JIVE Climate

On 21 November 2023, eight journalistic stories will be turned into a stage show. With this call for applications, we are seeking eight great stories from all over Europe on the topic of climate-friendly urban development together with Headliner, our partnering organisation.

What is JIVE Climate?

The new live journalism show “JIVE Climate” celebrates its premiere in Berlin in autumn.
On stage, eight journalists will present their solution-oriented stories for a more climate-friendly urban development. This can include inspiring solutions, for example, how to deal with local public transport, land use and droughts. If it serves the story, artistic elements will be interwoven to illustrate, provoke or encourage the audience to participate.

The stories presented on stage portray a future in which people actively strive towards climate protection and make a difference – very concretely, in their urban environment. The show juxtaposes the omnipresent stream of catastrophic news reports with the conviction that a more sustainable, fairer climate culture is possible and that everyone can make a contribution.

After the show, the theater foyer turns into an open marketplace where viewers get the chance to exchange ideas with experts or actively support one of the causes.

JIVE Climate is a joint production of CORRECTIV and Headliner, made possible by the support from the Allianz Foundation as part of the Climate Cultures Call.

 

Additional training sessions in live journalism can be offered to participants thanks to a grant from Journalismfund Europe.

Who can apply?

We accept applications from freelance or staff reporters, with permanent residency in the EU, UK or EFTA member countries. We encourage applications from all ages and communities as well as the whole gender spectrum.

We are looking for inspiring stories about climate friendly solutions in the field of urban development. All applicants should have researched the challenges and solutions in environmental and climate protection in their cities. Ideally, you will bring a personal connection to the problem in order to make the topic more relatable for a Berlin audience.

The show will be held on 21 November 2023. It goes without saying that personal availability is mandatory on this day as well as for rehearsals on the two days prior to the show. First introductory and mentoring meetings will be held remotely.

What is expected of me?

  • A 10-15 min performance of your story in either German or English language on the Babylon stage on 21 November 2023
  • Your time in the run up to the show in the form of short mentoring sessions of 30-60 min, held remotely and flexibly, as well as rehearsals
  • Your availability in the aftermath of the show for questions, possibly short interviews/comments etc.

Why should I apply?

Here are a few reasons that we can think of as to why you should apply:

  • You’ll be part of the first ever JIVE Climate show in Berlin, Germany, and hence a part of this new trend in journalism
  • You will be able to present your story as a beacon project for constructive climate journalism in Europe and network with other climate journalists from Europe who are researching similar stories on the ground
  • With or without prior stage experience, you’ll learn a trick or two from experts working with you to present complex but highly relevant topics in front of a live audience
  • You’ll get to work with performing artists who will provide fresh perspectives on how to address a topic and make it engaging
  • Thanks to the support of the Allianz Foundation, we can cover your travel and accommodation costs and pay you an honorary fee of 1,200 € for your participation in the event, including rehearsal times

I am interested, what do I have to do next?

First of all, that’s great! 

All you have to do now is pitch your story to us via mail. Just pretend you’re pitching a story idea to an editor. The deadline is 27 August 2023.

That’s it? Yes, that’s it for the first round. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide a short profile or CV. 

For questions, please check out our FAQ page or contact us at info@headliner.eu.

Done! We can’t wait to hear your story proposals. Good luck.

Submit pitch

FAQ

A good guideline is between 50-100 words. Be sure to include why this story should be told on stage right now (keyword: relevance). If available, you can mention protagonists and settings. 

Both published and unpublished stories are welcome!

If you would like to perform a published story, please send us the link to the initial publication or a PDF of the article. The story should not be older than one year.

If you’ve tackled the topic of ‘climate friendly urban development’ collaboratively, you can apply as a team if the other team member is a freelance or staff reporter, with permanent residency in the EU, UK or EFTA member countries. Please note that we cannot accommodate teams of more than two people on stage.

Our selection process consists of a two-step process. An editorial team consisting of members of CORRECTIV and Headliner makes a preliminary selection. Shortlisted candidates are asked to send us a short profile or resume. A decision will then be made on the eight stories for the live show in November 2023.

You will receive an email confirmation directly after submitting your pitch to us. We aim to announce the winning eight entries by the end of August 2023. If your pitch was approved, you will receive a written confirmation from us with further details about the show and upcoming mentoring and rehearsal sessions. If you are based outside of Germany, we will also start looking into travel options for your trip to Berlin.

Please inform us as soon as possible, ideally before 27 August 2023, of any relevant changes to your story. An informal email is sufficient to info@headliner.eu.

The short answer is: No. Reporters with previous experience may find it easier to take the stage but we had newcomers in the past that won the audience over with their first stage performances. Also, coaching and mentoring will be on offer as well as rehearsal time prior to the show in order to prepare you as best as possible for your performance.

We are just starting and we plan to put on regular production cycles of JIVE in the years to come. The stories may not always focus on climate or urban development but we would highly recommend you to follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn  for future call for applications.

We would like to help you out! Please send us an email at info@headliner.eu.