Fund For Investigative Journalism

In our commitment to increasing diversity in the field of investigative journalism, the Fund for Investigative Journalism is offering three, six-month Diversity Fellowships. The fellowships are open to individual applicants from groups underrepresented in investigative journalism due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, gender or religion.

The Fund is partnering with three news organizations who will each host a fellow in their newsroom:

• The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
• USA TODAY
• Wisconsin Watch

To apply, journalists need to submit a proposal for an investigative story they would work on during the six-month fellowship, while embedded in one of these three newsrooms. The Fund and host outlets will review and score proposals jointly. Journalists will receive $30,000 for the six-month fellowship, and host outlets will receive modest grants to cover other costs of the investigations. Fellows will be supervised by key staff at the host outlets, and they will also be able to request free legal help and editorial mentorship from the Fund.

Applications are due September 27, and decisions will be made in November. Journalists who are selected for fellowships will arrange their start date with the host outlet.

Following is short guidance on applying for the fellowship. Prospective applicants can email [email protected] with other questions or to arrange a one-on-one meeting with the Fund’s staff to discuss the application process.

• Proposals for USA TODAY can be on any topic. Proposals for the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and Wisconsin Watch need to have a state or regional focus.
• Proposals must be for projects that are investigative in nature, meaning they must expose wrongdoing or injustice that was previously hidden or unknown. Proposals should be for stories that have not been covered before or stories that will significantly advance existing coverage and break new ground.
• Applicants must submit a short summary of the proposed investigative story (apx. 100 words) and a full proposal (apx. 1,000 words). The proposal should clearly explain what information the journalist already has to substantiate the story, as well as their investigative plan for the story. The proposal should provide a clear picture for how the fellow will spend the six months.
• Applicants will also share a narrative explanation for how they hope the fellowship experience will help advance their career. APPLY HERE