Journalism Fellowship Opportunity:
Environmental Sustainability Reporting in New Jersey
UPDATE on March 1, 2022: The application window for the spring/summer 2022 fellowship is now closed. Please sign up for the CivicStory newsletter to be informed of future requests for fellowship applications. For any questions about the fellowship, please contact editor@civicstory.org.
Are you interested in reporting on environmental sustainability efforts in the Garden State? Are you a New Jersey reporter or editor who is enthusiastic about quality journalism that empowers individuals?
CivicStory is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications from passionate professional and college student reporters to join the next cohort of journalism fellows in our flagship New Jersey Sustainability Reporting project.
The four-month fellowship supports journalists and their newsrooms with:
Per-story stipends
Opportunities to learn about sustainability topics
Access to sustainability experts statewide
Enhanced visibility for fellows’ stories
Applications are due by Monday, February 28, 2022. Please read down for details.
“It was challenging and allowed me to network and meet with a lot of people I haven’t met before. I learned a lot about environmental issues and solutions.”
Fellowship Information
CivicStory is excited to accept applications from professional and college student journalists for New Jersey Sustainability Reporting project (NJSR) fellowships. Applications will be accepted from February 7-28, 2022, and fellowships begin April 4, 2022.
The fellowship equips and compensates New Jersey reporters for producing sustainability stories that are co-published or co-aired by their own newsroom and on the NJSR website, www.SRhub.org. During the course of the fellowship, participants will be introduced to experts in environmental sustainability, and benefit from their expertise in various aspects of the field. The program provides motivated, passionate journalists with insights, new contacts, and myriad story ideas for the communities served by their newsrooms.
NJSR is the flagship project of CivicStory (www.civicstory.org), a nonprofit news organization. The project is a statewide media collaborative that amplifies sustainability action and initiatives in New Jersey. For more information and to view stories by past fellows, visit www.SRhub.org.
Past NJSR fellows met with Michael Hill, then at NJ Spotlight News, now host of Morning Edition at WNYC
Fellowship Expectations
All professional and student fellows will virtually attend one orientation session (April 4, 2022) and four professional development sessions between April 4, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Each of these one-hour Zoom sessions will provide fellows with information to report impactful stories on sustainability.
Fellows will report solutions-based stories on environmental sustainability topics of their choosing; newsrooms retain editorial independence. Each fellow’s news outlet will publish/air their stories between April 4 and July 31, 2022, and CivicStory will publish/air the stories on www.SRhub.org.
Story topics could include: restoring biodiversity; reducing waste; the connections between food and the environment; sustainable agriculture (including urban agriculture); environmental justice; clean energy; clean water; anti-pollution action; or landscaping and gardening with native plants—to name just a few.
CivicStory welcomes candidates from newsrooms that report stories in any format, including written (print and/or digital), audio, video, and photo essays.
Professional journalist fellows will produce 6-8 news stories of at least 500 words each, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. A per-story stipend of $500 is paid directly to newsrooms. Funds are allocated at newsrooms’ discretion. Reporters should discuss terms with their editor before applying.
Student journalist fellows must be enrolled in a New Jersey college or university. Student fellows will produce 3-4 news stories of at least 300 words, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. Stories will be published or aired by the fellow’s campus news outlet first, when possible. Students will receive a per-story stipend of $100.
Past NJSR fellows in front of an Atlantic City Utilities Authority windmill
Selection criteria
CivicStory seeks a diverse group of motivated, open-minded candidates who are interested in the power of their journalistic platforms as tools – tools that can help their audiences recognize their civic capacity for advancing environmental sustainability and environmental justice.
All professional and student fellow candidates must have an affiliation with a news outlet that serves a New Jersey audience. Student candidates must be contributors to their campus publications or news programs. Interested individuals who are not currently affiliated with a newsroom may contact CivicStory (editor@civicstory.org), before submitting an application, for a potential match with a news outlet as a freelance reporter.
Candidates will be evaluated on their interest, writing samples, and experience (note that we welcome journalists at all stages of their careers). CivicStory seeks a cohort of NJSR fellows representing newsrooms around the state of New Jersey, and reflecting the demographic diversity of the state.
“After participating, I am more mindful of the environment and want to uncover more stories about our environment.”
Application process
All candidates must apply by February 28, 2022.
Professional journalist applicants must complete an online application, and supply a resume and two samples of published or broadcast work. Student journalist applicants must complete an online application, and supply two samples of published or broadcast work.
Candidates who are selected for interviews will be notified by March 18, 2022.
For more information, or if you are unable to complete the application online, please contact CivicStory Senior Editor Jennie Aylward at editor@civicstory.org.
“I enjoyed my participation and loved reading everyone’s stories.”
