Join our Southeast Asia Biodiversity Media Bootcamp where we bring together journalists, civil society organizations’ communications practitioners, and communications students to achieve the common good: communicating biodiversity conservation within the context of Zero Waste!

There are no strenuous military drills here; instead, you will learn:

• Biodiversity terms and various international biodiversity conventions
• Environmental issues in Southeast Asia especially the marine plastic pollution
• Zero Waste contribution to biodiversity
• Biodiversity reporting from knowledge building to persuasion and moving the audience to act
• Waste pickers as biodiversity champions; and
• Zero Waste communities as vanguards of biodiversity

And to top it off, you will be mentored by biodiversity and communications experts and top-notch journalists from Southeast Asia while working with other students, comms practitioners, and journalists.

Criteria for Application 

1. For Communication Officers, the applicant must be working as a Communications Officer for a GAIA AP member organization.  In the absence of a dedicated Communications Officer, a staff assigned to do communications work for the organization may qualify, provided that he/she is willing to write a biodiversity piece as part of the deliverables of the bootcamp.  He or she must be a regular employee of the member organization.  Interns and consultants with more than one year contract with the organization may apply.

• For Journalists, the Bootcamp is open to early-career journalists (at least 3 years) from print, radio, or television.

• For Communication students, the applicant must be a Communication college or university student and at least 18 years old.

1. Applicants must have a keen interest in science, environmental, and developmental journalism.
2. The applicant must be willing to commit to the 5-month bootcamp.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification in succeeding GAIA AP bootcamps, training, and fellowships.
3. The applicant must secure an endorsement letter from the organization’s head (for communication officers), media outlet or peer journalist (for journalists), and teacher or journalist mentor (for communication students) to attend the bootcamp and be granted time to attend the bootcamp sessions.
4. Other than the once-a-month sessions, the participant must commit to regular consultation with the mentors.
5. The journalist applicant must have experience in covering and engaging with CSOs.  Previous engagement with a GAIA member CSOs is a plus.
6. Communication Students with volunteer experience with a CSO and involvement with the school paper are a plus.

Slots available

• 12 journalists: Cambodia (1), Indonesia (3), Malaysia (1), Philippines (3), Thailand (1), Vietnam (3)
• 12 comms practitioners: Cambodia (1), Indonesia (3), Malaysia (1), Philippines (3), Thailand (1) Vietnam (3)
• 12 comms students: Cambodia (1), Indonesia (3), Malaysia (1), Philippines (3), Thailand (1) Vietnam (3)

The fellowship will be conducted in English and will run from August to October with once-a-month online sessions. Story grants are available. Slots are limited so send your applications before August 1, 2022.

Apply now!

SEA Biodiversity Bootcamp

GAIA AP has a strict non-discrimination policy.  We believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants will be screened based on completed requirements and may be called for an interview if needed. For more inquiries, email Sonia@no-burn.org