Job Details

Job Description

Environmental degradation resulting from wildlife, forestry, and other environmental crimes is among our country’s most pressing concerns. Human activities such as deforestation, air and water pollution, soil erosion, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change contribute significantly to the deterioration of the natural environment. These activities have catastrophic effects on biodiversity, human health, and livelihoods. High-quality environmental journalism is crucial to raising awareness, changing behavior, and holding perpetrators and institutions accountable.

In response to these challenges, WCP Zambia established the Environmental Crime Journalism Fellowship in 2023. This fellowship provides young media professionals in Zambia with the opportunity to explore the country’s environmental and climate reporting landscape. Fellows gain insights into Zambia’s conservation challenges and the efforts of conservation partners to restore ecosystems to good health.

Participants will receive hands-on experience through field visits and meetings with renowned sector experts. They will learn basic science, environmental research, and reporting skills from experienced international environmental journalists. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to apply this new knowledge and these skills by publishing environmental articles in national and international publications.

Objectives of the Media Fellowship

The Media Fellowship aims to:

• Encourage well-researched environmental and conservation reporting.
• Leverage powerful storytelling, both in visual and non-visual formats, to build public awareness and engagement.
• Support regional and local media journalists.
• Highlight or expose critical environmental crime and conservation issues in Zambia.
• Improve the availability of credible and diverse narratives.
• Make media spaces more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible.
• Enhance access to skills development for high-quality and responsible journalism.

Fellowship Duration

The fellowship will run for one year. The application window for the second cohort is from 21 June to 10 July 2024. Successful participants will be notified by 15 July 2024.

The ECJ Fellowship’s second cohort will support five fellows. Each fellow is expected to produce an average of one story per month throughout the fellowship, which will be published on various media platforms.

Applicants must be able to work remotely and commit to scheduled activities according to the fellowship calendar.

Application Criteria

This fellowship is open to journalists who are passionate about reporting on environmental issues and meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience.
• Experience in publishing news on social/development issues.
• Commitment to a 12-month engagement.
• An approval letter from the respective organization’s Senior Editor or Head of News.
• Applicants must attach links or copies of published articles on social/development issues (a minimum of 3 links).

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please send your CV, a recommendation letter from your editor, and a 30-second video introducing yourself and explaining why you should be selected to [email protected] .

Applicants must attach links or copies of published articles on social/development issues (a minimum of 3 links).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in video interviews.

For inquiries about the fellowship program, please contact Luwi Nguluka at [email protected] .