-9729.

Kim Martineau, kmartineau@ei.columbia.edu 845-365-8708.

IRE Freelance Fellowships – Deadline April 30

Investigative Reporters and Editors freelance fellowship deadline is approaching. One of our members was awarded this fellowship last year so shoot me an email if you want more info and I’ll try to put you in touch. Best, Mia

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Deadline Approaches for IRE’s Fellowship Awards for Freelance Investigative Journalists

If you are a freelance journalist working on an investigative project, apply today for one of Investigative Reporters and Editors’ Freelance Fellowships. Awards average $1,000 and may be applied toward travel, research and other costs of your investigation. The postmark deadline is April 30, 2010.

The application process is fairly streamlined: applicants fill out a one-page form, submit samples of their work, write a narrative of 200 to 1,000 words and answer a series of related questions. Entries will be scrutinized by a committee of three experienced freelance journalists; they are ineligible for the award while serving on the committee.

Proposals will be judged in part on the breadth, significance and potential impact of the investigative project. Proposals dealing with whistleblowers, business ethics and/or privacy issues will receive priority; projects involving other topics will also be given serious consideration by the committee. The projects must be published or aired primarily in U.S. outlets.

IRE distributed three $1,000 fellowship awards last year to:

· Jonathan Jones and Anna Sussman, founders of backpackjournalist.org, a collaborative international professional reporting project.

· Jim Walls, proprietor of Atlanta Unfiltered, LLC, a Monday-Friday news site, and former investigations editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Eligible journalists may download the application form from the IRE Web site (http://www.ire.org/training/fellowships/) or request the form from IRE staff member John Green via telephone (573-882-2772) or email (jgreen@ire.org). Three copies of the completed form and attachments must be sent in hard copy to: Freelance Journalism Award, IRE, 141 Neff Annex, Columbia, MO 65211.

IRE is a nonprofit educational and professional organization of more than 3,500 journalists working to foster excellence in investigative journalism. IRE provides extensive training and resources through seminars, publications and its Web site: www.ire.org.

Four $20,000 Prizes for Excellence in Reporting – Nominations Open for National Academies Communication Awards

Big money available for excellent reporting in science, engineering, and medicine. Nomination deadline 4/14. -mia

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[image: http://www.nakfi.org/images/newsletter/header.jpg]

The National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative *has started accepting nominations for the 2010 National Academies Communication Awards for excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and/or medicine to the public during 2009. The National Academies Communication Awards are one component of the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative, *a far-reaching initiative designed to realize the untapped potential of interdisciplinary research. A $20,000 prize will be awarded in each of the following categories:

– Book – Magazine/Newspaper – Online – Film/Radio/TV

*ELIGIBILITY*

To be considered for a 2010 National Academies Communication Award, the work should:

– be accessible and appeal to a broad, public audience; – demonstrate clarity, creativity, originality, and accuracy; – address issues and/or advances in science, engineering, and/or medicine; – cover topics that have an impact on society; and – have been published, broadcast, or released in 2009, in the United States and in English.

*NOMINATION FORM*

Nominations must be submitted on the online nomination form at www.keckfutures.org; copies of the nominated work must be submitted as described for each category. Self nominations are permitted; there is no nomination fee. Please submit a nomination to the category that most closely describes the work(s) being nominated.

*BOOK*

Books published in the U.S. in 2009 will be considered. Please submit two copies of the book. The publisher and year of publication must be printed on the book. Advance publication dates must be verified by the publisher.

*MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER*

Works in this category must be published in the U.S. in 2009, and may comprise a single article, or up to as many as four articles that are unrelated or that constitute a formal series. Please submit three original copies of each article clearly showing the byline and the name and date of the publication *and* a signed copyright release that authorizes the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative* to reproduce the article for review purposes. If you are not able to provide copyright release, please send an additional 20 copies of the article(s), or a PDF file of the article(s).

*FILM/RADIO/TV*

Submissions may include a single story or movie; a series; or as many as six brief, unrelated stories that aired on a U.S. station or were released in theaters or on DVD in 2009. Please submit three CDs or DVDs labeled with the nominee’s name(s), the titles of stories included on the DVD or CD, and the original airdate (with the name of the U.S. station and the program on which the stories aired) or release date. These must be submitted in protective cases *and *include a signed copyright release that authorizes the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative* to reproduce the CD or DVD for review purposes. Submission of copies of the program transcript are also encouraged. If you are not able to provide copyright release, then please submit an additional 20 copies of the CD or DVD.

*ONLINE*

Works created specifically for the Web, which were posted in English online in 2009, will be considered. Entries may include as many as six online articles, hypertext documents, podcasts, commentaries, etc., or any combination thereof. Preference will be given to nominations that make the best use of the medium, including multi-media presentations that incorporate a combination of videos, blog entries, interactive features, and/or other capabilities unique to this communication vehicle. Include links to the unique URLs for each work(s) that will be active through October 1, 2010.

*This Year’s Selection Committee*

Visit www.keckfutures.org/awards for a complete listing of this year’s Selection Committee.

