Green Beat Story Grants
AYEJ is opening its doors to student journalists in the Philippines who are eager to pursue in-depth news features for future publication.
Apply NowI. Overview
The Philippines is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Year after year, Filipino communities absorb the weight of intensifying typhoons, prolonged droughts, rising seas, and shrinking forests, yet the stories of those who resist, adapt, and rebuild are rarely the ones that make the headlines.
The Green Beat Story Grant is AYEJ's answer to that gap. We are awarding ten (10) grants of five thousand pesos (₱5,000) each to campus journalists across the Philippines who are ready to pursue bold, in-depth environmental stories that deserve to be told. In addition to funding, each grantee will receive editorial mentorship from AYEJ throughout the story production process.
II. Story Themes
We are open to a wide range of environmental stories in the news-feature format. Strong proposals will be grounded in the local context of the community the campus journalist is from and will demonstrate a clear connection between an environmental issue or innovation and the people it affects. The following themes are of particular interest, though this list is not exhaustive:
Story pitches about recycling drives, tree-planting events, or general pollution awareness will not be considered competitive. We are especially drawn to narratives that move beyond doom-and-gloom: hope-based, solutions-focused journalism that inspires action toward environmental protection. We want these stories to illuminate what hope looks like on the frontlines of the environmental crisis.
III. Who Can Apply
Applications are open to senior high school and college students in the Philippines with a background or demonstrated interest in campus or community journalism. We accept submissions in English or Filipino. Applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in a senior high school, college, or university in the Philippines.
- Be an active member or have recently served as a member of a campus media organization (print, online, broadcast, or radio) or any community or student media outlet.
- Have an interest or demonstrated experience in covering environmental, biodiversity, climate, or conservation-related issues.
- Secure a Letter of Endorsement from a campus media adviser, editor, journalism professor, community paper editor, or mentor journalist who is familiar with their work and willing to support them through the story production process.
If you used any generative AI tool to assist in preparing your proposal, disclose this in your application. Undisclosed use of AI-generated content may result in disqualification.
IV. Story Selection Criteria
Each proposal will be reviewed by the AYEJ editorial team based on the following four criteria. There are no separate scores or percentages — every criterion carries equal weight.
What is the environmental issue, initiative, or phenomenon you want to cover? We are looking for a clear, well-grounded story premise anchored in facts, data, and the local context. The best pitches demonstrate that the journalist has done some preliminary research and understands why this issue matters to a community, an ecosystem, or the country.
How are you going to tell it? A strong pitch offers a specific, fresh angle that goes beyond what has already been reported. Tell us who your key sources are and why they are the right people to interview. We are looking for pitches that connect environmental issues to a human story in a way that has not been done before.
Who does this story serve, and what do you want readers to do or feel after reading it? We are especially interested in stories that go beyond documenting just a problem. Pitches that surface solutions, highlight community-led responses, or inspire action are strongly preferred. Hope-based and solutions-focused journalism is not required, but it is what excites us most.
Is this story realistically executable by a campus journalist within the grant period? We are not looking for perfect resources, but for a pitch grounded in a clear plan for what is actually possible.
V. Timeline
VI. How to Apply
Applications are submitted entirely through our online form. No email submissions will be entertained. Prepare the following before filling out the form:
Answer all sections of the form: working title, story background, angle and framing, and impact.
A brief document summarizing your journalism experience and campus media involvement.
Must include full name, position, email, and contact number. There is no length requirement for this letter. 1-2 pages will be sufficient.
RequiredLinks or PDFs of up to two previously published stories. Any unpublished writing samples work too.
OptionalReady to tell your story?
Submit your pitch before June 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM. No email submissions entertained.
Submit Your Pitch#LetTheEarthBeHeard