All Hear Newsletter, February 2026 - Transom

Hello!
Welcome (back) to
All Hear
, the
Everything List for Audio Opportunities
I’m writing to you from France, where I’m studying at clown school for the next year. I’m three weeks in and it’s already one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s exciting, rewarding, confounding and humbling (oh so humbling) all at the same time.
But on the audio front, there’s loads of exciting opportunities on offer this month: CBC recently opened their
international
Call for Pitches
; the
KALW Audio Academy
(a 9-month audio journalism course in San Francisco with a
$9000
stipend) is returning; and the
Charles Parker Prize
for U.K. students is back.
After a five year hiatus, the HearSay audio festival is back! I spoke to its director Diarmuid McIntyre about the history of the festival, its mission, and this year’s call out and awards.
Talia x
Spotlight
HearSay Open Call
– a call out for exciting audio works to feature at the 2026 HearSay festival in Kilfinane, Ireland. They are interested in all aspects of creative audio from crafted podcasts, radio docs, film/TV Sound, audio fiction, sound/radio art, and more. ​There are 7 programme threads: Think, Place,  Deepen, Encounter, Converse, Experience, Celebrate. They are not looking for music performances, except where it is music in collaboration with other creative audio elements (documentary, fiction, theatre, arts, etc.). They are mainly looking for new ideas; the festival allows for risks and development in a place of community, of shared ideas and mutual support. They are open to supporting emerging ideas and talent who are doing something exciting. They will also be asking all contributors with greenlit ideas, to help out with an additional minimal preparation event. They offer contributors a bed, a 1-week residency on request, contributions towards travel, a festival pass and practical production support.
The deadline is 24th February.
There’s a certain nostalgia that surrounds HearSay. I’ve never attendedbeen — it’s been on hiatus since 2021 — but I’ve heard many beautiful tales describing the magic of the festival, located in Kilfinane in the south west of Ireland,  a small mountain village with a population of just 700. It’s a place with no purpose- built venues, no hotels or conference centres, so events take place in barbershops and convents, deconsecrated churches and living rooms. Many attendees stay in locals’ homes. In the words of festival director Diarmuid McIntyre, HearSay becomes “a creation of community and imagination.” Now, after five years, the festival is back.
On the 7th – 10th May 2026 artists old and new, local and international, will once again gather in Kilfinane.
One of the guiding principles of HearSay is that there are no audiences, only participants. They are keen to create spaces for collaborations, experimentation, reflections and provocations, rather than a hierarchical relationship between performer and consumer. They invite people from different audio cultures and disciplines to face and inspire each other; attendees have varied backgrounds in radio documentaries, sound design, podcasts, sound art, performance, dance, fiction, and more — it’s like an audio potluck. Diarmuid and his collaborator Sara Burningham aim to plant “Joyful What-if-ery.”
There are four ways to get involved with this year’s festival: submit to the
audio prize
, which is calling for new works between 2-7 minutes; pitch to the
open call
, where they’re looking for sessions and performances;
volunteer at the festival
for a free pass; or
attend the festival
(regular passes are
€150
, but they also have Pay What You Can passes for those on low incomes, as well as special passes for those living locally, and sustainability discounts for those travelling by sea).
Diarmuid paused the festival partly due to Covid, but also because he was grieving the loss of his father, as well as that of Kate Landers, a close collaborator and friend. As the years passed, he felt that the rise of the “Industry,” along with all its celebrity chatcasts, might be a signal that HearSay’s time had come and gone. But I believe that’s precisely why HearSay, and spaces like it, are needed urgently more than ever. In the words of Falling Tree’s Eleanor McDowall: “The magic of HearSay [is] that it’s a space for open ears and hearts, for noble failures, widening possibilities and leaps into the unknown. A shared propulsive moment as we all get pushed to try something new.”
More Upcoming Opportunities
International
PodGround Creator Micro-Grant
– a micro-grant for early-stage
international independent
podcasters with
3 years or less of experience
who
want support to keep their show going. The grant awards
$500
to two podcasters, which can be used for any podcast-related need (e.g. gear, hosting, production). Winners also receive 1 year of free podcast hosting with RSS.com and promotion across PodGround’s website, newsletter, social channels, and events. Applicants must create a free PodGround account, submit one podcast episode, and attend two virtual PodGround events as part of the application process.
