Environmental
Data Journalism
Academy

for India

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

In partnership with Internew's Earth Journalism Network
The application deadline is extended till April 20, 2024.

The intensive six-month Academy has been created for select journalists to produce in-depth data-driven journalism on critical environmental issues in India. The course, which will run in 2024, is divided into two parts: two months of Fundamentals of Data Journalism online learning, and four months of Advanced Data Storytelling (combination of in-person and remote). The Advanced Data Storytelling phase will provide story mentorships that come with a story production stipend to 15 fellows who completed the Fundamentals phase and successfully pitched a story.

Journalists will work on under-reported data-driven environmental stories, particularly on India’s water resources, that are in the public interest.

View Program DetailsView Program FAQs

What you’ll be learning

1.5 months
June 2024
Fundamentals of Data Journalism
4 months
Mid-July - November 2024
Advanced Data Storytelling (Intermediate + Story Production)
December 2024
Course Completed!
December 2024
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 India, 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. Journalists who successfully pass the course shall receive a certificate of completion.

Following the completion of the Fundamentals course, journalists will be asked to pitch data story ideas covering water and environmental issues in India. 15-20 journalists will be selected to progress to the Advanced Data Storytelling course, and will be provided with mentorships. 15 of them will be provided with a story production stipend to support the production of the data journalism projects.
    Advanced Data Storytelling

    This 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.

    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.

    Under the thematic focus of water and environment in India, each grantee will receive funding to support a story that is part of an explanatory series on a single issue.

      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 India 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.

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      Uncovering Myanmar's Rare Earth: The Hidden Side of Clean Energy
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      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 Advanced Data Storytelling course?
      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?

      The application deadline is extended till April 20, 2024.

      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.

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      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.

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      Already a data journalism champion?

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

      We will announce
      the open positions soon!

      Any questions?

      Contact us at hello@thibi.co