On grappling with complex realities

🌐 'Choose Truth' + the latest journalism opportunities.

Sep 27, 2024

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

WorldWise reader—

We’re both here, connecting over these words, because of journalism. On some level at least, we believe in what a healthy media sector can do to help make sense of the world and keep societies healthy.

It’s an assumption that underpins much of our daily consumption of news, but today WorldWise is taking a moment to make it explicit—we’re joining hundreds of other media organisations in over 100 countries to mark World News Day on 28 September. Organised by the World Editors Forum and The Canadian Journalism Foundation, this is a campaign to affirm the value of fact-based journalism, which is struggling to maintain its credibility and, in many cases, to simply survive.

‘Choose Truth’: that’s the message. A simple idea, though the reality is quite complex. As Kathy English, Chair of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, writes in an op-ed:

In a world in which we have increasingly witnessed fiction become fact and misinformation turn mainstream, choosing truth has perhaps never been more important—or more difficult.

She goes on to outline some of the reasons. Facts can be complicated. The truth is not always plain to see. Journalism isn’t free of error. To “choose truth” requires a foundation of trust between the public and journalists. And, as I’ve argued previously, in professing truth there’s a risk of creating false certainties.

Still: losing fact-based journalism—or any form of rigorous journalism—is a bigger risk.

Anita

INSIDER | views & experience

It’s far from clickbait material.

In introducing last month’s guest post, I deliberately skipped over the substance of the Nature news piece that inspired Waseem Hassan to give his scientific work a new lease of life. I said it was a simple article to write, and in one sense that’s true. But it’s not the whole story.

This is a good time to touch on that by asking a question which you may well have asked already: why should we, and one of the top science journals, care about who ranks where in the global production of scientific papers?

In short, it’s because those rankings tend to indicate how well-equipped a country is to develop with its own knowledge, its own technological tools, and its own capacity to innovate. Having that homegrown capacity means that less of it needs to be imported; perhaps more importantly, it means that the knowledge, tools or innovations are more likely to be guided by local creators looking to solve local problems.

There are scholars actively working to grow our understanding of how scientific research relates to policy and development. A respected voice in the field is Caroline Wagner, science and technology policy analyst at Ohio State University and a former adviser to the US government, who was the first expert I turned to for input in writing the news piece.

I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that knowledge of those relationships or capacities counts as fairly esoteric and tends to be overlooked, let alone prioritised at the top levels of government. If earlier this year you read our interview with Francisco Sagasti, Peru’s former president, you’ll have seen an unusual example of a leader with a deep understanding of their workings and their value.

These are complex issues that don’t exactly make for clickbait. It’s difficult to give them media visibility. Those who try may face additional barriers to communication—personal or cultural, relating to gender, a skills deficit or a history of colonisation.

Chipping away at those barriers can take a long time. But however small our part, in whichever field of work, I’m here to say it’s worth the effort.

Waseem followed his own path forward and crossed mine after doing the most important, internal part of that work: finding the belief, and resisting the simple narrative of gloom.

OPPORTUNITIES | working with the media

grants+funding

MENA | The Al-Jumhuriya Grants Program is offering financial support to help experienced women journalists complete stories, reports or investigations that contribute to the Syrian public space—closing 30 September.

GLOBAL | The Eugene Smith Fund is offering a grant for photojournalists and visual storytellers whose work promotes social change to address an issue of import to the human condition—closing 8 October.

GLOBAL | The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering reporting grants to Indigenous and tribal journalists to support the production of investigative, innovative and/or enterprise reporting on environmental and climate issues—closing 16 October.

fellowships+scholarships

ASIA | The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is inviting applications from early- to mid-career journalists based in six Asian countries for a fellowship that offers training, mentoring and story grants to report on infrastructural development and its impacts on the environment and human rights—closing 30 September.

GLOBAL | The Wilson Center is inviting scholars, practitioners, journalists and public intellectuals to apply for a 9-month residential fellowship to conduct research and write in areas of interest that address key challenges in the United States and worldwide—closing 1 October.

GLOBAL | The National Humanities Center is inviting experienced journalists with a Ph.D to apply for its 2025-2026 Residential Fellowship Program, which provides resources to generate new knowledge and deepen understanding of all forms of cultural expression, social interaction and human thought—closing 3 October.

GLOBAL | The International News Media Association (INMA), with support from the Google News Initiative, is accepting applications from early to mid-career journalists and other media professionals for its Elevate scholarship program, which is designed to help advance historically underrepresented and disadvantaged groups—closing 4 October.

GLOBAL | Dialogue Earth is running a fellowship programme supporting Indigenous journalists, writers and storytellers to develop stories and attend the COP30 climate conference in Brazil—closing 13 October.

GLOBAL | The Columbia Journalism School is inviting underrepresented news leaders to apply for its Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program, a five-month residency which offers training to lead innovation and solve strategic business challenges—closing 13 October.

training+events

GLOBAL | The Columbia Climate School is holding a webinar, "Building Resilient Food Systems”, for journalists interested in learning about global food systems and climate change—on 30 September.

