Journalism Grants

Reporting grants can pay for time, travel and costs that newsrooms cannot always cover. This page explains how grants generally work and how to prepare, without naming real funders. The three programmes listed further down the page are samples written for the launch edition, and none of them is open for applications.

What a grant usually covers

Grants vary widely. Some fund a single story, some support a project that runs for months and some provide a small sum for equipment or travel. Most are awarded for a defined project with a budget, a timeline and a clear public-interest purpose.

Questions every applicant should ask

• Who is eligible, and does the funder have rules about geography, topic or career stage?
• What does the money cover, and what is excluded?
• Does the funder have any say over what is published? A reputable funder does not.
• Who owns the work, and can it be republished by others?
• What reporting or evaluation is required, and when?
• How and when is the money paid?

Preparing an application

1. Start with a one-paragraph summary of the question you want to answer and why it matters to readers.
2. List your sources, methods and the first steps you will take.
3. Prepare a realistic budget, including time, travel, equipment and any safety costs.
4. Describe where the work will be published and who has agreed to run it, if anyone.
5. Share relevant samples of your previous work.
6. Check the deadline and the format required, and allow time for review.

Independence and ethics

Funding should never buy editorial control. Be wary of any grant that asks for approval of content, or that comes with conditions that would stop you reporting something true. Disclose the funding to readers in line with your outlet's policies.

Red flags

• Applications that ask you to pay a fee to apply.
• Funders who cannot explain who they are or how they are financed.
• Promises of guaranteed awards.
• Pressure to share personal documents early on.

About the samples below

The sample programmes show how a grant listing could look on NewsJob24. They are not real, and the amounts are invented. When real funders list opportunities, each listing will say who they are and how to apply.