Communicators and social media creators in India now have a unique opportunity to receive financial and editorial support to produce impactful stories about the country’s renewable energy transition.
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN), an initiative of Internews, is inviting applications from journalists, communicators, and digital content creators to develop in-depth reporting projects focused on India’s shift toward clean energy and clean mobility. Selected applicants will receive grant funding and one-on-one editorial mentorship to produce high-quality reports that highlight the progress, challenges, and solutions shaping India’s renewable energy future.
The application deadline is April 15, 2026.
Why This Grant Matters
India is rapidly transitioning toward renewable energy, with a national target of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. While progress is being made, several challenges remain, including delays in payments to renewable energy firms, limited grid capacity, land constraints for new projects, and uneven adoption of rooftop solar systems.
Through this grant program, EJN aims to support compelling reporting that informs the public, encourages policy dialogue, and highlights scalable solutions that empower local communities through decentralized renewable energy initiatives.
The program also seeks to promote strong storytelling and audience engagement through both traditional journalism and social media content.
What the Grant Supports
Selected applicants will receive funding and mentorship to produce original content focused on renewable energy in India.
Expected Outputs
For Communicators
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One in-depth report or a series of reports
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Formats may include text, video, or multimedia storytelling
For Social Media Content Creators
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At least five engaging pieces of social media content related to the topic
Collaborative applications between communicators and content creators are strongly encouraged, though the application must be submitted by a single lead applicant who will manage communication and funding.
Funding and Budget
Applicants must submit a detailed budget outlining the costs required to produce their reporting project.
Funding guidelines include:
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Up to ₹1 lakh for text or multimedia reporting projects
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Up to ₹3 lakh for video reporting or collaborative projects between communicators and content creators
Budgets may include expenses such as travel, accommodation, translation, data visualization, and reporting-related costs. However, equipment purchases should not exceed 10% of the total budget.
Freelancers may include compensation for their work, provided it does not exceed 30% of the total budget.
Editorial Mentorship
In addition to financial support, selected applicants will receive one-on-one editorial mentorship from experts at the Earth Journalism Network. This mentorship will help fellows strengthen their storytelling, investigative techniques, and overall impact.
Key Themes for Reporting
EJN encourages proposals that examine different aspects of India’s renewable energy transition, including:
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Renewable energy generation and deployment
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Financing and investment challenges
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Transmission and grid infrastructure
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Decentralized renewable energy systems
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Community empowerment through clean energy
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Innovative and scalable solutions addressing renewable energy barriers
Projects that bring fresh perspectives, new data insights, or investigative angles are particularly encouraged.
What the Program Is Not Looking For
Proposals are unlikely to be selected if they:
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Advocate for a specific policy response
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Focus primarily on profiling individuals or organizations
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Present overly optimistic “good news” stories without critical analysis
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Are self-published in personal blogs or newsletters
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Serve public relations or advocacy purposes
The goal is to support balanced, evidence-based reporting that represents diverse viewpoints and contributes meaningfully to public dialogue.
Timeline
The program follows the schedule below:
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Application Deadline: April 15, 2026
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Selection Announcement: Mid-May 2026
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Content Publication Deadline: October 31, 2026
Applicants must ensure that their reporting can be completed and published within this timeline, as extensions will not be granted.
Language Requirements
Applications may be submitted in the following languages:
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English
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Hindi
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Marathi
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Odiya
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Telugu
Reports can be published in any language; however, projects produced in local languages must include an English translation. Translation costs may be included in the project budget.
Publication and Acknowledgement
Reports produced through this grant must include the following acknowledgement:
“This report was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.”
Fellows may publish their stories first with their affiliated media outlets, but EJN and its partners retain rights to edit, publish, broadcast, and distribute the content.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their proposals through the official EJN application portal.
The application requires:
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A detailed story proposal
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A reporting plan and timeline
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A budget spreadsheet with justification
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For communicators: a letter of support from an editor confirming publication by October 31, 2026
Applicants who begin the process can save their application as a draft and return later to complete it.
Late applications will not be considered.
For more information about this apportunity, click here.
Late applications will not be considered.
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