Rainforest Investigations Network Reporting Fellowship Program

The RIN Fellows will work on individual and collaborative reporting projects to systematically probe the drivers of deforestation across the three main rainforest regions: the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia.

The Rainforest Investigations Network is coordinated by journalist Gustavo Faleiros, a pioneer of rainforest accountability reporting and founder of the data journalism outlet InfoAmazonia. The RIN core team includes Research Editor Jelter Meers, Data Editor Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, and investigative journalist Madeleine Ngeunga.

Main topics

• Stories that investigate the financial enablers, financiers, accountability of the use of this resources.
• Corruption on public procurement.

Benefits

• The opportunity to work on impactful investigations that are time-consuming and costly.
• A global network of investigative reporters who will aid your investigations and complement your skills.
• Access to data and documents as well as the opportunity to sharpen your data skills with support from the Pulitzer Center’s data and research team.
• Specialized training opportunities such as the use of satellite imagery and other digital tools in investigations, corporate and follow-the-money research, and more.
• The opportunity to work and collaborate with other journalists on stories that transcend your country and region and can achieve true global impact.
• A community of like-minded colleagues that will continue beyond your fellowship.
• The possibility of renewing your fellowship for an additional one or two years, based on performance.
• Salaries commensurate with experience.
• Reporting expenses such as travel, consultants and technology up to US$ 10,000 during the entire fellowship.

What are they looking for?

• They are seeking to recruit experienced investigative journalists in each of the tropical rainforest regions as well as journalists based at global media outlets.
• The full-time, yearlong fellowships will cover the reporter’s salary (or part of it, depending on location) and provide additional support for the media outlet that employs the journalist (if on staff), or that agrees to host the Fellow (if a freelancer).
• This year they are actively seeking investigations that include, or are tailor-made for, a cross-border approach. If you have yet to secure commitments from your collaborators, you should explain your collaboration plan. They will also actively work with the selected Fellows to identify potential partners within the network. Please note that applications should be done by individuals, and not by a group or media outlet.
• They also have two seats reserved for fellowships dedicated to investigations focused on transparency and governance. This includes uncovering the financial structures that enable environmental damage and unsustainable supply chains.
• This reporting should go deeper than your traditional rainforest reporting about environmental impact. They want to hear from journalists who can uncover illicit financial flows tied to economic activities in rainforests, for example. Tell them how you will report on banks facilitating development projects that destroy nature. Or show them how government corruption is preventing countries from meeting climate goals.

Eligibility Criteria

• Experienced investigative journalists with a proven track record covering the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia regions.
• Reporters based in countries outside the three main tropical rainforest regions—Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia—may also apply but will need to focus their reporting during the fellowship on stories related to these regions.
• Staff or freelance journalists working on a wide range of platforms, including print, radio, video, and multimedia. Freelance reporters will need to have the support of a local or international newsroom that agrees to host them and publish the work they produce during the fellowship.
• Team players with the experience and/or ability to work collaboratively across newsrooms and borders.
• Reporters with a deep understanding of the scientific, environmental, social, legal, political, and commercial forces at play in deforestation and forest degradation around the world—and why this issue matters to the global well-being.
• Reporters willing to participate in outreach activities related to their investigations, such as meetings in communities and visits to schools and universities.

For more information, visit Pulitzer Center.