THE BERTHA CHALLENGE Fellowships for Activists & Investigative Journalists

Published by Bojana

Deadline: 10 February 2020
Open to: pairing activists and investigative journalists
Benefits: income, project funding. a connect fund, training, peer and mentor support, network development and global convenings

Description  

Bertha Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the second Bertha Challenge: an opportunity for activists and investigative journalists to spend a year deep-diving into one pressing social justice challenge. Successful applicants will receive non-residential paid fellowships and project budgets to work independently and together to:

INVESTIGATE the causes of and solutions to the annual Bertha Challenge

AMPLIFY their findings to a wider targeted audience

CONNECT with diverse stakeholders for information, support and sustainable impact

The second Bertha Challenge will begin in July 2020 with a focus on our global climate and ecological crises, specifically supporting Bertha Fellows to answer the following question:

How is the relationship between profit and politics contributing to our interconnected climate and ecological crises and what can activists and investigative journalists do to address this?

Eligibility

Pairing Activists and Investigative Journalists
They will give priority consideration to investigative journalists and activists that apply to the Challenge jointly. Joint Applicants must fill in individual applications, but make reference to their partner applicant, including where their work will overlap and how they will support one another’s projects.

Applicants unable to find a partner and who want to apply independently are still encouraged to do so.

This is a full-time fellowship. Bertha fellows will spend the majority of their time working in their home countries and be required to:

  • Attend in-person global convenings that take place at the beginning and end of the Challenge
  • Develop and deliver a culminating product that responds to the Bertha Challenge
  • Participate in monthly virtual check-ins
  • Participate in monthly webinars
  • Develop local and global network relationships

Benefits     

Income for each Bertha Fellow for one year, not exceeding USD 60,000 and commensurate with the applicant’s current or equivalent salary at the host organization – ideally a media outlet for an investigative journalist and an NGO, community organization or social movement for an activist.

Project funding of up to USD 10,000 for each Bertha Fellow to produce a culminating product that responds to the question posed by the Bertha Challenge. Directed toward a specified target audience, this could be a series of articles, videos, podcasts, games or drama productions, for example. Bertha Fellows working together will have the option to pool their project funding to produce on a larger scale.

A connect fund specifically designed to encourage collaboration between fellows.

Training through regular webinars, with topics on a range of issues from current debates around the climate crisis and ecological collapse to methods of investigation, methods of communicating findings through news media, storytelling, popular education and more.

Peer and mentor support in the form of regular virtual check-ins with Bertha staff and a cohort of Bertha Fellows. Like many fellowships, the Bertha Challenge aims to provide space for personal development. However, we also believe that work is most impactful when it is done in collaboration with peers conducting similar work on a sustained basis.

Network development through the global cohort of Bertha Fellows and exposure to relevant partners within and beyond the Bertha network, including our legal partners in the Bertha Justice Network, many of whom are at the forefront of creating legal strategies to address the climate crisis. Bertha can also support in strengthening local networks.

Global convenings of Bertha Fellows and selected guests at the start (July 2020) and end (June 2021) of the Bertha Challenge.                                    

How to Apply?

All applicants must submit:

  • Completed online application form
  • A brief resume/CV of no more than three pages
  • A list of 2-4 referees including name, relationship to applicant and contact details
  • A signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from your prospective host organization – including commensurate salary and any benefits provided.

For more information, and to apply, please visit the official website.