Applications are open for the ICFJ/Serrapilheira Institute Programme 2023 for Brazilian Journalists to Investigate Scientific Disinformation ($10,000 grant)

Deadline: February 5, 2023

Applications are open for the ICFJ/Serrapilheira Institute Programme 2023 for Brazilian Journalists to Investigate Scientific Disinformation. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is partnering with the Serrapilheira Institute to offer journalists, researchers and communications professionals from Brazil the opportunity to take part in the Disarming Disinformation "Investigathon" in the United States in April 2023.

The spread of dis- and misinformation in the scientific world is dangerously common. Misleading data about medicine and vaccines became even more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, but misinformation related to biology, chemistry, physics, computing and mathematics also goes viral – often through false studies and low-quality research.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Serrapilheira Institute, the first private non-profit institution geared towards fostering science in Brazil, are partnering to support collaborative reporting conducted by Brazilian journalists, communications professionals and/or researchers. The initiative is part of the global Disarming Disinformation programme, launched by ICFJ with the Scripps Howard Foundation, and aims to support journalism that reveals the people and money behind disinformation campaigns.

Benefits

• Investigathon participants will have the opportunity to publicly pitch their reporting projects for funding, and up to three of the five Brazilians attending the Investigathon will receive grants of up to US $10,000 to produce and publish their projects in the first half of 2023.
• Expert mentors will provide guidance to the teams throughout the reporting phase.

Eligibility

They are looking for candidates who:

• Live and/or work in one of the countries of the Americas (North, Central and/or South). Note: entries from other regions will not be evaluated.
• Can actively participate and interact at an event held in English. ICFJ may request an interview with some of the candidates to assess this competence.
• Is willing to work in a truly collaborative way and according to a schedule previously defined by the ICFJ with the interested parties.
• Is a journalist, communicator, researcher and/or professional from other areas of expertise who have proven ability to contribute to the production and/or distribution of an investigative report on who/what funds scientific disinformation.
• Have knowledge and experience in the area of ​​disinformation.

Selection Criteria

• Clarity in the presentation of the proposal (with an objective description of the problem and its scope)
• Clarity in the research strategy and methodology (with an objective description of the steps to be taken, the partners involved and the role of each one of them)
• Ability to publish before the deadline of June 30, 2023
• Originality, with a goal of revealing previously unreported information about the financing of disinformation in the Americas
• Partnerships that will be active in all phases of the project, not just at the time of publication of the material. With this program, ICFJ seeks to unite reporters, editors, researchers and communicators from across the Americas, creating a new network.
• Professional profile. ICFJ believes that multidisciplinarity is a key aspect in combating misinformation. Successful applicants will have a team bringing together professionals with varied profiles.

Application

The deadline is February 5, 2023. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Brasília time).

Click here to apply

For more information, visit ICFJ/Serrapilheira Institute.