The Earth Journalism Network (EJN), an initiative of Internews, has officially opened applications for its 2026–2027 Media Grants aimed at strengthening journalism on marine conservation and countries’ commitments toward achieving the global 30×30 biodiversity target.

The programme offers five media grants of up to US$10,000 each to eligible newsrooms and media organizations that are committed to producing impactful reporting projects, building journalists’ capacity, and increasing public awareness of marine conservation issues.

Applications are open to media organizations located in eligible coastal countries worldwide, with special priority given to applicants from Ghana, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Application Deadline: 10 August 2026 (11:59 PM Asia/Manila).

About the Earth Journalism Network Media Grants

Marine ecosystems play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, regulating climate, and sustaining millions of people around the world. Despite growing international commitments to protect the world’s oceans, progress remains slow.

In December 2022, over 190 countries adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework, committing to protect and effectively manage 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030—commonly known as the 30×30 Target.

However, global assessments show that only around 3.5% of the world’s oceans are currently fully or highly protected, highlighting the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts and greater public accountability.

Recognizing the important role journalism plays in informing the public and holding governments accountable, the Earth Journalism Network has launched this grant programme to support high-quality reporting, investigative journalism, newsroom collaboration, and journalist training focused on marine conservation and ocean governance.

Purpose of the Grant

The programme aims to strengthen media coverage of marine conservation by supporting projects that:

• Produce high-quality investigative and in-depth journalism.
• Improve public understanding of marine biodiversity.
• Increase awareness of countries’ commitments toward the 30×30 Target.
• Hold governments and institutions accountable for marine conservation commitments.
• Strengthen the capacity of journalists covering environmental and ocean-related issues.
• Encourage collaboration among media organizations.
• Promote innovative approaches to environmental journalism.

Ultimately, the programme seeks to improve both the quantity and quality of reporting on marine conservation while encouraging greater public engagement on environmental issues.

Grant Benefits

Successful applicants will receive numerous benefits, including:

Financial Support

Each selected organization may receive funding of up to US$10,000.

EJN expects to award:

• One grant to Ghana
• One grant to Mexico
• One grant to the Philippines
• Two additional grants to applicants from any other eligible coastal country

Projects with smaller, cost-effective budgets are encouraged, although larger budgets may be considered for particularly innovative and resource-intensive projects.

What Types of Projects Can Be Funded?

The grant supports a broad range of journalism and media development initiatives.

Examples include:

1. Investigative Journalism

Applicants may propose:

• Multi-part investigative series
• Long-form reporting
• Documentary journalism
• Podcast series
• Data-driven journalism
• Cross-border reporting collaborations

Applications proposing fewer than 10 published stories are generally considered less competitive unless they also include journalist training or other capacity-building activities.

2. Journalist Training

Organizations may organize:

• Workshops
• Field reporting trips
• Skills development programmes
• Ocean journalism training
• Environmental reporting courses

3. Digital Journalism Resources

Projects may also include:

• Online learning resources
• Journalism toolkits
• Reporting guides
• Fact-checking tools
• Interactive mapping projects
• Data visualization platforms

4. Network Building

Applicants may propose activities that:

• Strengthen journalist networks
• Encourage newsroom collaboration
• Build partnerships between journalists and researchers
• Foster collaboration with policymakers and information providers

5. Audience Engagement

Projects designed to understand and improve audience engagement are also eligible, including:

• Audience research
• Community listening initiatives
• Public engagement campaigns supporting quality journalism

Priority Reporting Themes

The Earth Journalism Network is especially interested in projects covering:

Government Progress on the 30×30 Target

Reporting may examine:

• National commitments
• Policy implementation
• Conservation regulations
• Government spending
• Marine protection strategies

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Possible reporting topics include:

• Effectiveness of protected areas
• Enforcement challenges
• Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
• Marine conservation outcomes

Global Industries Affecting Oceans

Projects may investigate:

• Industrial fishing
• International fishing fleets
• Shipping activities
• Oil and gas exploration
• Marine pollution

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Applicants are encouraged to explore:

• Community participation
• Indigenous rights
• Traditional marine management
• Protected area governance

Technology in Marine Conservation

Potential topics include:

• Satellite monitoring
• Artificial intelligence
• Remote sensing
• Environmental DNA (eDNA)

International Marine Policy

Projects may focus on:

• International negotiations
• Marine finance
• Biodiversity agreements
• Ocean governance

High Seas Conservation

Applicants may report on conservation efforts beyond national jurisdictions.

