Environmental
Data Journalism
Academy

for the Philippines

Thibi and the Internews Earth Journalism Network’s Environmental Data Journalism Academy prepares passionate environmental journalists in the Philippines for careers in data-driven accountability reporting.

In partnership with Internew's Earth Journalism Network
We are accepting applications until February 28.

The intensive six-month Academy has been created for select journalists to produce in-depth data-driven journalism on critical environmental issues in the Philippines. The course, which will run in 2023, is divided into three parts: one month of Fundamentals of Data Journalism online learning, one month of Intermediate Data Journalism online learning and a two to three month Mentorship (combination of in-person and remote) with story production stipend. Mentorship spots are limited and only journalists who have graduated from the Fundamentals and Intermediate data journalism courses and successfully pitched a story will be selected for the Mentorship. 

View Program DetailsView Program FAQs

What you’ll be learning

1 month
April 2023
Fundamentals of Data Journalism
1 month
May 2023
Intermediate Data Journalism
2-3 months
July 2023
Mentored Story Grants
September 2023
Course Completed!
September 2023
Course Finished!

The Environmental Data Journalism Academy teaches a structured, reusable process for telling data-driven stories about any beat using a wide array of tools. By diving deep into specific environmental data in the Philippines, journalists go through guided exercises to produce data-driven stories and develop mastery over the key issues, tools and storytelling techniques for finding scoops hidden in data.

Fundamentals of Data Journalism
In the Fundamentals course, journalists produce a data-driven story package as a group by following a Data Story Recipe on an urgent environmental issue facing the country.  Journalists apply the core skill sets learned in the course to understand and interview the data and tell the story. The course will combine synchronous and asynchronous learning with participants expected to attend up to 10 hours of online sessions per week as well as complete assignments.
    Intermediate Data Journalism

    The intermediate course expands on the basic process by equipping journalists with the skills to iterate nuanced hypotheses, wrangle more complex data and ask  more penetrating questions of both the data and the experts who understand the story it has to tell. While continuing to work on a core set of environmental data, journalists will be invited to find new angles to uncover new insights into the topic and explore new ways of telling those stories.  The course will combine synchronous and asynchronous learning with participants expected to attend up to 10 hours of online sessions per week as well as complete assignments.

      Mentorship

      In this phase, we invite alumni to pitch ideas for deeply reported data-driven environmental stories in the public interest. Grantees will attend a one-week intensive in-person coaching session in Manila. Then each story grant recipient will receive one-on-one remote coaching for several hours a week through publication by both data and long-form journalism experts as they apply the process learned in the course to their own investigation. We will also work closely with editors and publishers to ensure that interactive content and longform storytelling are effectively integrated into various platforms

        Tell deeper environmental accountability stories through data

        The single most important predictor for success for this program is a passion for in-depth storytelling and a track record to prove it. We are looking for self-motivated, high-potential individuals in the Philippines who are open to learning a new process for investigating a story through data. Applicants might be employed at media companies or freelancers. We also welcome teams from a single media house. We welcome newsroom reporters, designers and developers who have some experience covering the environmental beat.

        Datasets for the Philippines

        Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards
        Sector
        Natural Disaster
        Environment
        Infrastructure
        Land Management Bureau
        Sector
        Land
        Land-use

        Meet our previous fellows

        Le Dinh Tuyen
        Vietnam
        Investigative Journalist, Thanh Nien

        When I wrote my story for the fellowship, I found the process fascinating. Especially with this new way of expressing data journalism combined with storytelling, which attracts readers’ attention. I was surprised and happy when my story was recognized by the Deputy Prime Minister.

        Read Tuyen's full interview and impact story here
        Kannikar Petchkaew
        Thailand
        Contributor, Mongabay

        Data journalism has helped me change the way I tell stories. From opinion-based to data-based, or even numeric-based. New-generation audiences care for facts, not opinions.

        Featured Stories

        In the Mekong Delta, Sand Mining Means Lost Homes and Fortunes
        Check out the story >>
        Cambodia’s Land Grab Endangers People, Forests, and the Climate
        Check out the story >>
        Uncovering Myanmar's Rare Earth: The Hidden Side of Clean Energy
        Check out the story >>

        Our alumni have published over 16 stories through the Academy.

        Explore how journalists have harnessed data to explain and expose crucial environmental issues.

        Check out all the stories we have produced!

        Behind the scenes of a data story is an exciting and rewarding process. It involves collecting, analyzing, and presenting data in a way that is easily understood and engaging.

        Check out the behind-the-scenes of a data story

        FAQs

        What does an ideal candidate look like?
        What is expected of students?
        Do I have to leave my job in order to participate in the Academy?
        What is expected of the supervisors of the Academy participants?
        I am a freelancer and do not have a media house in mind for publishing. Can I still apply for the Mentored Story Grant?
        What is covered in the academy?
        What is the thematic focus of the course?
        What kind of candidates may not be a good fit?
        How much does the academy cost?
        What do participants receive upon completion of the program?

        We are accepting applications until February 28.

        Apply Now!

        You will be asked to fill out an online application form and submit examples of previous stories you’ve written. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next round of selection.

        Keep me updated.

        Sign up to our mailing list to stay updated on announcements if you decide not to apply yet. We will be posting more on FAQs, application closing date and other program information.

        Keep me Updated!

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        Already a data journalism champion?

        We are looking for people passionate about data journalism in the Philippines to join our team.

        We will announce
        the open positions soon!

        Any questions?

        Contact us at hello@thibi.co