Earlier this month, I hosted a webinar about getting grants and fellowships to support a narrative or investigative reporting project. It was the sequel to my webinar in July on breaking into narrative journalism that focused on how to pitch long-form pieces, but there was no time to talk in detail about funding.
The panelists at this latest webinar were:
- Josh McGhee, an investigative reporter for MindSite News who covers the intersection of criminal justice and mental health. McGhee is a 2023-2024 Carter Center’s Mental Health Journalism Fellow.
- Jacqueline Stenson, who leads outreach and recruitment for fellowships and other initiatives at the USC Center for Health Journalism. The center offers reporting grants between $2,000 to $10,000.
- Eric Ferrero, the executive director of the Fund for Investigative Journalism, has worked closely with some of the nation’s leading investigative journalists to help them uncover high-impact stories. The fund gives out grants up to $10,000 each.
I encourage everyone interested in applying for a grant or fellowship to listen to the full webinar, but I thought I would post some key takeaways and list some grants and fellowships with upcoming deadlines.
Remember, you can find my full list of funding opportunities in the freelance section of the AHCJ website. AHCJ also offers fellowships.
Some pointers from the fellowships and grants webinar:
- Start the application process months in advance.
- Tailor your story idea to fit the theme of the fellowship or grant.
- Think of the application as an in-depth pitch to an editor.
- Conduct enough research and reporting to make sure you have a solid idea.
- Reach out to the grantors for help and advice as you write the application.
- Contact past fellows and grantees for guidance.
- Make time to line up an editor to write a letter of commitment.
- Have a fellow reporter or editor read your application before you submit it.
- Feel free to apply to more than one grant or fellowship program to fund a story.
- Explain how the mentoring and workshops of a fellowship will advance your career.
Some grants and fellowships with upcoming deadlines:
- The Pulitzer Center Bringing Stories Home Grants are for data, investigative and accountability journalism that shines a light on systemic issues at the local level. Local news outlets, staff reporters and freelancers are eligible to apply on a rolling basis. There is no budget limit. The center’s Global Reporting Grants of up to $10,000 support in-depth, high-impact reporting on critical issues. Applications are also accepted on a rolling basis.
- The American Heart Association offers $2,500 travel stipends to several conferences. The application deadline for its February International Stroke Conference is December 29. The deadline for its March Epidemiology and Lifestyle Sessions closes January 26, 2024.
- The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT offers academic-year fellowships to 10 science journalists who are required to complete a research project. Fellows receive a $70,000 stipend, a $2,500 relocation allowance and other benefits. The application deadline closes January 15, 2024.
- The Fund for Investigative Journalism offers grants up to $10,000 to defray the expenses of an investigation that uncovers wrongdoing by powerful people or institutions. The next application deadline is January 29, 2024.
- The Ferriss — UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowships provides $10,000 reporting grants annually to ten journalists reporting narratively-rich stories on the science, policy, business and culture of the rapidly changing field of psychedelics. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2024.
- Knight-Wallace Fellowships offers an eight-month program of immersive study at the University of Michigan. Fellows receive a $75,000 stipend and audit courses, participate in private seminars and workshops and work on an individual journalism project. The deadline is February 1, 2024.
- The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists awards grants on a rolling basis to women and nonbinary journalists for professional development opportunities, investigative reporting and media development initiatives. Applications are being processed through April, 2024.
- USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship supports enterprise health or social well-being projects. Fellows receive reporting grants of $2,000-$10,000 and five months of professional mentorship following a five day in-person learning intensive. The application deadline is April 10, 2024.
As always, if you know of a fellowship that is not listed in the Freelance Center, please email me the details and I’ll get it posted. And please feel free to send me ideas for future webinars. Thank you!
