Whatever you do, hone the intention
đ Taking positions + new opportunities in media & global change.
đ In this post:
From the editorâs desk
Opportunities & resources
PS. âWhy do we stay silent in uncomfortable situations?â
FROM THE EDITORâS DESK
WorldWise readersâ
Just a decade ago, we lived in a world where governments could come together to agree ambitious goals that advance sustainable development, environmental protection and social justice. When the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were formulated in 2015, their vision of progress seemed tangible. Even during the pandemic, we dared to believe in âbuild back betterâ slogans.
Much of this has now all but vanished. As regular readers know well from last yearâs briefings, numerous programmes/funds/ideas/infrastructures that have supported these goals for decades have been fading from public view, falling like domino pieces with shocking speed.
It feels like a deeply uncomfortable moment of uncertainty. While itâs too early for new structures to take shape, the geopolitical developments that we do see as the new year unfolds are no less unsettling.
Itâs all weighed on me a bit. Words have struggled to take shape. Instead, I found myself going back to particular imagery and stories of the past. The musicians of the Titanic, who continued to play for as long as they could into the early hours of the morning as the ship was sinking. Anne Frankâs diaries of everyday life under siege, written in the confinement of an attic room. Other stories from World War II, of people risking their lives to show love and care, which used to feel alien but no longer do.
Slowly, the haze began to clear. The question became less about what to say, and more about what to do.
âŠ
Many of us have strong feelings about our work. We might love it or hate it, but if weâre among those fortunate enough to love what we do, perhaps itâs inevitable that we think of it as important.
Journalism is one of those professions where this tends to hold true. Among those who practise itâand hopefully among most citizensâthereâs a strong belief in the social value of how the profession informs the public, helps us makes sense of the world and holds power to account.
Many journalists cling on to this sense of value even when their own well-being is at stake. Iâve lost count of the number of times Iâve come across stories of colleagues struggling for months or even years to get a story out against the odds, or attempt to keep working in the sector at great personal cost as budgets and opportunities shrink.
The underlying belief is that this is too importantâarguably the most socially important work they can do with their skills.
Itâs hard to argue against that. Equally, absolutism never sits well with me, and I find arguments for the social value of science, art, engineeringâor any other professionâno less compelling.
âŠ
Right now, itâs not only blinkered to think in such absolutism terms. Itâs also counterproductive in missing the point of what this moment calls for.
Everything we do has a bearing on the kind of society we get to live in. What stories we tell, yesâbut also how we build; what we teach; what kinds of ideas we share; how we show care; who we show care to, and stand by; where we invest our money; which businesses we support.
Itâs not about the specific work that you doâeverything has its place. Itâs in how you do it, the position you take in the process, the intention behind it: what is it strengthening or helping to achieve, and what is it countering?
The newsletter will continue to share insights, ideas, and opportunities that could be useful to anyone still working against the current to build something better. WorldWise has and will be clearly aligned with work that reinforces humanity and sustainability.
But we all now need a sharper focus on these goals. That doesnât mean more content (or whatever else we make with our time). It means creating and sharing with more intentionality.
This is something weâll be practising behind the scenes. For now, the curation is becoming both more targeted and casting the net widerâin search for insights and opportunities that can feed these goals through the media but also through the work of entrepreneurs, researchers, civil society, creatives and others. We make a start today, with the opportunities that follow.
Anita
OPPORTUNITIES | working in media & global change
fellowships+scholarships
âł ASIA | The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering reporting fellowships to journalists in the Philippines to support the production of investigative and in-depth reports on adaption measures and government preparedness for climate-induced natural disasters. Closing 16 January.
âł GLOBAL | The LSEâs Atlantic Fellows programme is inviting applications from changemakersâpreferably from the Global Southâwho are committed to fighting inequality and are interested in learning from scholars, innovators, activists and social change organisations. Closing 16 January.
âł ASIA | The Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship, established to empower journalists to produce impactful stories on gender and grassroots issues, is open for submissions with a special focus on the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Full-time or freelance journalists working in print, television, or online media, and in any of five local languages, are eligible to apply. Closing 18 January.
GLOBAL | The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is inviting applications from democracy activists, scholars, and journalists for fellowships where they will explore new ideas, undertake individual research, and share best practices in a five-month programme hosted in Washington, DC. Closing 21 January.