Nominations must be completed online no later than April 14, 2010. All supporting materials must be postmarked by April 14. Please click here http://www.keckfutures.org/awards/nominate.htmlfor more information about the nominations process.

If you have questions please email commawards@nas.edu

SEJ’s Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

Deadline approaching for the Society of Environmental Journalists Annual Awards. Details below. -mia

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April 1 is the last day to enter SEJ’s Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment – that’s less than two weeks away.

Entering is easier this year because you can do it online ( http://www.sej.org/initiatives/awards-fellowships/sej-annual-awards-reporting-environment).

The contest honors outstanding environmental coverage in 10 categories, each winning a $1,000 prize, and a student prize ($250 plus up to $750 travel/lodging for the first-place winner of the student prize).

Eligibility, rules, FAQs – everything you need to know to enter the contest is at: http://www.sej.org/initiatives/awards/2010-sej-awards-reporting-environment.

When you’re ready to enter, click the “How to Enter” link. You’ll find the online forms listed as links following the instructions. Just click on the category you want to enter.

Winners will be honored at SEJ’s 20th Annual Conference, October 13, 2010, at the University of Montana, Missoula.

Strengthening the quality, reach and viability of journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues

Chris Rigel Director of Programs and Operations Society of Environmental Journalists P.O. Box 2492 Jenkintown, PA 19046 T: (215) 884-8177 F: (215) 884-8175 www.sej.org

Follow SEJ on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sejorg http://www.airmedia.org

Patch.com seeks multimedia reporters and columnists

Hey folks. Multimedia reporting opportunity below from one of our FC members. Check it out!

-Mia

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Patch.com seeks local multimedia contributors, reporters and columnists in the Danville, Pleasanton and San Ramon areas. Patch is looking for reporters and contributors who can come up with story ideas or might be able to take on breaking news stories. We are also looking for a weekly columnists who have something to say about these communities.

The ideal candidate is a writer based in Danville, Pleasanton, or San Ramon, who is an expert on, and will enjoy writing about the communities.

Some of the topics we’re looking include:

-Local politics

-Schools

-Shopping and Trends

-Sports

This is a paid gig, at the rate of $50-$75 per piece, depending on experience (these are for 200-500 words, but we will pay more for longer/more in-depth stories). We are looking for web-savvy writers who will include links to relevant online resources and will jump in and engage with readers who comment on their articles or columns. We’re also willing to consider shorter, blog-style posts several times a week instead of a single 400- to 700-word article/column if the topic lends itself to that approach. We are also open to multimedia pieces, from slideshows to online video, text and photographs.

For consideration, please send relevant writing samples (including links to any online writing or multimedia pieces) and a résumé.

To learn more about Patch, please visit Patch.com and click on any of the links.

For specific questions, please contact:

Marnette Federis – Pleasanton Patch

marnette@patch.com

Elizabeth Shemaria – Danville Patch

lizs@patch.com

Julie Dowling – San Ramon Patch

julie@patch.com

Award Deadline and June Workshop

Environmental reporting prize and workshop – deadlines approaching. Go for it! -mia

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Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

January 4, 2010

Metcalf and Grantham 2010 Deadlines ANNOUNCED www.metcalfinstitute.org www.granthamprize.org

Entries for the 2010 GRANTHAM PRIZE for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment are now being accepted. Journalism entries on the environment must have been originally published, broadcast, or posted in the United States or Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2009. Book entries must be postmarked by January 11, 2010. All other entries must be postmarked by February 1, 2010. Details can be found at www.granthamprize.org or by contacting info@granthamprize.org.

Metcalf’s TWELFTH ANNUAL SCIENCE IMMERSION WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS, Coastal Impacts: Energy Sources and the Marine Environment, June 6-June 11, 2010, will team journalists with scientists and regulatory experts to work in the field and lab. The workshop will consider research and policy on the value of different energy sources in mitigating climate change and how these options affect surrounding environments. Fellowships are available to working journalists in all media and include tuition, room, board, one year of membership in the Society of Environmental Journalists and limited travel support. There is limited space for non-U.S. citizens. Details and applications are available at www.metcalfinstitute.org.

Metcalf Institute and Brown University Superfund Research Program will offer a two-day SCIENCE SEMINAR FOR JOURNALISTS, March 31-April 1, 2010, on the science and impacts of toxic chemicals. This program will feature leading environmental scientists and journalists, visits to research labs and discussion of case studies on the communication of bisphenol-A and air quality impacts. The seminar is tuition-free and includes lodging, but travel costs are not included and space is limited. Details and applications available online at www.metcalfinstitute.org.

Pending funding, Metcalf will offer one to two slots for the 2010-2011 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING FELLOWSHIPS, a program that provides unique opportunities for early-career minority journalists who want to better understand and report on the complexities of environmental news. Updates to be announced in early 2010.

