Climate and Environmental Science Fellowship for Local Journalism (US)

This fellowship aims to address the challenges that local newsrooms face when covering these critical issues, providing the training and resources needed to produce long-term, accurate, equitable and impactful coverage that serves their communities. The first cohort for the fellowship will focus on newsrooms in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts with 10 newsrooms chosen from submitted and complete applications.

With more than 25 years of experience in training journalists to communicate science with accuracy and accountability, Metcalf Institute has developed this fellowship to help newsrooms increase their capacity for science supported, community-focused climate and environmental science reporting.

The fellowship is specifically tailored to the needs of local newsrooms, rather than individual journalists, ensuring that the entire newsroom benefits from the training and resources provided.

Benefits

• Fellowship Benefits:
  • Interactive Training: Workshops led by University of Rhode Island faculty and regional experts, focused on translating complex climate and environmental science into compelling news stories relevant to local communities.
  • $1000 Stipend: Each participating newsroom will receive a stipend to support a named fellow who will help embed the training within the newsroom.
  • Coaching: Three months of coaching from Metcalf Institute’s journalism experts, offering guidance on long-term strategies for sustaining accurate and accountable local climate and environment coverage.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to local newsrooms based in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts across all mediums (print, digital, television, radio, podcast, multimedia, etc.).
• Newsrooms must commit to naming a fellow who will serve as the climate and environmental science coverage lead, as well as an additional second individual who also will attend weekly workshops. One of these roles must be filled by a senior staff member (i.e. editor, executive producer, general manager).
• Participants must be based in Connecticut, Rhode Island or Massachusetts.
• Participants must agree to attending 5 out of the 6 workshops and at least one coaching session per month.
• Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to improving their coverage of climate and environmental issues that affect their local communities.
• Metcalf Institute strives to create a diverse Fellowship cohort. Newsrooms that are by and for marginalized marginalized or underserved communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Independent journalists (freelancers) may apply if they have a working relationship with a local newsroom and include a letter of support from the newsroom in their application.

For more information, visit Metcalf Institute.