Deadline: 3 June 2018

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is seeking applications for its Reporting Illegal Wildlife Trading programme, a multi-month scheme and journalists that take part in the mentoring process commit to take part in a series of mentoring sessions and produce journalistic investigation(s), signing an agreement to this effect.

The programme is looking for journalists based in China, Brazil, Nigeria, the Gulf States and Pakistan who are motivated to write investigate stories onto the online trade in illegal wildlife. In particular, they are looking for investigations into how online illegal activity facilitates the illegal wildlife trade. The journalists will receive mentoring from expert investigative journalists to complete investigations on the topic, with the aim of increasing public understanding on the illegal wildlife trade.

Journalist will not be considered to have finished the scheme until they have attended all appropriate sessions with their mentor and produced at least one story or investigation.

Benefits

• Journalists taking part in the scheme will receive a modest stipend to fund their research, of which a proportion in advance. The rest is provided on publication of the investigation;
• Applicants will propose one or more concrete story ideas that they wish to work on within the scheme and will provide experienced journalists to help pursue story right up to publication or broadcast;
• Applicants will also have access to story ideas and editorial advice, and will be able to share their own expertise with participants from other regions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists with at least 5 years of professional experience and fluent English (mentoring may not be able to be provided in your native language);
• It is an advantage if you are familiar with investigative journalism. Experience writing/broadcasting on wildlife issues is a plus;
• Applicants must be able to spend significant time working on illegal wildlife trade investigations;
• Both freelancers and staff journalists may apply. Journalists working for a news organisation will need consent from their editor to take part. Freelancers should provide evidence that one or more media organisations will be willing to take their work.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply online via given website.