JOIN THE 2025 FPNN REPORTING TRIP TO COLOMBIA

Exploring Colombia’s Transformative Family Planning Efforts

In the lead-up to the seventh International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá, the Family Planning News Network (FPNN) is offering a high-impact reporting and story collection trip to Colombia. This opportunity is designed to spotlight how Colombia is delivering Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services to underserved populations, including Indigenous communities and migrant groups.

This opportunity is for journalists, content creators and community reporters who want to gain access to compelling stories, key stakeholders, and groundbreaking research while collaborating with a diverse group of local, regional, and global media professionals to amplify family planning narratives worldwide.

Key Details:

Location:
Bogotá, Colombia, and surrounding communities

Application Deadline:
April 9, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET

Trip Dates:
Week of May 19th, 2025 (tentative)

Trip Hosts:

  • W. H. Gates Sr. Institute at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  • FPNN

  • ICFP 2025

  • Profamilia 

  • El Espectador

  • Fundación Valle del Lili

  • FP2030 LAC Hub

What the Reporting Trip Includes:

  • Training: Hands-on Solutions Journalism and community reporting training to enhance investigative storytelling.

  • Site visits: Field reporting in Indigenous and migrant communities, uncovering innovations and policy-driven approaches shaping Colombia’s FP/SRHR landscape.

  • Networking: Opportunities to connect with local and national SRHR leaders in Bogotá, fostering media collaborations and story development.

Expected Outcomes:

  • Published, high-impact stories on Colombia’s SRHR initiatives and challenges.

  • Strengthened networks among journalists covering reproductive health.

  • Engagement with global media audiences to drive awareness and advocacy.

  • Insights into the effects of USAID defunding on local FP programs.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO EXPECT

Interviews & Networking

Meet and interview leading experts, policymakers, community leaders, and fellow journalists to explore the impact of reproductive health investments and cutting-edge SRHR programming. Personalized interview opportunities based on participants’ interests.

Training and reporting tools

Kickstart the trip with a specialized training on Solutions Journalism, equipping journalists with tools to effectively report on community-driven FP solutions.

FP/SRHR Story Generation

Gain first-hand insights from Colombia’s FP/SRHR programs, visit multiple communities, and develop long-form, data-driven stories that shape global discourse.

Innovation & Solutions Spotlights

Explore trailblazing programs and policies, capturing lessons learned, scalable successes, innovative solutions and Colombia’s unique approach to expanding FP/SRHR services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • We welcome journalists, content creators, influencers, and community reporters who are passionate about family planning and SRHR and are interested in joining the FPNN Reporting Team in Colombia for up to seven days.

    Priority will be given to applicants from the region. Applicants can speak Spanish, English, or both.

    We reserve the right to select applicants based on suitability and alignment with the reporting trip’s objectives.

  • If selected as an FPNN Reporting Fellow, you will receive a fixed travel award covering:

    ✔ Round-trip travel to and from Colombia

    ✔ Hotel accommodation (room & tax) for the duration of the trip

    ✔ Ground transportation during the reporting trip

    ✔ Per diem to cover meals and incidental expenses

    The Gates Institute finance team will book and pay directly for hotel accommodations. Alternative hotel arrangements will not be reimbursed.

    If you choose to arrive earlier or stay beyond the official trip dates, you will be responsible for your own accommodations and expenses.

  • Yes. FPNN is looking for journalists and content creators who will actively use their networks (professional, social, and personal) to highlight the impact of family planning and reproductive health.

    The primary goal of this reporting trip is to provide an immersive, on-the-ground experience that enables participants to develop meaningful, high-quality news and content showcasing the transformative power of SRHR access and advocacy.

  • A selection panel of experts from Johns Hopkins University (W.H. Gates Sr. Institute) and its partners will review and evaluate applications.

    Selection criteria will include:

    • Quality of responses in the application

    • Alignment with the reporting trip’s goals

    • Diversity of reporting perspectives and backgrounds

    The panel will strive to ensure a balanced mix of media professionals, including traditional journalists, digital creators, and community reporters.

  • Yes! We welcome collaborations with media outlets that want to expand the reach and impact of our reporting efforts.

    If your media outlet can provide additional support (e.g., publishing articles, offering editorial guidance, or securing wider coverage), please indicate this in your application.

    For inquiries about media partnerships, please get in touch with us directly.

  • 📌 All applicants will automatically be registered as FPNN Community Reporters and will receive alerts on future opportunities, funding, and media collaborations.

    📆 Final selection decisions will be made, and recipients will be notified by April 18, 2025.

    📰 All published content and coverage will be distributed through the official channels of FPNN, ICFP, and the W. H. Gates Sr. Institute.