How to Report on Forest Governance and Get a £1,500 EJN Story Grant in 2025

If you are a reporter who cares about forests, rights, corruption, or the international rules that shape who keeps trees standing (or not), this is the kind of grant that pays for the digging. The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is rolling out its Forest Governance Story Grants 2025 as part of a new Forest Governance Media Initiative. They plan to fund up to seven in‑depth reporting projects, each with an average award of about £1,500, plus editorial mentoring as you produce the story. The goal: better reporting that influences policy debates, surfaces under‑reported angles, and holds powerful actors to account.

This is not a photography prize or a quick op‑ed stipend. EJN wants journalism that takes time: interviews, document requests, data checks, and storytelling that reaches the people who can make or bend rules. If you can show a clear plan to publish by September 2026 and explain why your piece will matter to communities, policymakers, or wider publics, you have a shot.

Below I walk you through exactly what EJN is looking for, how to shape a competitive pitch, what to include in your budget, and a realistic timeline to get from idea to finished, publishable piece. Expect practical advice, examples tailored to the target countries, and step‑by‑step application guidance so you can apply with confidence.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

EJN’s story grants do three things at once: they provide small but practical reporting funds, editorial mentoring, and visibility through a reputable network. The money—about £1,500—won’t pay for a transcontinental broadcast team. But it will cover critical line items: local travel to communities affected by logging or plantation expansion, payments to fixers and translators, small data purchases, document photocopying, or modest multimedia production costs.

Beyond cash, selected journalists receive hands‑on support from experienced mentors who can help refine your angle, suggest sources and documents to request, and advise on presenting technical topics—like timber legality systems or trade policy—in ways readers can grasp. Mentors matter because good investigative work often needs editorial shaping to reach policymakers or civil society actors who can act on it.

EJN expects these stories to feed into governance processes: legal debates, implementation of trade rules, or community campaigns. That means you should plan not just to publish, but to publish where it will be read by people who shape or follow forest policy—local outlets, regional newsrooms, or international platforms that will take an English version or co‑publish.

Who Should Apply

This grant is intentionally broad in who can apply, but selective in subject matter and geography. Journalists of all experience levels are welcome—freelancers, staff reporters, radio producers, multimedia journalists, and small teams. What matters is professional reporting experience and a clear plan to publish by September 2026.

Priority goes to reporters based in Cameroon, Liberia, Ghana, Vietnam, and Indonesia who are investigating the local themes listed below. If you live in one of those countries and have a beat on mining, cocoa, palm oil, or community forestry, this is tailor‑made. Examples of strong applicants from these places might be:

• A community radio journalist in Ghana with contacts in mining‑affected villages and a plan to document artisanal miners’ impacts on forest edges.
• A Liberia investigative reporter who has already filed a freedom‑of‑information request about timber concessions and can access court or customs documents.
• An Indonesian multimedia journalist with access to plantation boundaries and capacity to produce an interactive map showing the link between concessions and deforestation.

EJN also wants applicants in key consumer or policy countries (UK, select EU states, China, India, Japan) who will report on international governance processes—think EU deforestation rules, REDD+ finance flows, or timber legality verification systems. If you can show how trade policy in Berlin or Brussels affects a village in Indonesia or a cocoa cooperative in Cameroon, your pitch becomes a bridge between policymaking and lived impacts.

Groups of journalists can apply together. One lead applicant must submit the application and receive funds on behalf of the team. Cross‑border teams are encouraged in some contexts (Cameroon and Vietnam), so partnerships that combine local access with international publication reach are attractive.

Note the language requirement: applications must be in English. If you need translation help, arrange it before applying.

