This opportunity is open to practising journalists who:

• Live and work in Barbados, Grenada, or Trinidad & Tobago.
• Have at least one years’ newsroom experience.
• Are willing to commit to all programme activities.

Freelance journalists are welcome to apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate a strong portfolio of published work.

The fellowship is available to only 12 journalists (4 per country: Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago). Fellows will be selected based on the strength of their applications, including their experience, commitment to the programme, and potential to apply data journalism in disaster preparedness reporting.

While prior experience in data journalism is not required, applicants should have a strong interest in data-driven storytelling and be eager to develop these skills. Priority will be given to journalists with a track record of reporting on climate, environmental issues, or disaster preparedness.

For journalists travelling to Barbados for the hackathon, the programme will cover:

• Flights and accommodation.
• Per diems for meals and local expenses.

Journalists based in Barbados will receive per diems for the hackathon.

Additionally, teams developing data journalism projects will receive a stipend for in-field testing.

• Specialised training in data journalism for disaster preparedness.
• Hands-on experience developing real-world data journalism projects.
• Mentorship from experienced journalists and experts.
• A chance to test and showcase your project with regional impact.

If selected, participants must:

• Attend all programme activities, including the hackathon, virtual training, mentorship sessions, and projects showcase.
• Work in a team of four to develop and test a project.
• Complete pre-training and post-training surveys for project evaluation.
• Secure permission from their media organisation, if required.

Following the hackathon, teams will receive four sessions of virtual training, followed immediately by a four-month mentorship and solutions testing phase to refine and test their projects. The programme concludes with a virtual showcase event in late October 2025.

Yes. Selected participants are required to fully participate in the hackathon, virtual training, mentorship, and project showcase, covering a period of 6 months. Please note that the project will conclude with a projects showcase, where participants will be required to present your work, exchange insights, and discuss strategies for sustainability, cross-border collaboration, and future initiatives.

Country teams will work on data-driven journalism projects that contribute to disaster preparedness in their respective countries. These projects may involve data visualisations, investigative reports, or multimedia storytelling. Notably, all projects must have a strong community element, and include approaches that foster engagement of local communities.

Yes, participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate of completion.

We intend on notifying successful applicants by 24th March 2025 via a Letter of Acceptance. Selected participants will be required to explicitly confirm their fellowship and accept the related terms.

After completing your fellowship, your country team will need to submit:

• A short written report. A report template will be sent to you to help guide you on completing this report.
• High-resolution photos and videos from your in-field testing phase, for example: group photos, meetings, or community engagements.
• Receipts to recoup expenses borne during in-field testing (some expenses may be able to be recouped before the fellowship’s conclusion).

Yes, country teams will meet periodically (briefly every two weeks) with their mentor to provide updates on how their data-driven projects are proceeding, and to receive guidance.

Applications must be submitted via the official application form.

Deadline: Monday 10 March 2025

For any questions, contact Desilon Daniels at desilon@publicmediaalliance.org and cc Sarah Toporoff at stoporoff@hei-da.org.