MENA | The Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism is inviting Arab university students to attend the ARIJ 17th Annual Forum, which aims to shed light on the obstacles faced by independent journalism—closing 30 September.

GLOBAL | The Earth Negotiations Bulletin and the Geneva Environment Network are holding a webinar on the upcoming final session of intergovernmental negotiations towards a global treaty on plastic pollution—on 4 October.

GLOBAL | The Mental Health in Journalism Summit is inviting journalists to online sessions that aim to share good practices for mental health, and nurture a global movement that prioritises a healthy work culture in the media sector—starting on 8 October.

GLOBAL | The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is inviting applicants to its Oxford Climate Journalism Network, which offers the opportunity to learn from peers and academics while developing expertise in climate journalism—closing 13 October.

awards+competitions

GLOBAL | The United Nations Correspondents Association invites media to submit entries for its 28th annual UNCA Awards for best media coverage of the United Nations, UN agencies, and field operations—closing 30 September.

ASIA | Internews in Kyrgyzstan is inviting entries for its Aspiration contest from professional digital or TV journalists who have produced work related to child welfare, environmental protection, culture and other topics—closing 30 September.

AFRICA | The Merck Foundation is inviting submissions for its Africa Media Recognition Awards from journalists in African countries who have reported on infertility, women empowerment, ending child marriage, and girl education—closing 30 September.

LAC | The Atlas Network and Cátedra Vargas Llosa are inviting young journalists based in Latin America to submit work produced in Spanish to the Carlos Alberto Montaner Young Journalism Award, which rewards excellence, rigour, ethical coherence and the defence of freedom in journalistic practice—closing 11 October. (Spanish)

GLOBAL | The International Federation of Journalists and the International Francophone Press Union are accepting nominations for the Shireen Abu Akleh Prize, which recognises the courage and commitment of women journalists and media professionals—closing 15 October.

audio+visual

GLOBAL | The First Flights Short Film Fund is inviting applications for funding to support live action and documentary short films of any genre—apply now.

AFRICA | Documentary Africa (DocA) is launching its Shoot Your Short initiative, which provides grants for African filmmakers based in Africa to support production of short-form documentary content—closing 2 October.

GLOBAL | The Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) are accepting entries for an international documentary and educational media competition and showcase, inviting filmmakers and activists to submit videos that inspire activism, compassion and social transformation—closing 10 October.

GLOBAL | The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry is inviting professional or amateur photographers to submit their work to a competition that aims to showcase the beauty and critical importance of our planet’s biodiversity—closing 14 October.

pitches+positions

GLOBAL | The Global Investigative Journalism Network is recruiting a Resource Center Researcher as a remote full-time position—closing 30 September.

GLOBAL | Rest of World is looking for reporters native to regions outside the West who want to produce deeply reported work on how tech impacts labour and workers—closing 4 October.

GLOBAL | The Global Investigative Journalism Network is recruiting a Program Director as a remote full-time position—closing 10 October.

GLOBAL | The Pulitzer Center is looking for a full-time Senior Editor to head its Artificial Intelligence Accountability initiative—apply now.

GLOBAL | Climate Home News is accepting pitches for longform stories on supply chains for clean energy technologies—pitch now.

ASIA | Dialogue Earth is inviting pitches from journalists interested in covering environmental and sustainable development issues across Southeast Asia—pitch now.

MENA | Internews is looking for an Environmental Media Consultant to work remotely based in either Tunisia or the UK—apply now.

US | Nieman Storyboard, an online publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, is recruiting a new editor as a part-time, hybrid or fully remote position for someone living in the United States—apply now.

resources+tools

Things to do when you’re stuck - The Clearing by Katherine May
7 effective strategies for managing anxiety as a freelance journalist - Beryn Orera for the International Journalists' Network
GIJN guide to investigating extreme heat – Toby McIntosh for the Global Investigative Journalism Network
Science reporting quick tips - The Open Notebook
How to make your journalism more constructive: free one-year guide - The Fix

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UPDATE | from the network

A media briefing on a major report on forest loss is coming up on October 3rd, at 9am EDT/2pm BST. Hosted by Climate Focus, the briefing will preview embargoed findings on the latest global progress to halt forest loss and degradation and to restore forest habitats. On the panel, a lead author of the report will be joined by local experts from Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines. They will share insights on what is happening on the ground, highlight the key threats to forests and outline the solutions needed for the world to meet their forest protection targets. The media advisory is here + you can reach out to fwood@burness.com or stonassi@burness.com for the call-in information and embargoed materials.

PS.

Thank you.

WorldWise is read across 67 countries—it remains independent thanks to the support of subscribers like you, and to the rest of my nomadic work-life. Sign up | Browse archive | Sponsor an issue

Created and edited by Anita Makri—journalist/writer, producer and editorial adviser covering global development and science in society. I also help selected organisations with compatible values to strengthen their media work. LinkedIn | Instagram | Email

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