The deadline is unspecified.
IJA Indigenous Journalism Fellowship
– a 6-month fellowship for
Indigenous
undergraduate and master’s students, recent graduates (within 12 months), and early-career media professionals who are current IJA members and want to build skills, mentorship, and professional networks in the media. It is open to
Indigenous, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, First Nation, Inuit, or Métis
candidates. Fellows participate in monthly virtual trainings from March – August, and attend the Indigenous Media Conference in Portland (July 22th – 24th) with travel, accommodation, and registration covered, and receive a
$500
conference-week stipend. They also receive mentorship. The programme is in
The deadline is 13th February.
Radiophrenia Open Call
– open call for sound and transmission artworks to be broadcast in September in Glasgow and online. They are seeking soundscapes, spoken word pieces, radio experiments, found sound, innovative approaches to drama and documentary, and radical and challenging new programme ideas. Priority will be given to works that are created especially for the medium of radio, that demonstrate originality, a spirit of experimentation, and that play to the medium’s unique attributes as a means of disseminating ideas. There is no festival theme but they are especially open to works dealing with environmental topics such as the climate crisis, ecology, global warming, and pollution. They welcome submissions from artists who identify as the global majority, disabled and LGBTQI+.
No fees are available
for selected works, only a platform.
The deadline is 14th February.
Phantomnesis: Call for Recorded Pieces
– an
international
callout for submissions of
unpublished recordings
that explore the forgotten, the near-forgotten, and the reimagined; works that bring neglected musical systems, regional practices, extinct gestures, or overlooked aesthetic pathways into today’s listening. Selected pieces will be professionally prepared for release published by CambiataArts Records as part of a compilation series. Artists whose works are chosen will also be invited to join the Cambiata Arts roster, receiving editorial support, promotional placement, and opportunities for future collaboration within their network. There is
no entry fee
, and
no monetary honoraria
. Artists retain full ownership of their works.
The deadline is 15th February.
UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
– a
$25,000
prize for individuals, organisations or institutions that have made a notable contribution to press freedom. Nominations should be written in English or French and may be made by
UNESCO Member States
, and by international and regional professional and non-governmental organisations active in the field of journalism and freedom of expression. Self-nominations will not be considered.
The deadline is 15th February.
WPI Fellowship
– a 9-week cross-country programme for
non-U.S. journalists working outside of the U.S.
to meet with and interview subject matter experts in media outlets, think tanks and advocacy organisations from across the United States. The tour starts in Minneapolis and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota, going through Chicago, New York City, Miami, Austin (Texas), San Francisco and more. The World Press Institute (WPI) pays the following programme expenses: transportation, roundtrip airfare, related travel, lodging, and a modest allowance for food. Applicants must have at least
five years of full-time employment
in print, broadcast or online journalism, including radio and audio, and fluency in both written and spoken English.
The deadline is 15th February.
Metcalf Fellowship Annual Workshop for Journalists
– an in-person weeklong workshop at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston for
full-time early- and mid-career international
journalists working in all media and from all beats. The workshop will take place on 8th – 13th June, with a focus on the science and policies underlying globally significant issues from a U.S. perspective. Fellows will dive deep into issues such as food quality and public health, climate impacts on food systems and food communities, restoration and adaptation, and more, all through a social justice lens. Fellowships include full tuition, lodging, meals, as well as a travel reimbursement — up to
$500
within continental United States, and up to
$1000
max outside of continental United States.
The deadline is 16th February, 11:59 pm ET.
The Mirror Awards
– an
international
prize honouring journalists who hold a mirror up to their own industry for the public’s benefit. The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience — podcasts and audio stories are eligible. They have five categories for single stories with a
$1000
prize, as well as one category for a series or a single in-depth piece with a
$5000
prize. Submissions must be in
The deadline is 17th February, 11:59 pm ET.
Edward R. Murrow Awards
international
journalism awards celebrating outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism. There are also student awards. For radio categories it costs between
$100
and
$280
depending on membership status, size of the network and timing of deadline. For students it is
$40
per entry (or
$20
for members).
Non-English works are accepted
provided they have
subtitles
The deadline is 19th February, 5 pm ET.
Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism
– awards honouring the best
international
health reporting in print, broadcast, and online media. First-place winners receive
$500
and a framed certificate, as well as complimentary lodging for two nights and registration for the Association of Health Care Journalism’s annual conference, where winners will be recognised. They have an Audio Reporting category, as well as others that allow for audio submission. They also have a Student Reporting category. Non-English entries are allowed but they must include an
English translation
and a letter from the news outlet certifying the translation’s accuracy. Entries cost between
$15
and
$75
depending on various factors.
The deadline is 20th February, 5 pm ET.
Media Grants to Strengthen Reporting on Forest Governance Issues in Africa and Asia
– grants of up to
£10,000
for media organisations based in
Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Vietnam, and Indonesia
to support projects that strengthen reporting on forest governance. Grants could support capacity building, content production, or both. Content-only proposals must result in robust outputs (e.g. multi-part investigations or podcast series), and proposals with fewer than 10 stories are unlikely to be competitive unless paired with training. Applications are open to media organisations, journalist networks, journalism schools, civil society organisations, and academic institutions, with preference for journalist-led projects. Applications must be submitted in English.
The deadline is 26th February, 11:59 pm Asia/Jakarta.
HearSay Audio Prize
– an international open call for new, original audio works (2–7 minutes) from sound artists, documentary makers, podcasters, filmmakers, students, and emerging or established audio creators worldwide, with no restriction on subject or language. Entries must be created specifically for this prize (no pre-existing work) and cannot include AI-generated material; submissions in any language are accepted, with non-English entries requiring an English transcript or subtitled video. Winners receive a return flight to Ireland, a multi-day HearSay Festival pass (7th – 10th May), a one-week residency in a mountain lodge, and presentation of their work at the awards night, with multiple overall and special category awards available. They have overall awards, as well as 7 special category awards. Entries cost
€49
€29
for students).
The student/early bird deadline is 27th February, 4pm GMT; the final deadline is 11th March, midnight GMT.
HearSay Open Call
– a call out for exciting audio works to feature at the 2026 HearSay festival in Kilfinane, Ireland. They are interested in all aspects of creative audio from crafted podcasts, radio docs, film/TV Sound, audio fiction, sound/radio art, and more. ​There are 7 programme threads: Think, Place,  Deepen, Encounter, Converse, Experience, Celebrate. They are not looking for music performances, except where it is music in collaboration with other creative audio elements (documentary, fiction, theatre, arts, etc.). They are mainly looking for new ideas; the festival allows for risks and development in a place of community, of shared ideas and mutual support. They are open to supporting emerging ideas and talent who are doing something exciting. They will also be asking all contributors with greenlit ideas, to help out with an additional minimal preparation event. They offer contributors a bed, a 1-week residency on request, contributions towards travel, a festival pass and practical production support.
The deadline is 24th February.
The Whickers Podcast Pitch
– an
international
funding opportunity for narrative podcast series and one-off audio documentaries. Applicants submit up to four minutes of original taster audio for consideration. Five finalists attend the Sheffield Documentary Festival in June and conduct a live pitch. The winner receives
£15,000
plus mentorship, and one runner up receives
£5000
. All six finalists receive tickets to the festival, two night’s accommodation, and a contribution of up to
£400
per project towards their travel expenses. The programme must be in
. You can read my Spotlight
here
The deadline is 27th February, 11:59 pm GMT.
Solutions Journalism Network Awards
free
-to-enter awards which acknowledge, amplify, and celebrate outstanding solutions journalism — an effort to emphasise rigorous and compelling reporting on responses to social problems. The competition is open to journalists working in newsrooms of any size or independently and across all platforms such as digital, broadcast, print, podcasts and radio. The categories relevant to audio include: General Excellence (
$1000
), The Best in Audio (
$500
), and The Best of Student (
$250
). Only
English-language
entries are accepted.
The deadline is 27th
February.
Arthur F. Burns Fellowship (for North Americans)
– a 9-week exchange fellowship for
U.S. and Canadian
journalists to live and work in Germany. Applicants must be between
21-40 years old
with
at least two years professional, full time journalism experience
. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong interest in North American-European affairs, and German language proficiency is encouraged but not required (candidates will attend a 2-week intensive language course). Each fellow receives a
$4000
stipend to cover living expenses in Germany, as well as
$1500
for travel. Freelance and staff journalists can apply.
