Community
Reporting
Project
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The Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources announces the launch of its Community Reporting Project, a two-year pilot designed to support early-career journalists from marginalized communities who wish to pursue a career in environment and natural resources journalism. The pilot will be centered in the Great Lakes region.
The Community Reporting Project aims to expand equity and inclusion in environment journalism, train and build a representative pool of storytellers, and foster more and better reporting about underreported urban, rural and Indigenous communities in the United States.
The project will take place over 2026 and 2027 in partnership with the Uproot Project and Dr. Danielle Brown, the 1855 Community and Urban Journalism Professor at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism. The Community Reporting Project will consist of five elements each year:
IJNR training programs focused on environment-related issues that disproportionately affect communities of color or have been under-discussed in the current media ecosystem.
Equity, awareness and allyship training for newsrooms, editors, and journalists interested in improving sensitivity and accuracy of coverage.
Grants for reporting projects led by POC journalists and assisted by POC early career or student journalists in a mentee role.
A community-building Speaker Series, designed to help participants engage with professional journalists.
Separate, paid, eight-week Fellowships for two CRP participants to work alongside professional editors and reporters at Michigan Public Radio and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel each fall. Additional newsrooms may be added as the project grows.
Up to 20 Uproot members will be selected to participate in the Community Reporting Project, and the selected cohort will be eligible to apply for the subsequent reporting grants and fellowships.
The pilot Community Reporting Project is supported by generous grants from the Erb Family Foundation and the Joyce Foundation.
Now accepting applications for our 2026 cohort of Community Reporting Fellows!
The Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources is now accepting applications for its 2026 Community Reporting Project fellowships.
Accepted applicants will:
Attend a three-day, expenses-paid, science and environment reporting workshop produced by IJNR, the Uproot Project and partners.
Be eligible to apply for grants designed to cover travel and costs associated with reporting in under-reported communities.
Be eligible to apply for paid, eight-week fellowships at Michigan Public and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, to take place in Fall 2026.
Engage with other professional journalists as part of a community-building speaker series organized by Dr. Danielle Brown, the 1855 Community and Urban Journalism Professor at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.
Participate in other virtual workshops and trainings to be developed in response to the 2026 cohort’s needs and interests
Be connected to mentoring, editing, help with pitches and other support from both IJNR and the Uproot Project.
This program is intended for early-career journalists. To be considered for selection, applicants must be members of the Uproot Project. Up to 20 Uproot members will be selected to participate. (Uproot membership is free and open to all. Join here.)
Participation in the in-person workshop is mandatory. The workshop will take place May 27-30 and begin and end in Detroit, Michigan as we explore Great Lakes water quality and its intersections with public health and environmental justice. It will include an overnight stay on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie, home to Ohio State University’s Stone Lab research station.
To Apply:
Applicants must submit a resume, three clips, a statement of interest and a letter of recommendation via Submittable.
IJNR will select up to 20 applicants who represent diversity in geography, outlet, race, gender, experience, and journalistic medium. Priority consideration will be given to journalists of color.
Participation is free. IJNR covers all program expenses (food, lodging, local travel) during programs. Travel stipends are available to help defray the expense of getting to and from the program.
Applications are due Friday, April 24.