Ten dynamic teams of journalists and visual storytellers from across the Philippines have been selected for the prestigious Jaime Espina Klima Correspondents Fellowship, embarking on a journey to tell transformative stories about the countryโs transition to renewable energy.
These Fellows will explore the challenges and opportunities of a greener future, bringing community-focused narratives to life.
Now in its second year, the Fellowship honors the legacy of the late Jose Jaime โNonoyโ Espina, a tireless advocate for press freedom and the welfare of media workers.
Organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), the program underscores the urgent need for stories that amplify regional and grassroots perspectives on climate action and energy transition.
A Journey of Learning and Storytelling
From December 10 to 12, 2024, the Fellows will convene in Metro Manila for a three-day intensive learning session. This hands-on training will cover energy reporting, journalism ethics, and visual storytelling, enhanced by workshops on data journalism, photography, and media safety.
The Fellows will also engage in deep discussions with climate policy and renewable energy experts to refine their understanding of the issues.
Post-training, the teams will polish their story proposals with expert guidance.
Each team will receive a PHP 100,000 grant to fund their investigative and creative efforts, covering reporting expenses, stipends, and other production costs.
Spotlighting the Power of Local Stories
The final outputsโranging from in-depth articles to impactful audiovisual featuresโwill be published by the Fellowsโ respective media outlets and showcased on ICSCโs platforms.
These works aim to highlight how renewable energy can drive sustainable development, addressing urgent needs while empowering communities.
Celebrating a New Wave of Storytellers
The Fellows were chosen through a rigorous selection process led by a distinguished panel of journalists, editors, and energy experts.
Their proposals reflect a diverse range of compelling narratives, from indigenous resistance against coal mining to innovative agrivoltaics projects and solar-powered wildlife conservation.
Here are the trailblazers and their groundbreaking story ideas:
- Feliciano Genevieve and Ang Avon (Altermidya โ Peopleโs Alternative Media Network): Lumad Resistance Against Coal Miningโs Threat to Ancestral Lands in Lake Sebu
- Michael Philip Beltran and Geela Maryse Garcia (Mongabay): Be Like Water: Micro-Hydro Alternatives in the Cordillera Region
- Maria Elena Catajan and Sherwin De Vera (Northern Dispatch/North Luzon Monitor): Energy Projects in Cordillera: Success, Struggles, and Community Impact
- Marina Herrera and Vermarie Carranza (Radyo Natin Guimba DWTC 105.3FM): Agrivoltaics in Nueva Ecija: Harvesting Food and Energy for Climate Resilience
- Antonio L. Colina IV and Enrimand Esmer Dejeto (MindaNews): Tapping into the Power of Rivers to Produce Renewable Energy for IP Communities in Davao
- John Sebastian Sitchon and Jacqueline Hernandez (Rappler): How Solar Energy Supports Olangoโs Wildlife Rangers and Communities in Cebu
- Rjay Castor and Joshua Mendoza (Daily Guardian): Iloilo Cityโs Net-Metering Program: Paving the Way for Renewable Energy and Reducing Costs
- Neil Ambion and Cindy Aquino (Pinoy Weekly): Barriers to Greener Transport: Policies and Infrastructure Hindering Greener Modes in Metro Manila
- Lilian Tiburcio and Mark Louie Ladesma (GMA News Network): Empowering Tawi-Tawi: Renewable Energy and Innovation Boosting Seaweed Farming Resilience
- Elvie Villarido-Manaytay and Antonio Manaytay (ZS Tribune Today/Sun Times Philippines): Hydrogen-Powered Development in Zamboanga Sibugayโs Olutanga Island
This Fellowship, supported by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and data consultancy firm Thibi, is cultivating a new generation of climate storytellers. Together, they are bridging the gap between policy and people, ensuring that the voices shaping the energy future of the Philippines are heard loud and clear.
Reference: ICSC grants 2024 Jaime Espina Klima Correspondents Fellowship to 10 teams
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