The deadline is 1st March, 11:59 pm ET.
Edeiken International Arts Foundation Artist-in-Residence Programme
– a 1-month, in-person residency in Yokohama for
international
professional musicians, composers, sound artists, and interdisciplinary creators whose primary medium is music or sound. It is open to artists
aged 25+
living or working outside Japan with at least five years of professional experience. Individuals or ensembles of up to four may apply. The residency is hosted at 7artscafe and includes public engagement (minimum four free events) and a final concert or sound installation. Selected artists receive a
$10,000
grant to cover travel, housing, living costs, transport, and materials. Applications are in
The deadline is 1st March.
ACC CREATORS Residency
– an in-person residency for
international
artists, researchers, designers, architects, engineers, and collectives working at the intersection of art and technology, including audiovisual and immersive sound practices. Projects should engage with questions of community, technology, and collective experience in the context of AI and emerging systems. Eligible categories are
Art & Technology
Audiovisual
, and
Immersive Sound.
It is open to individuals or teams of two from any country. The residency runs from 27th June – 30th November. Support includes a
project budget
of
₩30,000,000
(Art & Technology) or
₩20,000,000
(Audiovisual and Immersive Sound), a stipend of
₩2,500,000
per individual, workspace and accommodation, and one round-trip airfare for international participants. Applications are accepted in
Korean
(other language options are not specified).
The deadline is 1st March.
Salt x Spotify Studios Union Scholarship (Fall)
– Spotify Studios Union is sponsoring a scholarship for a semester-long Salt Institute for Documentary Studies Graduate Certificate Program at MECA&D for an aspiring audio producer with “a diverse set of lived experiences.” The scholarship covers
tuition, fees, and room and board
in its entirety for one student each semester. The recipient will also be paired with a current employee of Spotify Studios who will serve as a mentor; they will meet with their mentee four times over the course of a year. Applicants must apply by the priority deadline.
International
applicants are welcome, but the course is in English and they must pay for their own travel and visa.
The priority deadline is 8th March. The regular deadline is 3rd May.
Maria Moors Cabot Prize
– an international journalism award recognising a distinguished body of work that advances Inter-American understanding, open to journalists, news executives, freelancers, and media organisations working in or serving the Western Hemisphere across all media, including online outlets. The prize honours sustained, long-term reporting rather than a single piece, and nominations may be submitted by third parties or by individuals. Eligible nominees must demonstrate an extensive record covering the region; required materials include a biography or CV, a statement explaining the nominee’s contribution to inter-American understanding, 5-10 representative works, and 1-3 letters of recommendation.
The deadline is 12th March, 12 pm ET.
The Austin Film Festival
Fiction Podcast Award
– an
international
competition for
independent
fiction podcast scripts. Scripts that have been produced are only eligible if: more than one season has not been released to the public; and the show is produced independently and is not controlled by, under exclusive licence to, or financed by any major podcast production company or network. Writers can submit up to three episodes, totalling no more than 90 pages in length. Scripts must be in
. Applications cost
$45
for the late deadline and
$50
for the final deadline. The winner receives
$1000
and reimbursement of up to
$500
for travel and accommodation to attend the festival in October.
The early bird deadline is 26th March, the late deadline is 24th April and the final deadline is 27th May.
Wiki Loves Folklore
– an open media contest inviting
international
contributors to document folk culture and traditional heritage, including audio submissions. It is open to anyone able to upload original media to Wikimedia Commons under a free license (CC BY-SA or CC0). The contest awards cash prizes across global, regional, and media-specific categories. Global prizes include up to
$200
for audio, with additional regional prizes and community awards (distributed as gift cards or vouchers equivalent to local currency). Eligible submissions include original documentation of folk festivals, music, dance, cuisine, clothing, rituals, crafts, storytelling, games, and other traditional expressions. Submissions must be original, non AI-generated, properly described and categorised, and uploaded with required metadata. AI-generated content, watermarked media, copyrighted works, or low-quality uploads are not accepted.
The deadline is 31st March.