Story Themes and Examples

EJN has flagged country‑specific themes but remains open to creative, under‑reported angles. Here are examples that fit the brief and could stand out:

• Indonesia: An interactive feature mapping the overlap between oil palm concessions and Indigenous land claims, with interviews showing failed compensation mechanisms.
• Vietnam: A piece examining how benefit‑sharing under REDD+ projects is handled in practice, combining community interviews and budget document analysis.
• Cameroon: Investigative reporting on the cocoa supply chain that traces illegal forest clearing from village to processor, backed by satellite imagery.
• Liberia: A cross‑border investigation into financial crimes associated with logging companies and how they skirt EU directives.
• Ghana: A radio documentary following a gold mining community coping with forest loss, paired with satellite change detection visuals.
• International: A policy analysis on how the EU Deforestation Regulation alters timber flows from Southeast Asia, including export data and industry interviews.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Start with a clear newsroom commitment. If you are freelance, secure a publication promise and include a short editor’s support letter. Editors need to commit to publishing by September 2026. Funders want influence, not just a draft that never hits an audience. A named editor or outlet with reach strengthens your case.

2. Make the impact case specific. Don’t simply say “this will raise awareness.” Say who you expect to reach and what decisions or debates could be influenced—local council meetings, national legislative reviews, trade consultations, or civil society campaigns. Concrete targets make your project persuasive.

3. Match the budget to the work. A £1,500 grant demands prioritization. Line items that win reviewers’ trust include travel to affected communities, payments to translators and fixers, modest data purchases, and basic multimedia production. Avoid asking for luxuries (international flights unless strictly necessary). Provide a short justification for each expense.

4. Show you already have some lead sources or documents. Even modest preliminary work—an FOI request, an email exchange with a local official, a lead fixer who has arranged interviews—signals feasibility. If you can, attach evidence (redacted) or list named sources and their reliability.

5. Use multimedia smartly. A single compelling photograph or a short audio clip can lift a written story. If you propose data visualization, explain the dataset and who will produce it. Don’t promise complicated visualizations you cannot deliver; explain a simple plan—maps with concession overlays, charts of export volumes, timelines of legal changes.

6. Be explicit about ethics and marginalized voices. EJN expects inclusion of marginalized sources. Describe how you will reach community perspectives, protect vulnerable sources, and obtain informed consent. Mention any safety protocols for reporting in conflict or remote areas.

7. Declare AI use transparently. If you use generative AI to edit or refine text, state it and explain how you will maintain editorial control and fact‑check outputs. EJN may disqualify applicants who submit AI‑generated work as their own.

8. Plan for publication accessibility. If your main outlet is behind a paywall, secure permission to publish an open version or a translated summary on a partner platform. This increases reach and improves your odds.

Those eight tips are not a checklist to copy; they are a blueprint. Reviewers are looking for plausibility and impact—show both.

Application Timeline (Work Backwards)

Deadline is 6 January 2026. Work backwards with these milestones:

• Late December 2025: Final edits, budget verification, upload documents. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline to avoid technical problems.
• Mid December 2025: Secure editor letter of support and confirm any institutional/financial requirements for payment.
• November 2025: Draft full project narrative, budget, and gather named sources. If you need data or satellite imagery, start the request now.
• October 2025: Identify and brief any collaborators or fixers. Sketch the methodology and identify potential publication outlets.
• September 2025: Outline the pitch, write a crisp summary (one paragraph) and prepare a two‑page narrative describing significance, approach, timeline, and outputs.
• August 2025 or earlier: If you need translation help for the application, secure it now. Also begin any background research to demonstrate feasibility.

This timeline assumes you are starting with an idea and some contacts. If you already have preliminary reporting, you can compress these steps but don’t skip securing the editor commitment and finalizing your budget.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

The application package should be compact but persuasive. Typical materials include:

• Project narrative (1–2 pages): Clearly state the story, why it matters, the audience, and the expected impact. Describe methods, named sources or documents you plan to access, and how you will include marginalized voices.
• Budget with justification: Line items and short explanations. Show how the £1,500 will be spent and why each cost is essential.
• Publication letter of support: An editor’s statement committing to publish the final piece by September 2026.
• CV or bio: 1–2 pages emphasizing relevant reporting experience.
• Examples of previous work: Links to 2–3 published pieces that demonstrate your ability to complete the project.
• Team description (if applicable): Who does what, and who is the lead applicant responsible for funds.
• Statement of language/translation plan if you do not work primarily in English.

