I am a journalist
I am a scientist
I am a journalist
If you are a journalist with an idea for an investigative journalism story where scientific expertise is needed, then the Journalism Science Alliance is here to support you. To apply, you will need the support of a media organisation and the expertise of a scientist, who wants to embark on the investigation with you.
Find a scientist
If you don’t know a scientist in the scientific field you are interested in, start by exploring research institutions or universities nearby. In some countries, there are science media centers, who may provide contacts of experts in different fields. If any of your colleagues is a science journalist, they might also be able to help.
Communication departments may help
The email contacts of scientists are usually not hard to find but receiving a timely answer is not always easy. An effective entry point in research institutions may be the communication departments. Explain that you are working on an application for a journalism project related to a specific science topic and ask them for advice. Good communication departments should be able to help you find and establish contact with a scientist.
Expose your idea
Research a little about the scientists’s work and send them an email exposing your idea, requesting a quick feedback. Make sure to include a link to the Journalism Science Alliance call (scientists are very familiar with calls). Leave your contact details and make yourself available to clarify doubts and exchange ideas. You may call them later to confirm that they have received your message.
Explain what is investigative journalism
After establishing contact, make sure the scientist understands what an investigative journalism project entails and what their role is. Discuss timelines, feasibility (on both ends), budget, and outputs before submitting an application. Be open to suggestions and ready to adapt your initial idea.
Lead with collaboration in mind
Since this is an investigative journalism project, you will be leading. But a relevant scientific input is essential for this programme. The purpose of the Journalism Science Alliance is to foster a collaborative culture that helps journalists and scientists navigate challenges and work together effectively, supported by training and mentorship provided by the programme.
I am a scientist
I am a scientist
If you are a scientist in any field of knowledge, you are a potential partner for a Journalism Science Alliance project. The Journalism and Science Alliance grants aim to support investigative journalism projects grounded on scientific evidence. Applications are led by journalists and media organizations but teams require at least one scientist on board.
Help the journalist
If a journalist contacts you, they may have found a story worth telling and they need your scientific expertise to tell it. Help the journalist assess if their idea is scientifically sound and feasible and whether you are available to help with the investigation. Ask questions and make sure the project’s goals, timeline, outputs and budget are clear for both of you. Remember this is a journalistic investigation not a research project, so you will need to follow the journalist’s lead.
Contact a journalist
If, on the other hand, you have an idea for an investigation on a topic of public interest, you may contact a journalist and pitch your idea. If you don’t know a journalist yet, now is a good time to meet one. To identify possible journalists, you may start by exploring news articles in your field. Or you may ask your communication department for help. Journalists are usually quite easy to contact. Just send them an email with your idea and leave your contact details so they may come back to you. Make sure to include a link to the Journalism Science Alliance call.
Be clear and concise
When exposing your idea, keep it simple – as scientists, journalists are commonly busy and stressed-out – so be as clear and concise as possible, at least in a first approach. If the contact succeeds, you will have the opportunity to explore the subject with all the required detail and scientific accuracy.
Application process
The application process is simple. The journalist, with the scientist’s support, writes the proposal. The application is submitted by the media outlet to which the journalist is associated with. If the grant is awarded, the research institution will be invited to sign the grant agreement. While individual scientists may participate, the grant requires the involvement of at least one research/academic institution.
Journalists and scientists collaboration
Keep in mind that the goal of the Journalism Science Alliance are journalistic investigations not research projects. The purpose of the Journalism Science Alliance is to foster a collaborative culture that helps journalists and scientists navigate challenges and work together effectively, supported by training and mentorship provided by the programme.