CBC Podcasts Open Call for Pitches
– an open call for ambitious, high-impact
English-language
podcast series pitches from
international
in-house teams, independent producers, production companies, and co-productions for future CBC Podcasts programming. CBC is specifically seeking series for its umbrella feeds Uncover (true crime), Personally (memoir and personal stories), The Con (scams and cons), and Split Screen (pop culture narratives). Pitches should outline the story arc, characters, episode structure, and fit with the chosen feed, and must include a logline, detailed summary, production team role, previous work, audio samples, and a pitch deck.
The deadline is 1st April, 11:59 pm ET.
The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
international
awards for science communicators, journalists, and research scientists covering complex issues such as climate change, future pandemics, human genome editing and artificial intelligence. There are 24 awards between $
20,000
and $
40,000
, totalling
$640,000
. For the journalism category there are three subcategories: Freelance Journalist, Local/Regional Journalist and Early Career Journalist (
under 30 years of age
or having
less than 5 years of professional experience
developing content for media organisations). Their accepted media includes radio segments and podcasts. All submissions must be
in English
(work examples in other languages must have accompanying translations).
The deadline is 3rd
April.
Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
– a 1-year fellowship supporting journalists from the
United States and Ireland
to report on some of society’s biggest mental health challenges. Applicants must have
at least three years of professional experience
in journalism, in any medium. Fellows will attend mandatory, expense-paid Fellowship Training Meetings in Atlanta at the beginning and end of the fellowship year. Preference is given to journalists who work with or for a media outlet that expresses commitment to publishing or broadcasting fellowship projects. Fellows employed full time are not required to leave their jobs.
The deadline is 3rd
April, 11:59 pm ET.
The Aerospace Media Awards
– a celebration of those who have made a significant contribution to
international
aerospace journalism and publishing. They have a Best New Aviation Journalist, for journalists
under 35
or with
no more than five years of experience
in aviation journalism. They also have The Best Multi Media Aviation category which includes podcasts. The awards are open for nominations.
The deadline is 3rd April.
Scholarships to Attend the IRE Conference
– various scholarships for
international
journalists to attend the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Conference, which this year takes place in Washington, DC, from 18th – 21st June. The fellowship includes: a one-year IRE membership/renewal ($25 – 75 value); complimentary conference registration; four hotel nights (
$956 value
); and a travel stipend (typically
$500
). Fellows will have some out-of-pocket expenses, such as airfares and visa fees. The scholarships are:
Jennifer Leonard Scholarships
– for “
women of modest means
” who are
college journalism students
or
early-career
professional journalists (three years or less of post-college work experience).
Diversity Fellowships
– for journalists, educators and students
of color
, those who identify as part of the
LGBTQ+ community
, and/or with
disabilities
are eligible to apply.
Napoli Management Group TV Scholarships
– for
U.S. based
early-career
(five or fewer years of post-college work experience) TV journalists interested in investigative reporting. Students are not eligible.
James Richard Bennett Scholarships
– for journalism
students
in
Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or Louisiana
. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students are not eligible.
David Dietz Fellowships
– for journalists and independent journalists with
less than 10 years of professional experience
and a demonstrated interest in financial investigative journalism who have a
financial need
for assistance. Students are not eligible.
Godfrey Wells Stancill Fellowships
– for
U.S. based
journalists working for a newspaper with a Sunday circulation of under 50,000. Students are not eligible.
Eric B. Sager Scholarships
– for
U.S. based
journalists and
independent
journalists. Students are not eligible.
Gary Marx Scholarships
– for
U.S. based
college journalism students
and
early-career
journalists (five years post-college graduation). Preference will be given to applicants from Illinois. They offer four hotel nights (
$1100
value
) and a higher travel stipend of
$650
The Mike Levine Journalism Education Fund
– for journalists with less than five years of experience working in daily or weekly print news organisations or digital-only news outlets.
The deadlines are 7th April.
The McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism (Spring)
– a fellowship for experienced journalists (freelance or staff) in any medium to produce deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories that delve into economic, financial or business issues across a wide array of subjects. They provide grants of up to
$15,000
along with editorial support. Applicants must have
at least five years professional experience
in journalism.
International
applicants are welcome but the stories must be published in English in a U.S. media outlet. Given the enormous changes in federal spending and policy priorities now coming out of the new administration in Washington D.C., they are particularly interested during this round of Fellowships in story proposals that examine the impact of these changes.
The deadline is 14th April.
