Free Virtual Media Workshop 2026: EJN Training for Indonesian Journalists on Business and Climate + Certificate and Story Grant Opportunity

If you report on business, energy or the environment in Indonesia and you want your stories to matter — this workshop is built for you. The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is running a five-day virtual workshop in January 2026 aimed at strengthening how journalists cover private sector engagement with climate change — from energy transitions to carbon finance. Attend all sessions, get a certificate, and become eligible to apply for a post-workshop story grant. Slots are limited (30 participants), so this is both a real opportunity and something you should treat seriously.

Join if you want sharper tools to interrogate company claims, better access to subject experts, and story ideas that go beyond press releases. This is not a lecture series for the comfortable; it’s practical training designed to make your reporting more rigorous, credible, and publishable.

At a Glance

Why this workshop matters (Introduction)

Indonesia is at a pivot point: large energy assets, a sprawling industrial base, and fast-moving private sector actors reshaping transport and power. Business stories that merely quote corporate targets or repeat PR lines miss the hard questions — who pays for the transition, which workers are affected, where emission reductions actually happen, and whether promised solutions are real or cosmetic.

EJN’s program is practical. Over five two-hour sessions, you’ll meet subject experts who’ll explain technical realities and regulatory context in plain language. You’ll also be pushed to generate story ideas you can pitch or pursue after the workshop. That combination — technical grounding plus editorial focus — is rare. If you want to cover greenwashing, corporate net zero claims, or the mechanics of carbon markets with confidence, this will help you do it better.

The added incentives matter: a completion certificate signals to editors (and to funders, later) that you have formal training. The follow-up story grant can be the difference between an under-resourced, under-researched piece and a deep, published investigation. For freelancers, that grant and the connections you’ll make with editors and experts could be the beginning of several publishable stories.

What This Opportunity Offers

This workshop offers concentrated training and practical editorial outcomes. Across five sessions, each two hours long, EJN will cover: energy transition and industrial sector dynamics in Indonesia; technological shifts and business models in renewables; ESG implementation and its legal/regulatory dimensions; carbon markets including green and blue carbon; and climate finance both international and domestic. Each day is structured so you can ask questions, test interview lines, and workshop angles.

Beyond content, the value comes in three concrete areas. First, you get access to subject-matter experts — not only academics but regulators, practitioners and sometimes corporate figures — who can explain how systems really work. That access is useful not just during the sessions but afterwards, when you need sources for a story. Second, EJN emphasizes editorial development: participants will be encouraged to map potential story pathways. The workshop helps you move from an abstract issue to a publishable narrative, with suggested data sources, potential interviewees, and newsroom-friendly framing. Third, the certificate and story grant eligibility provide practical support for turning those ideas into published pieces.

The story grant, while details will be shared with selected participants, is a real incentive. Past EJN workshops have funded reporting that resulted in investigations, explanatory journalism, and cross-border collaboration. Expect the follow-up grant to prefer pieces that show editorial ambition, clarity in methodology, and a plan for publication or distribution.

Who Should Apply

This workshop is aimed at journalists across Indonesia who work in any medium — online, print, radio or television. That means staff reporters at national outlets, local newsroom reporters, independent freelancers, and community journalists are all encouraged to apply. The organisers are especially keen to recruit women, those based in rural or remote areas, Indigenous journalists, and those earlier in their careers — because these voices are often underrepresented in business and climate coverage.

Practical examples of good fits: a radio journalist from Sulawesi who wants to report on a new wind farm and its impact on local livelihoods; a freelancer in Jakarta investigating corporate carbon offset purchases; a local newspaper reporter covering an industrial estate’s transition away from coal; a TV producer seeking better questions to ask companies that claim they’re “going green”; or a young reporter with an interest in green finance who wants to understand how carbon credits work. If your current beat touches industry, transport, energy, finance, environment or labour issues, this will help you sharpen your approach.