Climate Change

Possible reporting areas include:

• Coral bleaching
• Ocean warming
• Species migration
• Climate impacts on marine protected areas

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants include media organizations located in coastal countries with marine borders.

Examples include:

• Newspapers
• Television broadcasters
• Radio stations
• Online media organizations
• Multimedia journalism platforms
• Journalist collectives
• Journalism support organizations
• Media networks

Applications from Ghana, Mexico, and the Philippines are strongly encouraged.

The following organizations are not eligible:

• NGOs
• Civil society organizations
• Universities
• Academic institutions
• Environmental advocacy groups
• Political campaign organizations

Former EJN grantees may apply, although previous performance will be considered.

Organizations currently receiving another EJN grant are not eligible.

Language Requirements

Applications will only be accepted in:

• English
• Spanish

Projects may publish their journalism in any language most appropriate for their audiences.

Budget Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• A detailed project budget
• Budget justification
• Completed Excel budget template

Grant funds may be used for:

• Reporting expenses
• Journalist training
• Travel
• Equipment purchases (where justified)
• Safety measures
• Other reasonable project costs

Equipment purchases should represent only a small portion of the total budget and clearly contribute to project outcomes.

Applicants are also welcome to secure additional co-financing, although this is not mandatory.

Please use EJN’s safety tipsheet or another resource of your choice to ensure you are prepared, should you be selected for this grant program. If needed, you should include any security-related costs in your budget.

Project Timeline

Successful applicants can expect the following schedule:

• Application deadline: 10 August 2026
• Notification of successful applicants: September 2026
• Project commencement: October 2026
• Project completion deadline: 15 September 2027

Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities fit within this implementation period.

Application Assessment Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of international environmental journalism experts.

Projects will be assessed based on:

1. Overall quality of the proposal
2. Relevance to programme objectives
3. Potential impact
4. Innovation
5. Financial feasibility
6. Organizational capacity
7. Geographic diversity

Although AI tools may assist with administrative processing, all final funding decisions will be made by human reviewers.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Visit the Earth Journalism Network application portal.
2. Log in to an existing account or create a new account.
3. Complete the online application form.
4. Upload the required supporting documents.
5. Submit the completed Excel budget template.
6. Review the application carefully before final submission.

Applicants may save their applications as drafts and return later before submitting.

APPLY NOW

For technical questions, applicants should contact: info.ejn@internews.org

Click HERE to download call for application in Spanish.

Click HERE for tips for detailed instructions on how to create an account, and HERE for detailed instructions on how to reset your password.

Important Deadline

Application Deadline: 10 August 2026 (11:59 PM Asia/Manila)

Late applications are unlikely to be considered, so applicants are encouraged to prepare and submit their proposals well before the deadline.

Conclusion

The Earth Journalism Network Media Grants 2026–2027 present an excellent opportunity for newsrooms and media organizations committed to strengthening environmental journalism and marine conservation reporting. By providing up to US$10,000 in funding, the programme empowers journalists to produce impactful investigations, train fellow reporters, build collaborative networks, and enhance public understanding of the global effort to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

Organizations working in eligible coastal countries are encouraged to develop innovative, high-impact proposals that contribute to stronger accountability, informed public discourse, and meaningful action toward marine conservation. Interested applicants should begin preparing their proposals and supporting documents early to ensure submission before the 10 August 2026 deadline.

For more Grant opportunities, please visit OFY HERE