The Oral History Association Emerging Crises Oral History Research Fund
– funding of up to
$4000
for oral history research during situations of crisis in the U.S. and
internationally
. Funds may be applied to travel, per diem, or transcription costs for research in places and situations in which a longer application time schedule may be problematic. Such crisis situations include but are not limited to: wars, natural disasters, political or economic/ethnic repression, or other currently emerging events of crisis proportions.
The deadline is 15th April.
United States
Health Coverage Fellowship
– a 9-day, in-person fellowship in Boston for journalists covering health. It is open to print, broadcast, and online journalists, as well as freelancers and independent creators. Thirteen fellows are selected to participate from 11th – 19th September in a programme featuring briefings and discussions with health officials, researchers, practitioners, and patients on topics including mental health, pandemics, medical breakthroughs, climate-related health impacts, healthcare disparities, women’s health, and aging. The fellowship is fully funded, covering travel, accommodation, and meals, with no cost to fellows or their outlets. Participants stay at a conference center near Boston and take part in an intensive schedule alongside journalists from around the world.
The deadline is 13th February, 11:59 pm PT.
O’Brien Fellowship In Public Service Journalism
– a 9-month fellowship for journalists
residing in the U.S. or its territories
with at least
five years of professional experience
to report and produce an in-depth public service journalism project on a regional, national or international topic. Successful applicants receive a
$75,000
salary stipend and additional support. Fellows traditionally are in residence at the O’Brien newsroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but they also take remote or partially remote applications. They offer additional stipends for fellows with family and relocation requirements, and a
$9000
travel and research stipend. Applicants may be connected to print operations, radio, television, websites, podcasts, online publications, wire services, or magazines of general public interest. Freelance or staff journalists are welcome to apply, but they must have an outlet to broadcast or publish their project. There are no academic prerequisites.
The deadline is 15th
February.
Best of West Awards
– a journalistic competition for individuals or organisations
based in the American West
. They accept audio journalism/art submissions in most categories, but they also have a specific Audio Storytelling category. It costs
$20
per entry. Non-English language entries accepted, provided there is an English transcript.
The deadline is 15th February, 11:59 pm PT.
Report for America Journalist Program
– a 2-year national service programme (with an optional third year) that places
emerging
journalists in
U.S. based
local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities. They are looking for applicants with
one to three years of experience
and a strong commitment to public service. Entrants must be
eligible to work in the United States
. They place journalists in newsrooms of all types, including radio. You can see their interactive database of radio job openings, newsrooms, and beats
here
The deadline is 16th February.
Altavoz Lab Community Journalist Fellowship
– a 7-month programme for journalists based in the
U.S. or Puerto Rico
who are working with community-based news outlets that serve historically disinvested communities. Grants range from
$3000
to
$8000
, with up to
$3000
for an audience engagement project for newsrooms or community partners. The fellowship starts in April 2026. During this time, fellows will participate in monthly virtual cohort meetings, attend monthly mentorship sessions, and produce and publish an in-depth reporting project. While sound is not explicitly listed, the fellowship is “open to all formats,” and the most important requirement of the fellowship is “the connection between the outlet and the local community that’s being served by the story.” Applicants must report in English, Spanish, or both.
The deadline is 16th February, 11:59 pm PT.
The NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards
– a recognition of
U.S.
journalism that best covers the Black experience or addresses issues affecting the worldwide Black community. It is open to all media organisations and individuals involved in print, broadcast (TV, radio and podcasting) and all forms of digital journalism, as well as communications and collegiate media. The fee is
$150
$75
for members) or
$45
for students (
$20
for student members).
The deadline is 18th February, midnight PT.
NABJ Hall of Fame Induction
– a homage to legendary Black journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the industry and have worked in the media profession for a
minimum of 15 years
. They accept nominations. Nominees must be current, former or retired media professionals, full-time freelance and/or working journalists, which includes reporters, editors, photographers, newsroom managers, etc., who produce, gather and disseminate news for newspapers, magazines, television, radio stations, wire services, and/or digital media. Nominations can be made posthumously.
The deadline is 18th February.
NABJ-ESPN Stuart Scott Internship
– a
paid
10-week summer internship for
U.S. based
students interested in sports journalism, hosted by ESPN and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). They provide a
$3500
stipend to help housing costs. The awardee will also receive an
all expenses paid
trip to the 2026 NABJ Convention & Career Fair in Atlanta, Georgia, from 12th – 16th August.