You should be prepared to attend all five sessions. The sessions are interactive and rely on participant engagement — absent journalists miss the core value. If you plan to apply from a newsroom or as a freelancer, make sure you have quiet internet access during 4:00–6:00 PM Jakarta time on the listed dates.

Themes and agenda snapshot

The workshop runs across five focused themes:

• Day 1 — Energy transition and industrial sectors in Indonesia (includes greenwashing practices)
• Day 2 — Technology transformation and business opportunities in renewable energy
• Day 3 — ESG implementation: regulations and private sector involvement
• Day 4 — Carbon markets: mechanics, green and blue carbon potential
• Day 5 — Climate finance: international and domestic flows and how they reach projects

A full agenda will be shared with selected participants; expect short lectures followed by Q&A and breakout sessions to workshop story ideas.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (5–7 Practical Tips)

1. Treat the application like a pitch to an editor. The selection panel is looking for journalists who will use the training to produce publishable work. State clearly what you want to learn and how that will shape a story. For example: “I want to understand how corporate PPAs (power purchase agreements) work so I can investigate whether a new solar project will actually reduce local pollution.”

2. Bring a concrete story idea. Applicants who name one or two feasible story pathways show clarity of purpose. Outline potential sources, data you’ll need, and the publication or audience. You don’t need finished reporting — just a plausible plan.

3. Share recent clips that demonstrate skill. Send 1–3 recent pieces that show your reporting range. Include at least one example that demonstrates investigative skills (interviewing, document use, data handling) if you have it.

4. Explain your availability and commitment. Because sessions are short and sequenced, missing one can reduce the benefits. State clearly you can attend every session at 4–6 PM Jakarta time. If you require schedule flexibility, mention it; selection favors full-availability candidates.

5. If you use generative AI, disclose it. The application requires transparency about AI use. If you used an AI tool for drafting or research, explain which parts and how you verified the results. Demonstrating good judgement around AI increases trust.

6. Emphasize local impact. Story proposals that focus on community impact, worker implications, or local-level consequences tend to stand out. Funders want journalism that holds powerful actors to account and connects with people affected on the ground.

7. Plan for publication early. Name the outlets you aim to publish in or strategies to amplify the work (partnering with local NGOs for distribution, translating for community radio, etc.). Concrete dissemination plans make your application more competitive.

These tips aren’t theoretical — they mirror what selection committees prize: clarity, editorial ambition, and a path to publication.

Application Timeline (Realistic plan working backward)

• December 15, 2025 — Application deadline. Submit early; don’t wait for the last day.
• Early–mid December — Finalize your story idea, update your clips, draft a short statement of intent, and prepare any required documents.
• Late November — Reach out to any referees or editors who might confirm your availability or support your application. Collect URLs to work samples.
• Second week of January 2026 — Successful applicants notified (per EJN’s schedule).
• January 22–31, 2026 — Workshop sessions occur. Be ready and present.
• After the workshop — EJN will share details about the story grant application window and timelines.

Start your application process at least four weeks before the deadline. That gives you time to craft a sharp story idea and gather supporting materials.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

EJN typically asks applicants to provide a few standard items. While the official application form will list exact requirements, prepare these in advance:

• Short biography/CV (1–2 pages) that highlights relevant reporting experience and contact information.
• 1–3 recent clips (links or PDFs) showing your journalism skills. Choose pieces that demonstrate reporting, sourcing, and narrative clarity.
• A short statement of intent or motivation (usually 200–400 words): explain why you want to join, what you hope to learn, and at least one story idea you might pursue after the workshop.
• Confirmation of availability for all five sessions (dates and Jakarta time).
• If requested, a brief note on accessibility needs or language preferences.