ABOUT METCALF INSTITUTE Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote clear and accurate reporting of scientific news and environmental issues; to strengthen understanding and working relationships between members of the scientific community and members of the news media; and to provide opportunities for beginning journalists to learn, on both a formal and an informal level, how to improve their skills in marine and environmental reporting.

To make a tax-deducible gift or for additional information about us, contact Metcalf Institute’s Executive Director, Sunshine Menezes, at (401) 874-6211.

Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting URI Graduate School of Oceanography 218 South Ferry Road Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882

tel: (401) 874-6211 fax: (401) 874-6486 info@metcalfinstitute.org www.metcalfinstitute.org

To be added to the enewsletter list, or to change your email address or preferences, send an email to news@metcalfinstitute.org with the subject “Subscribe” or your detailed request.

SAJA offering $20,000 reporting grants

Check it out. Deadline November 30. -mia _______________________

One of SAJA’s most high-visibility, high-impact programs is the SAJA Reporting Fellowships, which help journalists do better stories on South Asia or the diaspora. This year we are once again giving out upto $20,000, thanks to the Mahadeva Family Foundation. Please let your journalist friends know. You DON’T have to be South Asian to enter – and your story can be set anywhere in the world.

DETAILS FROM: http://bit.ly/sajasrf

The SAJA Reporting Fellowships program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism — in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on.

Questions to Laura Griffin, SAJA Administrative Director: sajamember@gmail.com

As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA & SAJA Group Inc. are pleased to announce a call for submissions for its fifth Annual SAJA Reporting Fellowships (SRF). Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.

A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA’s discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.

These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last three years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000.

“The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA’s core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs,” said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group’s president and a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. “This will continue to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what’s going on in South Asia today.”

The fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.

Again, the application deadline is Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

To be eligible for this year’s fellowship, applicants must:

/ Have at least five years of journalism experience. / Produce content in the English language. / Be able to publish or broadcast the finished work in North America (U.S. and Canada). / Publish the work in a U.S. or Canadian media outlet. / Be willing to work with an editor, chosen by SAJA, who will oversee the successful completion of the project. / Be available to discuss the project at SAJA events, including but not limited to the annual SAJA convention and/or panel discussions and SAJA webcasts.

In addition, the news organization(s) that publish(es) or air(s) the finished work(s) must agree to provide a prominent credit to SAJA.

Proposals must include the following: / Project Proposal which describes the thesis of the project and explains why it’s an important story. What is the news hook? Why should a news outlet publish, broadcast or post this story? / A preliminary list of people to be interviewed. / A DETAILED budget that spells out what expenses the fellowship funding will cover and how the rest of the project will be funded. / A realistic timeline that shows SAJA’s deadlines (see below) will be met. / A resume and three work samples. We’re looking for applicants with a successful track record in producing print, broadcast, radio, photographic or multimedia pieces. The applicant must provide the work samples either as URLs, attachments, or by cutting and pasting to the application. Broadcast applicants can also provide digital samples. / Support letter(s). If the applicant is an employee of a U.S. or Canadian media outlet, a letter of support from the editor/employer/supervisor. The letter must show that the applicant’s employer will give the applicant the time to report, produce and complete the work to meet our deadlines, as well as allot time for the fellow to speak about the project at SAJA events. The letter must show the company’s willingness to share publication rights with SAJA after an initial, exclusive first-run period is over. The letter MUST also contain contact information for the employer. If the applicant is a freelancer, the proposal must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. Even a South Asia-based freelancer must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. An employee of a South Asia-based media company must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. / A list of at least three references. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

***Please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on SAJA’s Web site, http://www.saja.org/programs/fellowships before emailing questions.***

Timeline for the Fellowships is as follows: Oct. 26, 2009: Applications process opens. Nov. 30, 2009: Application deadline. Jan. 10, 2010: SAJA fellows announced. Between Jan. 10 – April 15, 2010: Reporting completed. May 15, 2010: Finished project submitted to SAJA.

May 15-29, 2010: First-use period, for exclusive publication by the fellow’s employer, or if a freelancer, by the media company with whom the freelancer is contracted.

May 30, 2010: SAJA disseminates the work widely, through the web, other media and panel discussions.

Judging: The pool of applicants will be narrowed down to approximately five finalists. A panel of judges will review the finalists, and rank the projects from first to last. The SAJA board will make the final determinations on what amount of money will be awarded. Finalists will be notified and expected to be available for interviews with the judges if necessary.

Disclaimer: 1. All decisions are final and subject to the discretion and judgment of the judges and the SAJA board. 2. SAJA board members and members of their families are not eligible to apply. 3. SAJA is not responsible for any financial or legal liabilities (or any other liabilities) that arise from the actions of the fellow(s). 4. SAJA reserves the right to amend or extend deadlines or changing other procedures relating to the fellowship program.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: After reading this page carefully, fill in this online form: http://www.formsite.com/columbiaspj/form605725715/

Deadline is Nov. 30, 2009, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Questions to Laura Griffin, SAJA Administrative Director: sajamember@gmail.com. Before sending questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions at www.saja.org/programs/fellowships by clicking on SRF FAQs.