Applicants must be an NABJ student member
in good standing.
The deadline is 27th February, 11:59 pm PT.
NABJ Scholarships
$2500
funding from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for 25 students who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in journalism and media, a record of community service, and who are in need of financial support. Applicants must be: a current NABJ student member in good standing (student memberships cost
$40
); an undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior/graduate student with at least one full year of school remaining at the time of the application, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; at an accredited U.S. college or university. They also have specific scholarships (applicants may apply for multiple NABJ opportunities but may receive only one award per calendar year):
NABJ Ethel Payne Fellowship
$5000
reporting fellowship for a U.S. based NABJ member to complete a reporting project or single story focused on Africa. Applicants must have at least seven years of full-time reporting experience.
Larry Whiteside Scholarship
$5000
scholarship supporting an
emerging
journalist with an interest in sports journalism. The recipient receives a fully funded trip to the NABJ Convention & Career Fair (12th – 16th August in Atlanta, GA), including registration, lodging, and round-trip airfare.
NABJ-Monica Roberts LGBTQ+ Task Force Scholarship
– two s
cholarships of up to
$2000
each supporting Black LGBTQ+ students studying journalism, mass communications, or otherwise pursuing reporting and storytelling. Named in honor of journalist and activist Monica Roberts, the award supports the educational advancement of the next generation of Black LGBTQ+ media professionals. Eligible applicants are undergraduate or graduate students with at least one full academic year remaining at an accredited U.S. college or university and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
The deadlines are 27th February, 11:59 pm PT.
Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship
– a 10-month full-time residence fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relation’s (CFR) headquarters in New York for a distinguished foreign correspondent or editor. Applicants must be
U.S. citizens
with distinguished credentials in the field of journalism who have covered international news as a working journalist for print, broadcast, or online media widely available in the U.S. The programme awards a stipend of
$100,000
as well as a modest
travel grant
unspecified
). The fellow is considered an independent contractor rather than an employee of CFR and is not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.
The deadline is 27th
February.
NLGJA Excellence In Journalism Awards
– a recognition of excellence in journalism on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community, held by The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists (NLGJA). They are open to anyone, including non-members and journalists who do not identify as LGBTQ+. There are several categories, including Print/Online, Broadcast, Digital and Editorial, among others. Entry fees for members are
$25
early bird and
$50
regular; and for nonmembers
$75
early bird and
$100
regular. There is no entry fee for student members entering the student journalism category and a reduced rate of
$15
for non-member students.
The deadline is 1st March.
Ted Scripps Fellowship in Environmental Journalism
– a 1-year fellowship at the University of Colorado for
U.S. based
journalists to deepen their understanding of environmental issues, hone their craft, and enjoy a break from deadlines while living at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Fellows will audit classes and pursue an independent project of their own design — podcasts are on the list of accepted projects. They’ll also attend weekly seminars and participate in field trips to world-renowned institutions to learn more about environmental science and policy. Fellows receive a stipend of
$80,000
and will travel (
expenses paid
) to the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference. Applicants must hold a current visa and be
authorised to work in the U.S
The deadline is 1st March, 11:59 pm MT.
Ed Bradley Journalism Fellowship
a 1-week training programme at New York University which seeks to identify and rectify the underrepresentation of
African American males
in newsrooms across the U.S. The fellowship is open to
all U.S. college students
who appreciate the programme’s mission, regardless of their identity or background, though Black males with aligned interests and career goals are particularly encouraged to apply. During the workshop students will receive hands-on instruction from NYU faculty and visiting professionals and get the opportunity to report and produce their own multimedia stories. The programme runs from 8th to 14th June. NYU provides the training, housing, meals and transportation. Students must have completed their freshman year by summer 2026.
The deadline is 1st
March.
National Press Club Scholarship Opportunities
– funding and support from The National Press Club (NPC) for
U.S. based
promising student journalists who are serving their communities. The upcoming scholarships are:
The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship
– a scholarship of
$5000
awarded annually to a student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years, for a total of
$20,000
toward educational expenses. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply, although they must be in the process of applying to an accredited university or community college in the U.S.
