Heath soil is far from basic
Mei Mei Chow
June 21, 2022
Macaranga Sprouts
A MACARANGA INITIATIVE TO NURTURE ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS
What is Macaranga Sprouts?
In December 2020, Macaranga embarked on our plan to mentor new environmental journalists. This is something both founders are passionate about.
We picked 7 of the many applicants to join our inaugural cohort of Sprouts.
Then in September 2021, we announced a public call for the 2nd cohort of Sprouts. We chose 8 out of the dozens that applied.
Although the Sprouts journalists have full-time jobs or studies, they are keen to learn journalism and are passionate to report on Malaysia’s environment.
Both cohorts first undergo our journalism training workshop. The 2nd workshop ran from 25-26 September and was sponsored by Soroptomist International of Bentong who focuses primarily on environmental and educational projects.
Thereafter, we train and mentor the trainees to become environmental journalists. This includes devising story ideas and angles, reporting, writing, and visualisation.
Each Sprout will produce at least two stories during the programme. They will be paid for every story, thanks to the generous contributors to our campaign in April 2021. (Details below.)
Macaranga Sprouts
Here are Sprouts stories published with your contributions
An End To the Culture of Eating Turtle Eggs
Bryan Yong
May 27, 2022
City Farms Growing Resilience
Tan Kai Ren
May 19, 2022
Locals Feeling Loss of Wild Pigs
Kymberley Chu, SL Wong and Alven Chang
February 22, 2022
Where Are All The Sabah Pigs?
Kymberley Chu, SL Wong and Alven Chang
February 16, 2022
Lessons Learned from #HutanPergiMana
Michelle Liu
January 7, 2022
The True Value of Limestone
Natasha Zulaikha
January 4, 2022
What It Takes to Manage Landslides
Mei Mei Chow
December 24, 2021
Cement Matters in Climate Crisis
Natasha Zulaikha
December 16, 2021
Reconsider ban on turtle egg sale, say Terengganu traders
Bryan Yong
December 6, 2021
Fish On Land
Lucy Wong
November 18, 2021
How Do Mangroves Escape the Salt?
Lucy Wong
September 13, 2021
Can Experts Save Malaysia’s Remaining Endangered Large Animals?
Pashmina Binwani
July 11, 2021
Mangrove Carbon Stores
Lucy Wong
June 23, 2021
Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Lucy Wong
June 23, 2021
Must the Pan Borneo Highway Dissect the Tawai Forest?
Pashmina Binwani
April 12, 2021
THE CAMPAIGN
(1/4/21 – 8/4/21)
Macaranga Sprouts needs your support!
We want to pay for at least 14 stories by Sprouts journalists
Fundraising Target of RM5,500
MET!
Funds Raised (as of 19/4/21)
RM5,844.99
Total number of contributors: 26
Average contribution: RM224.81
Fundraising Ends
16 April 2021 8 April 2021
THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! We met our target on 7 April 2021, having raised RM5,644.99. We announced the end of our fundraising on 8 April.
Some contribution came after 8 April, bringing the total fund raised to RM5,844.99.
We’d like to thank all the supporters of this programme for your contributions and encouraging messages too.
We are now able to pay for 14 stories by our Sprouts journalists – and more!
The funds will be used entirely to pay the Sprouts journalists for their stories – RM200 for their first feature story (800-1,000 words) and RM500 for subsequent ones.
Your contribution will also cover the journalists’ reporting expenses, e.g., travel for field reporting.
We truly appreciate every sen and your belief that training and mentoring new environmental journalists matters.
Please check in from time to time as we update this page with the stories you paid for.
Thanks again!
(Main Photo: Macaranga shoots, Malaysia | pic by SL Wong)
