Overlooked & Untold Stories
Announcing an inaugural Braided River grant program
supporting timely environmental reporting in Alaska
Call for proposals for 2025 fieldwork and reporting!
Braided River invites proposals from journalists and social media influencers for revelatory and in-depth reporting that examines the politics and consequences of public and private land management impacts to communities and biodiversity from resource development in Alaska.
This fund will support ambitious journalistic reporting that explores the overlooked and untold stories and voices in Alaska communities on the front lines of the consequences of the biodiversity, climate, and social justice crises.
The premise of this grant program is that decisions about development in Alaska are not parochial; conversely, decisions impact life on our shared planet. Examples include the millions of birds that migrate from all six continents to these northern nurseries, as well as vast carbon reserves that if kept intact could serve to mitigate the worldwide climate crisis. In addition, decisions made about Alaska lands have parallel relevance in the lower 48 states (issues such as the Roadless Rule, or Indigenous sovereignty). Policy decisions are largely made in the U.S. Congress, or by the Administration in Washington DC. Proposals that identify exposure focused on lower-48 national media will be given preference.
Photos credit: Kiliii Yuyan
Photo courtesy of the Arctic Refuge Defense Campaign
Examples of potential timely stories include, but are not limited to:
Stories of Indigenous communities of the North Slope of Alaska that include a balance of voices currently not well represented in the media.
Investigative reporting on the role of Alaskan state entities such as the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), oil and gas companies, and financing entities currently active in the North Slope—and their influence on democratic processes in North Slope self-determinism.
Indigenous-led reporting on North Slope or Southeast Alaska culture, economic development, subsistence, public health, and solutions for long-term resiliency in the face of the climate and biodiversity crises.
Alaska politics, economics, and the outsized influence of industrial scale resource development.
How Indigenous individuals and communities are leading the way (or being thwarted) in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.
How individuals and communities are prioritizing sustainability and subsistence over development, while actively acknowledging and addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis.
THE PROCESS
Braided River’s review committee will evaluate and award grants on a competitive and rolling basis.
Proposals must include:
Story angle and synopsis
Potential interview subjects
Primary source research.
Written commitment to publish from an established media platform guaranteeing publication
Identify the platform’s demographics and reach
Detail on deliverables
Length of article or proposed project
Whether it is a one off, or series of articles/pieces
Other components:
Photographs
Maps
Video
Committed media and promotional support from platform
Story development timeline
Expected publication date
Logistics and travel requirements
Itinerary: places and people
Timing and duration
Biography
Budget
Grant money may be spent on costs incurred for normal reporting activities including travel, lodging, meals, research, etc.
A portion of the funding may be used for compensation
Proposals must contain a budget with a request for a specific funding amount with details
2025 Grants: Proposals for 2025 fieldwork are being considered on a rolling basis. Time-sensitive Proposals limited to funding for travel in Alaska totaling $5,000 or less may be reviewed and responded to more quickly.
Submission process: Provide a written narrative addressing the above bulleted requirements. Please forward all grant request proposals by email to: outreach@braidedriver.org.
Applicants may not be lobbyists, public relations personnel, or communications employees writing solely on behalf of an organization or corporation.
Grants will not be given directly to journalism nonprofits or reporting organizations; journalists working or freelancing for these entities are welcome to apply as individuals.
Braided River will maintain the applicants’ proposed story-project topics and specific story ideas confidential until the time of publication.
Braided River pledges to give grant winners control over their work without editorial interference.
Liability disclaimer: Braided River’s role is solely to provide grants for reporting purposes and assumes no liability for the legal or safety risks undertaken during the course of research, interviewing, and reporting.
Above four photos of caribou and Gwich’in community members: Florian Schulz
Photography and video support from Braided River
Visual assets may be available pro bono to publications to complement reporting via funded relationships Braided River maintains with leading photographers and videographers. Braided River also works in collaboration with other science and education-based nonprofits. Braided River can coordinate the availability of film and audio libraries available.
About Braided River, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media organization
Through philanthropic support from individuals and foundations, Braided River develops photographically driven books, exhibits, films, and media campaigns that address the climate and biodiversity crisis in western North America. These forms of media take years to develop and are designed to support multi-year grassroots campaigns.
This inaugural journalism initiative will allow for rapid response and timely reporting, with a focus on often overlooked voices and untold stories.
Braided River maintains independent control of its programming and decision making and supports editorial independence.
With over 24 years of experience developing creative and educational content and media supporting Alaska conservation, Braided River is available for consultation or introductions to potential interview subjects as desired.
Editorial Independence, Transparency, and Ethics
This initiative subscribes to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough