What
Upcoming deadlines for global grants applications and other opportunities
This selection is aimed at media workers, practitioners, researchers and journalists. More information can be found by following the links under each summary.
All opportunities are in chronological order.
Good luck!
Around the world public media organisations and funders have also launched funds to help support producers, freelancers and creators and provide security during uncertain times. For more details about these opportunities, check out our dedicated public media funding page.
Also check out our Coronavirus resources and best practices page, which includes a list of additional funding opportunities that aim to support media professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Featured Opportunities
Call for Partnerships for Global Media Defence Fund
Deadline: 10 May 2020
“The Global Media Defence Fund is a Multi-Partner Trust Fund/Program at UNESCO developed with the goal of enhancing media protection and improving the access of journalists to specialised legal assistance. It was established upon impulsion by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada in the framework of the 2019 Global Campaign for Media Freedom – and under the overall umbrella of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.”
Journalism training opportunity: How can solutions journalism enhance how we report on migration?
Deadline: Throughout 2020
Are you a journalist based in the EU and covering (or interested in covering) migration?
The Local’s journalists have developed a curriculum for applying the techniques of solutions journalism to migration reporting as part of an EU-wide project, MAX (Maximising Migrants’ Contributions to Society). Funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, MAX aims to expand the public narrative around immigration in Europe and highlight stories of real people who have migrated and the communities they have joined.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network (IGJN) launched a collaborative network during a GIJN webinar. This is a platform where pitches for investigative documentaries and long-form productions about Covid-19 can be submitted and passed onto several public broadcaster production teams including BBC Africa, BBC Arabic, CBC Canada, PBS Frontline and RTS in Switzerland as well as Premières Lignes, an independent French TV production and news agency that has worked with France Télévisions.
Month by month
Woman, Power and Media: a leadership course for journalists (Online course – Spanish)
Course duration: 22 June – 2 August
‘Muher, Poder y Medios’ is a 6-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that aims to strengthen leadership skills for women in media and journalism. Participants will “learn from female journalists, reporters, freelancers, media entrepreneurs” and develop communication skills, self-confidence and how to improve results of a project.
Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Africa
Course ends: 3 August
This free online course, offered by the University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg via the EdX MOOC platform, is for anyone interested in learning more about ‘ensuring a free, pluralistic and independent African media.’ There are no prerequisites for starting the course.
Topics covered include media pluralism, diversity and media regulation using contemporary case studies from print, broadcast and online media, emphasising the valuable role that media play in society in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for Excellence in Reporting on Disability
Deadline: 7 August
The National Center on Disability and Journalism has opened its contest for reporting on disability, from print, broadcast or online-only media. Entries outside of the US are welcomed but must be in English.
‘Winners will receive a total of $8,000 in cash awards for first-, second- and third-place finishes in large media and small media categories. First-place winners in each category will be awarded $2,500 and invited to give a public lecture for the Cronkite School in fall 2020. Second-place winners will receive $1,000, third-place winners $500.’
Last year’s winner of the large media market category was a joint investigation by PBS Frontline, ProPublica and The New York Times.
Thomson Foundation 2020 Young Journalist Award
Deadline: 14 August
Now in its eighth year, the Thomson Foundation’s Young Journalist Award competition is open to seek emerging new journalistic talent from across the world. Journalists aged 30 and under, reporting in countries with a Gross National Income per capita of less than $20,000 are encouraged to submit stories in print, broadcast or multimedia, which are “revelatory, prompt public debate and have led to, or have the potential to lead to, positive change in society.”
The competition is hosted in partnership with the UK Foreign Press Association.
Scholarships and Bursaries for the Channel 4 Investigative Journalism MA
Deadline: 28 August
Channel 4 and De Montfort University (DMU) are offering four students fee-waiving opportunities and three students living expense bursaries for the MA Investigative Journalism course in the academic year 2020-21 at DMU in Leicester, UK.
Channel 4’s outgoing Head of News and Current Affairs, Dorothy Byrne, said: “Channel 4 is committed to training the next generation of investigative journalists. This collaboration with DMU takes our commitment a stage further, providing a very high-quality MA with teaching provided by professionals who are themselves television journalists of the highest calibre. It’s vital for the future of investigative television journalism that we train up a new generation and widen the pool of talent to include people from diverse backgrounds.”
[Text sourced from DMU]
Fund for Investigative Journalism general grant
Deadline: 14 September
The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) provides up to $10,000 to support “stories that break new ground and expose wrongdoing – such as corruption, malfeasance, or abuse of power – in the public and private sectors.” Requests for small stipends are also considered. “For foreign-based story proposals to be considered, they must come from US-based reporters, have a strong US angle involving American citizens, government, or business, and must be published in English, in a media outlet in the United States.”
[Text extracted from FIJ]
Cross-Border Investigative Journalism Training for the Western Balkans
Deadline: 15 September
Budapest, Hungary and online
The Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS), based at the Central European University (CEU) is launching a new, free cross-border investigative journalism course designed for journalists working in “Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia with some experience in news reporting and covering complex topics.”
The offline training will take place in Budapest on October 19-20, 2020, followed by eight weeks of online training.
[Text sourced from CMDS]
IJ4EU Publication Support Scheme [EU and UK based]
Deadline: 18 September
Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) is providing EUR 200,000 via its Publication Support scheme to support cross-border investigative projects that are already underway. The scheme will provide at least 32 collaborative projects, with up to EUR 6,250 grant funding per project.
Broadcast Journalism Training Council BJTC Awards
Deadline: 1 October 2020
The BJTC Awards celebrates students on the Broadcast Journalism Training courses. Categories include best TV and radio reports, features and documentaries as well as podcast, online news site and social short video. The Best Remote/Virtual Newsday is the newest addition to the awards.
The awards are backed by industry partners including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Reuters, ITN, NUJ and more.
Beyond survival? A new Human Resources research project for PMA members
Deadline: Ongoing
Our new project aims to develop people management strategies to ensure the development and growth of PSMs in the fragmented digital media landscape.
In an exciting new research project, the Public Media Alliance (PMA) has partnered with Peter Block from the University of Westminster’s Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), to launch a project that will review the processes by which participating PSM’s manage the employer-employee relationship during the employment life-cycle.
The purpose is to highlight issues for the sector at large, identify common themes of staff development needs, and offer some practical recommendations for good practice to the PMA community.
BFI Young Audiences Content Fund
Deadline: Ongoing
The BFI is administering a three-year pilot fund of £57 million, derived from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to help expand the children’s content industry in the UK.
The Fund seeks to support public service broadcasting content aimed at audiences under 18 with the creation and development of new programmes which include PSB values by reflecting UK identity and children’s lives (both regionally and nationally), educating and informing audiences as well as representing more diversity and alternative voices.
‘Production and development awards will contribute to the funding of programmes, shown on television and online platforms, that have public service broadcasting values in live-action and animation and across all genres.’
[Text from BFI]
ICFJ Knight Fellowships
Deadline: Ongoing
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is looking for outstanding journalists with a background in digital journalism, training or coaching, to work “in key areas of innovation such as newsroom transformation, entrepreneurship and business models, technology creation and adoption, diverse voices in news, investigative reporting, digital security and specialized reporting on health, gender and development.”
“Fellowships are typically a minimum of one year, and may be extended by ICFJ depending on funding and the opportunity for greater impact. Fellowship projects must produce measurable results.”
Proposals for fellowships are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year but there are other opportunities to apply for that can be found on the website.
[Text from ICFJ]
Deadline: Ongoing
“The Assistance Desk of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) provides financial and administrative assistance to professional journalists and citizen-journalists who have been the victims of reprisals because of their reporting.” Individuals, NGOs and media outlets can apply for support.
[Text sourced from RSF]
Deadline: Ongoing
The Chilean digital magazine Puroperiodismo, is inviting journalists, developers, designers and innovators residing in Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in this project.
Media professionals who are currently exploring new technologies, approaches to reporting, developing an app or similar are encourage to talk about it in the magazine.
Entries are on an ongoing basis
Journalism training opportunity: How can solutions journalism enhance how we report on migration?
Deadline: Throughout 2020
Are you a journalist based in the EU and covering (or interested in covering) migration?
The Local’s journalists have developed a curriculum for applying the techniques of solutions journalism to migration reporting as part of an EU-wide project, MAX (Maximising Migrants’ Contributions to Society). Funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, MAX aims to expand the public narrative around immigration in Europe and highlight stories of real people who have migrated and the communities they have joined.
NPR Story Lab
Deadline: Rolling
“The NPR Story Lab is looking for great ideas. In fact, we’re an idea hub – generating new segments for our news programs, creating radio shows, and launching new podcasts. We want to collaborate with member stations and independent producers. We want to work with new talent that brings a fresh perspective to NPR. We want to keep innovating and leading in the podcast and radio world. The NPR Story Lab is a true creative studio at the heart of NPR, one that fosters experimentation and continues to evolve the sound of public radio. Tell us your ideas, and let’s make stuff!”
Are you interested in submitting your story or pitching a programme idea to America’s foremost public radio station? NPR are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Get involved via the link below.
Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa
Deadline: Ongoing
“OSIEA plays an active role in encouraging open, informed dialogue on issues of importance in Eastern Africa. Through a combination of grant making, advocacy and convening power, OSIEA is able to support and amplify the voices of pro-democracy organizations and individuals in the region and to strengthen their capacity to hold their governments accountable. This includes efforts to defend and support rights activists and pro-democracy advocates who come under attack for their work. ”
The eligibility criteria includes supporting projects based around media and access to information. The OSIEA is available to both organisations and individuals.
Interested grant seekers should consult the OSIEA website for more information on eligibility and application guidelines.
Pitching Investigative Documentaries – GIJN
The Global Investigative Journalism Network (IGJN) launched a collaborative network during a GIJN webinar. This is a platform where pitches for investigative documentaries and long-form productions about Covid-19 can be submitted and passed onto several public broadcaster production teams including BBC Africa, BBC Arabic, CBC Canada, PBS Frontline and RTS in Switzerland as well as Premières Lignes, an independent French TV production and news agency that has worked with France Télévisions.
Submit your pitch here:
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting Grants
Deadline: Ongoing
The Pulitzer Center has published an advisory note to all new applicants in light of Covid-19. Please read here.
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting offers several ongoing grants “to support in-depth, high-impact reporting on topics of global importance, including investigations of systemic problems that are often overlooked by mainstream U.S. media.” These include the International Reporting Grant, Rainforest Journalism Fund and Bringing Stories Home: Local Reporting Grants. Freelance and staff journalists from news outlets can apply.
Find out how to apply and the other grants available via the link below:
The Self-Investigation: A free online stress management program for journalists
In partnership with the ICFJ, Open News and the Online News Association, “The self-investigation is a free online program designed to support journalists with knowledge and evidence-based practices they can use to relate to stress and digital overload in a healthier way. This is an opportunity to get access to ongoing support from professionals so you can feel more balanced and tap into your innate resilience. The English language edition will take place over four weeks in July.”
[Text sourced from The Self-Investigation]
Training: Online Courses for Media Professionals
Deadline: Ongoing
A selection of online tutorials created by the European Journalism Centre and supported by the Google News Initiative.
The diverse new set of courses include ‘Where to hire a data journalist’; ‘Python for journalists’ as well as “Google Search for Journalists”; “Verification: the basics” and “Managing Data Journalism Projects” among many others.
All courses are free and vary in difficulty. Courses can be completed at the participant’s preferred pace.
Transatlantic Media Fellowship
Deadline: Ongoing
European media representatives are invited to apply for this fellowship, which will give them the chance to travel across the United States and expand on their knowledge of America and its citizens.
Organized by the Transatlantic Media Network (TMN), the goal of this fellowship is to strengthen the existing transatlantic relationship and improving mutual understanding among journalists and media professionals of both sides of the Atlantic.
The visiting journalists will follow an individual itinerary, created on their skills and interests, which will take them mostly around Washington DC and to visit TMN’s partner institutions, such as universities and journalism schools.
The fellowships may have a different duration but they will all be up to three months.
Last updated on 31 July 2020.
If you have any suggestions for grants applications and other opportunities please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.