AFRICA | Women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa are invited to apply to TEFCONNECT, The IYBA-WE4A (Investing in Young Business in Africa- Women Entrepreneurship for Africa) Entrepreneurship Programme, which is designed to enhance their access to finance and business knowledge. Closing 25 January.
GLOBAL | Mongabay is accepting applications for The Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship, which supports aspiring environmental journalists from biodiversity hotspots and undercovered regions in low- and middle-income countries to advance their careers in journalism and communications. Closing 1 February.
awards+competitions
âł đ„ GLOBAL | The 2026 World Press Photo Contest, which celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the past year, is now open for entries. Deadline 17 January.
âł đ„ GLOBAL | Megacities Shortdocsâwhich hosts an international contest with festivals held in megacities to support short documentaries raising awareness about urban challenges and solutionsâis inviting submissions from professional and amateur documentarians around the world. Closing 18 January.
GLOBAL | The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge invites graduate student teams worldwide to create and pitch financial solutions that generate both measurable social or environmental impact and competitive financial returns. The programme offers mentorship, masterclasses, networking opportunities and awards up to $10,000. Closing 25 January.
GLOBAL | Amnesty is inviting journalists to submit their work to the Amnesty International Media Awards, which celebrate excellence in human rights journalism and applaud the courage and determination of journalists and editors who put their lives on the line to tell important human rights stories. Closing 30 January.
đłđŹ AFRICA | Media Rights Agenda is inviting Nigerian journalists to enter their work to the Dr Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards, which recognise and celebrate journalistic excellence in promoting transparency and accountability through the effective use of the Freedom of Information Act. Closing 31 January.
grants+funding
âł đ„ ASIA | South Asian photographers under 26 years of age can apply to The Marai Photo Grant, which provides support to create compelling photo stories on the theme of water scarcity guided by mentorship from Agence France-Presse (AFP). Closing 15 January.
GLOBAL | The Fund for Investigative Journalism is offering grants and other support for reporters to produce high-quality, unbiased, nonpartisan investigative stories with impact. Closing 26 January.
GLOBAL | The Awesome Foundationâs Conservation and Climate Program is accepting applications for micro-grants of up to $1,000 to individuals and small teams with bold, innovative ideas for nature conservation and climate action. Closing 30 January.
ASIA/GLOBAL | The Liveability Challenge invites innovators worldwide to submit groundbreaking solutionsâwhich must be applicable to Singapore or Southeast Asiaâthat tackle climate-induced extreme weather conditions for a more liveable planet. The top two solutions in the Cool Earth category will each receive S$1 Million in grant funding to accelerate their impact. Closing 9 February.
training+events
GLOBAL | The ZEG Storytelling Festival is inviting pitches for stories, projects, or perspectives that spark unexpected conversations across disciplines, bridge different ways of thinking, working, or seeing the world, challenge us to understand global patterns in new ways, and connect local experiences to bigger questions. Closing 1 February.
đȘđž LAC | Climate Tracker Latin America is looking for 20 journalists from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru to join a regional initiative that promotes solutions journalism and highlighting real responses to the climate crisis that originate in the territories. Closing 15 February.
pitches+positions
âłASIA & LAC | The Solutions Journalism Network is looking for two contract consultantsâone in India and one in Brazilâto help lead training in their home country, design resources and help guide the expansion of solutions journalism. Closing 19 Januaryâapply here for India or here for Brazil.
AFRICA | Semafor is looking for a Chief Africa correspondent for business and economy-focused reporting alongside geopolitics, climate, tech and other topicsâapply now (no deadline listed).
GLOBAL | Climate Home News is looking for pitches on the trends shaping the extraction, processing and governance of key raw materials for the energy transitionâpitch now.
GLOBAL | The Examination is accepting applications on a rolling basis for the positions of Investigative Editor and Reporterâapply now.
đ More opportunities are available to paid subscribersâcurrently a total of 38 opportunities with deadlines through to the end of February. A gift subscription is available.
resources+tools
Free AI Photo Locator & Image Location Finder - Where Is This Photo?
GIJN Resource Centerâs Top Guides for 2025 â Global Investigative Journalism Network
Your Go-To Toolkit for Combining Investigative and Solutions Journalism â Transitions Media
Learning from Indigenous Journalism: A Case for Standpoint Journalism - Journalism Studies
ICYMI | in other editions
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PS.
Thank you.
WorldWise is read across 85 countriesâit 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 Makriâjournalist/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