Rainforest Journalism Fund Website Launches with Tools for Journalists

The Pulitzer Center is pleased to announce the launch of RainforestJournalismFund.org, a new multilingual website designed to showcase and support the work of journalists reporting at the local, regional, and global level to cover the three major global rainforest regions of the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia.

In addition to offering application materials to prospective grantees in bahasa Indonesia, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, the site also serves as a resource to help journalists based in the three rainforest regions develop local reporting capacity on related environmental issues. Stories supported by the Rainforest Journalism Fund are featured on the site in their original published languages. Multilingual pre-recorded webinars are also available on demand.

"We are thrilled to share this beautiful website highlighting the hundreds of stories already produced under the auspices of the Rainforest Journalism Fund and providing easy access to reporting resources and information on how to apply for grants," said Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center. "We're excited to have this platform for building an even stronger community in the months and years ahead."

The RJF coordinators from the three rainforest regions noted the key ways the website will further work on rainforest issues:

• "Any journalist in the world with strong ideas for rainforest reporting could apply for a Rainforest Journalism Fund grant. To learn how to submit a proposal, they just have to check our website." Harry Surjadi, Southeast Asia Regional Coordinator
• "This website makes it possible to read our grantees' journalistic reports, increasing awareness about tropical rainforests and their role in climate change and global environment." Verónica Goyzueta, Amazon Regional Coordinator
• "Journalists who miss one of our webinars, or simply want to learn more and dig deeper, can visit our website. The site includes recordings and materials that can be viewed at your convenience." Augustine Kasambule, Congo Basin Regional Coordinator

Principal funding for the Rainforest Journalism Fund comes from Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, via a five-year grant that guarantees the editorial independence of the Pulitzer Center and its news partners across the globe.

"We are losing tropical forests at a terrifying pace," said Sveinung Rotevatn, Norway's minister for climate and environment. "Too often, that forest loss is driven by hidden, illegal activities executed with impunity. The first essential step to counter this situation is transparency, and for transparency we need quality journalism to do its job. Critical, independent journalism exposes wrongdoings, holds the powerful to account, provides an outlet for public opinion and debate and informs good decisions and policies."

About the Rainforest Journalism Fund

The Rainforest Journalism Fund (RJF), launched in September 2018, represents a major investment in international environmental and climate reporting, with a commitment to support nearly 200 original reporting projects during the first five years. The RJF also facilitates annual regional conferences, webinars, and other opportunities for professional development, with the aim of raising the level of reporting on global tropical rainforest issues such as deforestation and climate change.

About the Pulitzer Center

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is an innovative, award-winning nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to supporting in-depth engagement with underreported global issues. We sponsor quality global reporting and a unique program of outreach and education to schools and universities.