COP30 Climate Change Media Partnership Reporting Fellowship

The Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP), led by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, is pleased to announce the COP30 CCMP Reporting Fellowship Program. This fellowship is designed for journalists from low- and middle-income countries interested in covering the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30).

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: June 18, 2025
• Application Deadline: July 15, 2025
• Conference Dates: November 10-21, 2025 (World Leaders’ Summit: November 6-7, 2025)
• Location: Belém, Brazil

📝 About the Fellowship

The CCMP Reporting Fellowship aims to support journalists from low- and middle-income countries in covering the COP30 climate negotiations. Since its inception in 2007, the program has supported over 500 journalists, enabling them to report on climate negotiations for their home audiences while gaining insights into global climate policies.

This year, the conference will be hosted in Belém, a city in the Amazon rainforest. Due to logistical challenges, the fellowship will include both in-person and virtual participation options.

Fellowship Tracks:

1. In-Person Fellows: Attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
2. Virtual Fellows: Report remotely with support from media trainers in Belém.

🎁 Benefits

For In-Person Fellows:

• Travel and Accommodation: Non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance, and ground transportation costs covered.
• Visa Reimbursement: Visa costs will be reimbursed (visa application is the fellow's responsibility).
• Editorial Support: Guidance from experienced EJN trainers, pre-COP virtual workshops, and on-site orientation.
• Networking Opportunities: Attend mixers, group meals, and local excursions.
• Interview Opportunities: Group interviews with high-level officials and experts.
• Stipend: Small stipend for meals and incidental expenses.
• Resources: Access to Trello boards, group chats, and daily briefings.

For Virtual Fellows:

• Financial Support: Communications stipend to maintain stable internet connectivity.
• Editorial Support: Guidance from an EJN trainer, pre-COP virtual workshops, and access to livestreams and recordings.
• Interview Opportunities: Virtual group interviews with officials and experts.
• Resources: Access to Trello boards, group chats, and daily briefings.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must:

• Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house in a low- or middle-income country.
• Not have attended a UNFCCC climate COP before (self-funded or through a fellowship).
• Be available to travel to Belém (for in-person fellows).
• Have a good command of English.
• Have experience reporting on climate change issues and propose relevant story ideas for COP30.
• Commit to participating in all fellowship activities.
• Provide the following supporting documents:
  • Resume/CV
  • Video (max 2 minutes) explaining your reporting plans for COP30.
  • Letter of Support from an editor or media outlet confirming publication of your stories.
  • Work Samples: Recent, relevant journalistic work on climate change topics (published between July 15, 2024, and July 15, 2025).

Additional Notes:

• Journalists applying for the in-person fellowship must be from eligible countries listed here.
• Journalists applying for the virtual fellowship must report from eligible Pacific countries, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and others.

🏆 Selection Criteria

Applicants will be judged based on:

• Experience: Demonstrated expertise in covering climate change and environmental topics.
• Work Samples: Two recent stories focused on climate change themes.
• Reporting Plan: A clear, well-researched plan with specific story ideas for COP30.
• Commitment: Estimated number of stories to be produced during the fellowship.
• Media Support: Letter of support from an editor or media outlet.

📜 Application Process

To apply, prepare the required documents and submit your application through the official portal. Ensure all materials are ready before starting the application process.

• Application Deadline: July 15, 2025

🌟 About the Organizers

The fellowship is organized by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, with the goal of empowering journalists to report on climate change and its global impacts.

For more details, visit the official fellowship page.

• Operational and logistical support: The CCMP will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to Fellowship participation. Organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical support relating to the trip. Please note that the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the fellow's individual responsibility, though the CCMP will reimburse visa costs.
• Accommodation: Given the uncertainties around accommodation, applicants should be comfortable with the possibility of shared housing.
• Financial support: Selected fellows will be provided a small stipend to offset the cost of meals and other incidental expenses related to the fellowship.
• Reporting resources and editorial support: Fellows will be guided by EJN trainers, who are senior journalists with experience covering UN climate summits. Prior to the start of COP30, fellows will receive informational resources and technical support to help prepare for reporting at the conference, including a pre-COP virtual workshop to meet the trainers, discuss reporting opportunities, and ask any questions. Once in Belém, fellows will participate in an in-person orientation session with seasoned climate journalists and experts on the key issues at this COP and specially designed activities on the ground, including daily briefings and 1-1 discussions with mentors. They will have access to a Trello board for ease of access to resources on-the-go and be part of a group chat to share information, discuss and ask questions on a safe and secure platform. Fellows will also be encouraged to seek feedback from EJN trainers on story ideas and drafts throughout the fellowship.
• Opportunities for interviews: Fellowship organizers will arrange group interviews with high-level officials and subject matter experts.
• Opportunities for networking: Fellows will be encouraged to attend networking mixers with other journalists and participate in cohort-building activities including group meals and/or local excursions. Selected fellows may also be invited to participate as speakers or moderators at official and/or unofficial side events taking place during the summit.