Should I apply?

Wondering if IJNR programs are right for you? Here’s an easy checklist to help determine whether you’re qualified!

You should apply if:

  • You are a working journalist. This can mean that you’re a freelancer, or employed by a newsroom. You can work in radio, print, TV, photography, digital, or any combination thereof! You can be an early-career reporter, or a veteran journalist with decades of experience. And it doesn't matter if you cover the environment, business, politics, food or the metro desk - the stories we explore touch on just about every beat in the newsroom.

  • You are interested in learning more about whatever subject/issue/place we’re covering. Always wanted to know more about PFAS? Curious about ocean issues? Seeking further knowledge about wildfire, or drinking water, or environmental justice? Keep your eyes peeled for a program that floats your boat and submit an application!

  • You intend to produce a story (or stories) about the information you’ve learned during our program. While we know our programs provide good background, we also hope that participating journalists will go out and put what they’ve learned to good use. If you think you might go on to write about what you’ve seen and heard with IJNR, go ahead and apply!

  • You are able to commit to the full duration of the program. Workshops require a couple days of your time; institutes up to a full week. No coming late or leaving early, please. If you’re able to fit it into your schedule, we’d love to have you on board.

  • You like talking shop with colleagues. One bonus to our programming is that we get journalists who cover these issues all in the same room - whether it's virtual or not. If discussing the challenges of reporting on these complicated issues with a group of fellow journalists sounds good to you, then you should definitely apply!

You probably shouldn’t apply if:

  • You work in a PR department or communications position, or are otherwise employed by an advocacy or industry group.

  • You are an undergraduate student. (We occasionally make exceptions for graduate students who are soon to enter the world of professional journalism and who have already started compiling bylines.)

  • You are a working journalist, but have no intention of covering the material you learn about during the program.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a shout! contact@ijnr.org