The Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC, in partnership with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, is seeking a select number of journalists for the third iteration of Climate Disinformation Media Fellowship. Apply now if you have research ideas on the threat of growing climate denialism, the relationship between big tech and climate obstruction, the climate counter-disinformation community or similar topics.
The application deadline is Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 23:59 CEST.
Climate change is the existential challenge of our time. Climate disinformation aims to undermine the scientific consensus on climate change, obstruct climate action, and distort public understanding of climate science, policy, or solutions. It is a deliberate effort, driven by fossil fuel interests, to mislead the public about the urgency of the climate crisis. And it has human costs: not only in preventing much-needed action to limit emissions, but also in spreading harmful information during climate-related natural disasters and often encouraging the targeting of scientists and climate leaders.
In today’s information environment, climate disinformation is part of a larger, interconnected web of false narratives: from anti-science rhetoric to attacks on democratic institutions that feed off one another and evolve quickly. In the US and other right-wing governments, government censorship and the removal of key research and databases contributes to the rapid dissemination of false narratives.
To counter these trends, the climate movement needs to work together across sectors, platforms, and borders to understand how disinformation networks operate and develop effective solutions.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington DC and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union are pleased to offer the Climate Disinformation Media Fellowships to help shed light on specific cases of online climate disinformation. From mid-September to mid-November 2025, Climate Disinformation Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct research and develop original solutions-oriented storytelling on this critical issue.
WHAT WE OFFER
- A research fellowship stipend of $2,000
- Full ownership of your work — you retain the right to publish elsewhere; however, the final output must be released under a CC-BY license
- Publication and visibility through our websites and social media channels
- An expert-led training opportunity with the other fellows to support your professional development (early October)
- Editorial support to help refine and elevate your work
WHO CAN APPLY
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Reside in Canada, the United States, or their claimed territories
- Demonstrate a clear interest in the issue of climate disinformation
- Have a strong track record of publishing on topics related to climate and/or democracy
- Show a commitment to completing the research within the fellowship timeline and to delivering at least one journalistic piece
WHAT'S EXPECTED DURING THE FELLOWSHIP
(mid September – beginning of December 2025)
Fellows are expected to:
- Produce at least one final output, such as a journalistic article, audio or video feature, research report, or similar piece by the end of the fellowship (an English-language summary shall be submitted if the full work is not in English)
- Submit a publication plan outlining the timeline, platform(s) / media outlets, and intended audience for their work
- Engage actively on social media, documenting their research journey and promoting their work in coordination with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC, using platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, X (Twitter), Mastodon, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications should include the following materials:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV). Please use a standard format, max. 2 pages in PDF. Do not include a photo, date of birth, religion, or marital status.
- Pitch document (1 page PDF). Outline the following:
- Your qualifications and relevant experience
- Your story proposal(s): What case(s) do you plan to investigate? Why are they relevant? What insights could they provide for countering climate disinformation?
- Work samples. Submit two samples of previous work, either as PDFs or links. If the original language is not English, please include a brief English summary of each piece.
All applications must be submitted through BambooHR.
For any questions, please contact Brendan.Odonnell[at]us.boell.org.
Check out the work of former climate disinformation media fellows.