EJN 2025 The Deep Dive Fellowship for Journalists and Content Creators in the Pacific

EJN is offering grants to journalists and content creators in the Pacific who have participated in The Deep Dive: Building Skills for Transformative Ocean Reporting workshops to support the production of in-depth stories, video shorts and creative projects on ocean issues affecting the region.

EJN’s new Pacific initiative, The Deep Dive: Building Skills for Transformative Ocean Reporting, responds to this gap by building capacity among Pacific journalists and storytellers—equipping them with the knowledge, tools and connections to report on ocean issues with creativity, authority and a strong Pacific voice. The project recognizes that elevation of the Pacific’s voice is paramount to addressing the multiple crises affecting the ocean. 

• Table of Content
• About Earth Journalism Network (EJN)
• The Deep Dive Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of The Deep Dive Fellowship
• Requirements for The Deep Dive Fellowship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for The Deep Dive Fellowship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

The Deep Dive Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of The Deep Dive Fellowship

As part of the Deep Dive, we are offering 13 grants of up to US$700 each to creative content creators and journalists who have participated in the Deep Dive training and are interested in producing high-quality solutions-focused ocean stories. 

Requirements for The Deep Dive Fellowship Qualification

For this call, we are only accepting applications from journalists and content creators based in the Pacific who participated in the Deep Dive training.  

Social media content creators should actively and frequently post short-form videos on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X or other leading social media platforms, relating to topics such as lifestyle, social issues, travel, science, economy, politics, culture, environment and health. Creators should not be currently reporting for any media outlets; former journalists are eligible. Prior content focused on ocean or environment is not a requirement, however, an interest in linking your work to biodiversity issues is key. 

Journalists should be on staff at a media outlet or freelance. Journalists should have an active presence on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X or other leading social media platforms, but there is no audience size requirement (an active presence could include posting at least once a week and/or regularly creating video or text content about your journalistic projects). Prior experience as a content creator is not a requirement, however, an interest in increasing your social media skills is key. 

For the purposes of this grant opportunity, we will accept applications in English only. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff. However, creators and journalists can produce work in any language.  

EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, plagiarism and/or submitting AI-generated content as their own.    

Interview date, Process and Venue for The Deep Dive Fellowship

Applicants should consider the following judging criteria when devising their pitches. 

Selection of content creators will be based on:  

• A consistent track record of producing short-form video content. 

Selection of journalists will be based on:  

• A consistent track record of reporting in-depth stories for their media outlets, an added advantage if it’s on environmental topics but not a requirement.
• An active social media presence, such as posting at least once a week and creating video or text content about your journalistic projects.

All applications will also be judged using the following criteria: 

• Relevance: Do the content ideas outlined in the application meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Is the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly defined?
• Angle: Do your ideas for content bring new insights or offer a fresh angle on biodiversity issues?
• Impact: Do your pitches seem compelling? Are they likely to inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
• Innovative storytelling: The use of creative storytelling approaches, narrative styles and/or data will be considered a plus.
• Motivation: Demonstrated interest in using social media to produce impactful content on ocean and clear plan to continue producing this kind of content following the fellowship.
• Availability: Selected fellows will need to take part in the pre- and post-workshop surveys, the Deep Dive virtual training and all peer learning sessions. They must commit to producing and disseminating at least three pieces of content by November 2025. 

Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit EJN Fellowship webpage