Preparation tips: polish your clips for readability (remove broken links, include a short annotation describing your role in collaborative pieces), and write a crisp motivation statement that reads like a pitch. If you used AI tools in preparing any materials, disclose that and explain human verification steps.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Selection committees look for applicants who combine editorial promise with realistic plans. Standout applications usually have these traits:

• Focused editorial intent: You present a clear question or angle, not a vague interest. For example, “I will investigate whether a company’s net-zero promise includes offsetting via unverified carbon credits” is stronger than “I’m interested in climate and business.”
• Evidence of reporting ability: Strong clips showing sourcing, documents, or data handling signal you can execute a deeper story.
• Feasible scope: Proposals that can be advanced through a story grant (or that have a reasonable start-to-publish plan) are favored.
• Community or sector relevance: If your proposed story addresses local impacts or systemic accountability (workers, communities, regulation), it demonstrates public value.
• Engagement potential: Applicants who include a dissemination strategy (which outlets, languages, or formats) show they’re thinking beyond a single piece.

Selection panels also seek diversity of geography and media types, so unusual proposals from underreported regions or languages can stand out if they’re solid.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Submitting vague or generic motivation statements. Don’t say “I care about climate” and leave it at that. Explain a specific question, data source, or local angle. Solution: Draft a one-paragraph pitch that answers who, what, where, why, and how.

2. Sending irrelevant clips. A lifestyle piece or generic features may not show the skills needed for investigative business-climate reporting. Solution: Choose clips that show evidence-gathering, interviews with officials/businesses, or data use.

3. Failing to confirm availability. Organizers expect full attendance across the five sessions. Solution: Before applying, ensure you can be present on each date and time; note any potential conflicts in your application.

4. Ignoring the AI disclosure requirement. Concealing AI use can lead to disqualification. Solution: Be transparent — say what was AI-assisted (if anything) and how you checked it.

5. Over-ambitious project ideas with no plan. Proposals that promise a multi-country investigation with no resources raise red flags. Solution: Scale ideas to what you can realistically report with a story grant or show a staged plan: research, interviews, publish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the workshop free and are there any hidden costs? A: The workshop itself is free. Because it’s virtual, there are no travel costs. If you need to buy data or access archives for post-workshop reporting, those costs would need separate funding unless covered by the story grant.

Q: Do I need prior climate reporting experience? A: No, but you should demonstrate journalistic ability. EJN welcomes early-career journalists who show curiosity and editorial clarity. If you lack climate experience, explain how the training will change your reporting.

Q: What language will sessions use? A: EJN typically uses English for international sessions, but they have hosted regionally tailored workshops in local languages. Check the official page or indicate language preference in your application to clarify.

Q: What is the story grant amount? A: EJN will share story grant details with selected participants. Historically, grants vary by program but are intended to support reporting costs. Don’t assume a specific figure; instead, plan your post-workshop pitch with realistic budget items.

Q: Can international journalists apply? A: This workshop targets journalists across Indonesia. International participants are unlikely to be prioritized, unless they are based in Indonesia and report locally.

Q: What counts as generative AI usage in the application? A: Any use of AI tools for drafting, translation, summarization, or idea generation should be disclosed. Explain the tool, what it produced, and how you verified accuracy.

Q: How are participants selected? A: Selection is competitive and aims to balance region, medium, gender and editorial promise. Strong proposals that show a clear plan and potential for publication do well.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to apply? Take these concrete steps now:

1. Draft a 200–400 word motivation statement that includes a clear story idea and publication plan.
2. Gather 1–3 recent clips and a short CV/bio.
3. Confirm you can attend every session (4–6 PM Jakarta time on the listed dates).
4. Be ready to disclose any AI tools used in preparing your materials.
5. Apply before December 15, 2025. Remember: only 30 participants will be selected.

How to Apply / Get Started

Ready to apply? Visit the official application link and follow the instructions. Successful applicants will be notified in the second week of January 2026.

Apply now: EJN Virtual Media Workshop Application

For more program details and updates, check the EJN workshop page linked above. If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact the program office via the official page.

Make the most of this chance: treat your application like a pitch, bring a concrete story idea, and show you are ready to convert training into journalism that holds businesses to account and explains real impacts for people and places across Indonesia.