Bertha Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the fifth Bertha Challenge: an opportunity for activists and investigative journalists to spend a year working on one pressing social justice challenge and to deliver a body of work at the end of the Fellowship year. Successful applicants will receive non-residential paid Fellowships and project budgets to work independently.
The Bertha Challenge 2024 is a call to those journalists and activists working against misinformation and its effects on the climate crisis, to those dedicated professionals holding the line on science and rigorous analysis.
WORTH
- Income for each Bertha Fellow for one year, not exceeding USD $64,900 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.
- A Project Fund 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 and that is directed toward a specific audience. This could be a series of articles, videos, podcasts, games, or drama productions, for example. Joint activist and journalist applicants will have the option to pool their project funding to produce projects on a larger scale.
- Access to a Connect Fund of up to USD $5,000 specifically designed to encourage collaboration between Fellows
- Peer and mentor support in the form of regular virtual check-ins with Bertha staff and a cohort of Bertha Fellows
- Network development through the global cohort of Bertha Fellows and exposure to relevant partners within and beyond the Bertha network
ELIGIBILITY
FOR ACTIVISTS
- At least five years’ experience working with activists, social movements, grassroots and community organizations, social justice organizations, or campaigns
- Strong connections to a diverse range of relevant groups in the Fellow’s city, country, or region, including social movements, community organizations, NGOs, academics, journalists, progressive government officials, etc.
- Experience developing organizing tools or popular educational products and materials, for example, training courses, publications, pamphlets, films, podcasts, arts, theater productions, etc.
- Experience using research, media, and the law in advocacy
- Affiliation to an appropriate host organization to amplify work produced during the Bertha Challenge.
FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS
- Mid-career journalists with at least five years’ experience, a track record, and a passion for doing investigative journalism
- Strong interest and experience in producing work on the Bertha Challenge question and a proven ability to work with affected communities, social movements, community organizations, NGOs, academics, scientists, etc.
- Investigative journalism and research ability, a comprehensive understanding of the political landscape concerning the subject matter, an understanding of the law(s) and political structures determining policy direction and power
- An ability to work independently
- Affiliation to an appropriate host media organization that will publish/broadcast work produced during the Bertha Challenge.
DEADLINE: July 4, 2023
To apply and for more information, apply here.
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