Prepare these materials in advance. Have at least one trusted colleague proofread them for clarity and grammar. Make sure your project narrative answers the basic questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Review panels look for stories that are timely, under‑reported, and likely to influence decisions. Standouts do several things well: they identify a clear hook (a new law, a recent court decision, or a crisis in a community), they demonstrate feasible access to sources and documents, and they show planned publication venues with reach.

Concrete additions that raise a proposal’s score include named documents you will obtain, short plans for data visualization, and partnerships that combine local knowledge with international reach. Team submissions that pair a local reporter with a visual journalist or data analyst are often compelling because they signal complementary skills.

Finally, proposals that plan for post‑publication follow up—briefings with local stakeholders, translated summaries for community distribution, or social media amplification strategies—show reviewers you expect your work to be read and acted upon.

Common Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

Mistake 1: Vague impact statements. Saying “this will inform readers” is weak. Fix it by naming audiences and possible policy or community outcomes.

Mistake 2: Unrealistic budgets. Asking for international flights for every interview looks careless. Fix it by prioritizing local travel, remote interviews where possible, and realistic production costs.

Mistake 3: No publication plan. If you don’t name an outlet or get an editor’s note, reviewers worry the story will never reach readers. Fix it by getting a signed letter or at least an email from an editor.

Mistake 4: Overpromising on multimedia or data work you can’t complete. Fix it by proposing modest, achievable visual elements and explaining who will produce them.

Mistake 5: Ignoring safety and consent. If your reporting involves threatened communities, outline how you will protect sources. Reviewers discount applications that don’t show ethical plans.

Mistake 6: Submitting in a language other than English. EJN only accepts English applications—plan accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non‑citizen journalists apply?
A: Yes. Applicants can be from any country, but priority is given to journalists in the five target countries and to those in specific policy countries for international pieces.

Q: Can a team apply and split the funds?
A: Yes, but the application must name a single lead who will receive funds and manage communications with EJN.

Q: Is the £1,500 a hard cap?
A: The published average is £1,500. Prepare a concise budget showing how that amount will cover your proposed work. If your real costs exceed that, you should explain other funding sources or propose a scaled‑down project.

Q: Are unpublished proposals accepted?
A: No—your application must include a publication plan and a letter of support from an editor committing to publish by September 2026.

Q: What counts as acceptable use of AI?
A: Transparent, limited use for editing or drafting is acceptable if disclosed. Do not submit AI‑generated reporting as original work.

Q: Will EJN provide feedback if I am not selected?
A: Typically, organizations provide summary feedback. Expect to receive some comments that can strengthen a resubmission.

Next Steps and How to Apply

If this grant fits your project, act now. Finalize a one‑page pitch and an editor’s letter of support, draft a tight budget, and prepare links to two samples of your work. Have your translator or fixer on standby if you’ll need language help.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and submit your application before 6 January 2026:

Apply here: https://earthjournalism.us.auth0.com/u/login?state=hKFo2SBpdWZOZ3o1bFVPbVV2UjlQX2ZBRGZZTTRGNVpuM3oyYaFur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIGpGdmdRQi1MemNxWVZCTlVqaUZPUmVta01EbENHLTdWo2NpZNkgM1FXQUR2SUVLdktHMkt6UzFOazRaUWJUb3N4ME5YcW0

For more background and program details, search for EJN Forest Governance Story Grants or visit EJN’s Forest Governance Media Initiative page. If you have questions about whether your idea fits these themes, prepare a concise email and reach out early—mentors and program staff can clarify fit and avoid wasted effort.

Good reporting changes rules. This grant won’t fund a blockbuster series, but for the right story it pays for the crucial reporting trip, the document requests, and the editorial polish that turns a local issue into policy pressure. If you have a tight, well‑sourced pitch that speaks to governance outcomes, write that application and hit submit.