Solutions Journalism Network has launched a new initiative focused on responses that address the mental health needs of young people across the United States.
Donor Name: Solutions Journalism Network
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes
Deadline: 11/30/2023
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Solutions Journalism Network is currently working with individual journalists, newsrooms and other organizational partners to support solutions-focused coverage of this crucial issue.
In order to catalyze high quality reporting on responses that are serving young people (14-24), they need to ensure that reporting includes their perspectives and reflects the solutions they think would make a difference. As such they’re also focusing on helping produce content in new, more accessible formats for this audience that accesses information in non-traditional media platforms.
SJN know video is a powerful tool to reach all audiences now, and especially younger generations. That’s why they are trying something new and offering challenge grants to support 5-10 videos, designed for social media like TikTok and Instagram, that complement reporting on local responses that address the mental health needs of young people.
SJN is offering grants of $5,000 to support video storytelling that centers the experiences and perspectives of young people grappling with mental health issues and finding sustainable responses to this widespread phenomena. The hope is that these projects will inspire a conversation in your newsroom or your community about the things that are making a difference and helping this age group that is reporting significant mental health challenges. Videos should ideally be connected to additional reporting that delves into the potential solutions to the issues raised in the videos.
Solutions Journalism Network know it’s helpful to see some examples. Here are a few ideas:
- Young people talking about what would help them in their school, followed by reporting on how other communities have implemented similar programs
- A series of videos that feature peer mentors talking about their training and experience supporting other people their age
- Videos by young people that provide information on how to access local resources and mental health support, followed by reporting on those local programs
Eligibility Criteria
Newsrooms and individual journalists based in the United States are welcome to apply. Collaborations between community organizations and local newsrooms are also encouraged.
What Solutions Journalism Network is looking for in proposals:
- Clearly defined projects that show how the videos will be connected to additional reporting that does include the four pillars of solutions journalism:
- A focus on the response instead of just the problem
- Evidence that the response is working, beyond just good intentions
- Limitations of the response
- Insights that others can use to learn from this response
- Center the experiences and perspective of young people between the of ages 14-24, not health care providers or other experts in the field.
- Your project should aim for 5-10 short videos (2 minutes or less) that are designed for distribution on social media. The videos can be shot on phones and don’t have to be heavily produced, but your proposal should share how you will allocate the funding.
For more information, visit SJN.
