- Mongabay published nearly 100 articles written by journalists participating in its internship program in 2015.
- A competition was held among interns for their most compelling contributions to Mongabay’s conservation news site.
- Four awards, accompanied by monetary prizes, were given out to the winners.
Last year, Mongabay published nearly 100 articles written by journalists participating in its internship program. To highlight some of the excellent work, Mongabay held a competition for intern contributions to the site, asking individuals to submit their most impactful pieces. A staff selection panel reviewed the selections and chose the winners.
The winning article is a piece by contributor Mike DiGirolamo with his piece titled: Drone Herders: Tanzanian rangers and researchers use UAVs to protect elephants and crops. Mike DiGirolamo’s article reports on a centuries-old problem that is responsible for the countless deaths of wild elephants. His story takes a look at one of the most recent efforts to solve this issue at a time when elephant deaths have hit record numbers. A $500 prize compliments DiGirolamo’s first place award. Being a writer, traveler and lover of the natural world, DiGirolamo brings a unique and passionate perspective to his work as a Mongabay intern.
Second place, along with a prize of $300, is awarded to Nika Levikov for her thought-provoking article that dives into a vital question relating to the survival of a critically endangered species. The piece is titled: Will community management help save the black rhino from extinction? Levikov’s piece discusses an unprecedented action that was taken in May of 2015 at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy based in northern Kenya in an effort to conserve the species. Levikov earned a degree in biology from Northern Arizona University and a Masters in Writing from the University of Warwick in England. She joined Mongabay’s intern team to be part of the fight to spread the word and to connect people with their environment.
Alex Montoro won the third place prize with the award of $200 for his piece titled: Zimbabwe selling baby elephant calves to China. His article reveals a new threat facing African elephants — a growing wildlife trade in baby animals to satisfy international tourism. Montoro joined the Mongabay internship team in December of 2014. Currently he is serving as a Climate and Weather Services Trainer and Advisor for the Peace Corps in Samoa.
Runner up ($50 prize):
- Victor Montoro: Satellite-based Forest Mapping Platform Hits Its Stride
Honorable mentions:
- Kolawole Talabi: Destination Botswana: 100 South African rhinos moving to foil poachers
- Jose Hong: Giant clam = giant impact: study complies how mega-clams impact seas
- Neelam Pereira: The wild side of Peru gets an imaging makeover
Mongabay is currently accepting applications for the fall internship term that will begin in July 2016 and will run through December 2016. With our internships being virtual, interns can work from home or wherever they feel most comfortable. The commitment for an intern is generally 6-10 hours a week. Internships are currently unpaid, however, Mongabay offers resume/cover letter workshops, Q&A calls with Mongabay staff, publishing experience, and other opportunities for participating interns. If interested, please visit our Internships page to learn more and access the application.
