The first FACTA training programme bringing together journalism, science and civil society
The first edition of FACTA Lab: Environment Uncovered is now open: a free training programme designed to help participants develop rigorous, evidence-based environmental investigations that respond to the needs of communities.
The training draws on FACTA’s experience and its methodology, which applies the scientific method to investigative and data journalism. The programme combines work with data and scientific evidence, collaboration with experts and researchers, participatory approaches and community-centred journalism.
For this first edition, we will select 10 participants who are interested in developing their own investigation proposal through online sessions, practical exercises, editorial feedback and a full-day in-person workshop in Bologna on 12 November.
The training will be delivered in Italian and is aimed at people who live and work primarily in Italy. The call is open to early-career journalists, as well as researchers, science communication professionals and people working in civil society who are interested in contributing their expertise to the development of environmental investigations and collaborating with journalists.
Fellowship
At the end of the training, two investigation proposals will be selected based on editorial quality, feasibility, relevance and the application of the FACTA methodology. The two selected projects will each receive €1,000 in funding and further editorial support from FACTA through to publication.
The other eight participants will complete a structured investigation proposal, which can be further developed or pitched to other media outlets.
👉 Apply to FACTA Lab by 15 October 2026 by filling in this form
You do not need to have a fully defined investigation already: your project can be developed and refined throughout the programme.
Timeline
- 15 October 2026: FACTA Lab open call deadline
- 26 October 2026: online training begins (4 sessions)
- 12 November 2026: in-person workshop in Bologna (travel costs covered by the project)
- November-December 2026: selection of the two fellowship projects and development of the investigations
- January-February 2027: publication of the two selected investigations
Eligibility criteria
The call is open to people who:
- have a strong interest in environmental and scientific topics;
- are interested in developing an environmental investigation proposal;
- are available to actively participate in the four online sessions between October and November, as well as in the practical exercises and discussion sessions;
- are available to attend the in-person workshop in Bologna on 12 November 2026. Travel costs from within Italy will be covered by the project;
- live and work primarily in Italy. The training will be delivered in Italian;
- for journalists, have some professional experience in the field. For applicants from research or civil society, we are looking for people interested in actively contributing their expertise to environmental investigations.
Trainers
Giulia Bonelli. Science journalist, co-founder and Board member of FACTA, with extensive experience in multimedia science journalism. She is a regular contributor to Global Science, the magazine edited by the Italian Space Agency, and has worked on several environmental cross-border investigations. Author of the FACTA newsletter Paludi on underreported environmental issues. She will coordinate the programme and contribute to training and mentoring.
Elisabetta Tola. Science and data journalist, PhD in Microbiology, co-founder and President of FACTA. Chief Editor at Il BO Live and presenter of Radio3Scienza at RAI Radio3, she has coordinated the H2020 ENJOI project, has extensive experience in science and data journalism and has worked on several environmental cross-border investigations. Author of the FACTA newsletter Paludi on underreported environmental issues. She will contribute to training, editorial coordination and mentoring.
Marco Boscolo. Science and data journalist and co-founder of FACTA. He contributes to Il BO Live, LeScienze and RSI, the Swiss national radio in Italian, and is the author of Semi ritrovati and La bianca scienza. He has worked on several environmental cross-border investigations. Author of the FACTA newsletter Paludi on underreported environmental issues. He will contribute to training, mentoring and the development of participants’ investigations.
Francesca Conti. Science journalist, co-founder and Board member of FACTA, with experience in management and business development. She has worked on several European projects, including ENJOI, FEDORA, NEWSERA and COALESCE, managing teams, resources and project implementation. She will contribute to project coordination, training and mentoring.
Mattia Peretti. FACTA consultant, engagement expert, project manager, trainer and facilitator with more than 10 years of international experience in the media sector. He specialises in engagement strategies and community-centred journalism and writes the newsletter News Alchemists. He will lead the community engagement component of the training, mentoring and impact activities.
Open-access toolkit
The project will produce an open-access toolkit, “FACTA Lab: Environment Uncovered. A Practical Guide to Participatory and Expert-Review Environmental Journalism”, documenting the methodology tested throughout the training. It will include the methodological frameworks used in the programme, practical exercises and templates, and case studies drawn from participants’ work. Designed as a reusable resource for journalists, editors and trainers, the toolkit will make the FACTA Lab approach replicable beyond the pilot and support wider collaboration between journalism, science and civil society.
👉 Apply to FACTA Lab by 15 October 2026
Credits
Il progetto FACTA Lab: Environment Uncovered è realizzato grazie al supporto di Journalismfund Europe. Maggiori informazioni sulla pagina di progetto.
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