The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship
– a one-time
$5000
scholarship for a
high school senior
who is in the process of applying to an accredited college or university in the U.S. and wishes to pursue a career in journalism. Applicants must have a 3.0 and above grade-point average. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply.
The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie School
– a scholarship of
$5000
awarded annually to a
high school senior
who appears to be a promising future journalist who will bring diversity to American journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years, for a total of
$20,000
toward educational expenses. Applicants must: be in the process of applying to an accredited college or university in the U.S.; have a 3.0 grade-point average or higher; and plan to pursue a career in journalism. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply.
The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship
– a one-time stipend of
$5000
to help defray post-graduate tuition costs for a student pursuing graduate studies in journalism. Applicants must be enrolled in, or in the process of applying for, admission to an accredited graduate programme in journalism. Applicants must be
U.S. citizens
. Work samples can include broadcast news stories and clips from a podcast or other digital media.
The Lewis Scholarship (Summer)
free
housing and a monthly stipend of
$1000
to support
student journalists of colour
who plan to intern at news media outlets in Washington, D.C., in summer. Applicants must: be a college junior or senior; be
over 18
; identify as a person of colour; have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade-point average; provide a statement of
financial need
. Graduating seniors may apply for this scholarship if their internship takes place in the semester immediately following graduation. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply, although they must attend an accredited university or community college in the U.S.
The Rich Passan Sports Writing Scholarship
– a one-time stipend of
$5000
to support a
rising junior or senior in college
interested in a career in sports writing. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in sports writing, as well as a plan to pursue a career in sports journalism. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply, although they must attend an accredited university or community college in the U.S.
The deadlines are 1st March, 11:59 pm ET.
Collier Spotlight
– a
free
-to-enter certificate for impactful reporting on state institutions in the
U.S.
All media formats are accepted. Submitted reporting work must have been completed between 1st January and 1st September 2025. The news organisation that produces the top-ranked work will be awarded a
$500
honorarium and certificate.
The next deadline is 1st March.
SCAC Arts Project Support Grants
– up to
$2500
in funding for artists, nonprofit organisations, and units of government in
South Carolina
, aimed at supporting quality arts projects, marketing, and events and/or an artist’s commitment to improving themselves and/or their work artistically. Among other things, the grant can be used to build and/or increase technical, online, or virtual capacity; for supporting art projects in public spaces, community arts development, or professional development for artists and arts administration staff. They accept artists working within various disciplines, including time-based arts such as sound.
The deadline is 2nd March, 11:59 pm ET.
Meyer “Mike” Berger Award
– a
free
-to-enter journalism award recognising outstanding human-interest reporting  published or broadcast in the
United States
across text, audio, and video platforms. It is open to journalists whose work was
published in 2025 (or January 2026). The award includes a
$1500 prize
. Eligible submissions must demonstrate excellence in human-interest reporting and may be single pieces or designated series. Journalists reporting in a language other than English must submit the original work with an
English translation
The deadline is 6th March, 12 pm ET.
SPJ New America Awards
– celebrating public service journalism that explores and exposes issues of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States. They have an audio category. Entries may be in any language — however,
English translations
must be supplied for non-English entries. Entries cost
$40
for SPJ members,
$60
for non-members.
The deadline is 11th March, 11:59 pm ET.
Mary Kiesau Community Fellowship Fund
– two awards of
$1000
each for creative and educational independent projects of artists, photographers, naturalists, and naturalist educators with a connection to the
Methow Valley
in Washington. Applicants should be working to further their own creativity, professional development, and the community’s connection to the land, art, and each other. Applicants must be: at least
18 years old
; not a student for the duration of the application period and project; and a
U.S. resident
. The required connection to Methow Valley could be as a resident (full-time or part-time), visiting artist, or researcher doing field work in the vicinity.
The deadline is 11th
March.
KCUR’s Aviva Okeson-Haberman Internship Program (Summer)
– an educational programme that provides
U.S. based
students, recent graduates and other potential journalists with skills, relationships and resources that will help them pursue careers in public media, journalism and/or non-profits. Internships pay
$15
per hour, and interns may receive academic credit if an agreement is made between KCUR and the intern’s college or university.
The deadline is 15th March.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Art Project Grant for Individuals
– up to
$4000
for artists within
Itasca county
who create work in any arts discipline at any stage of their career. The grant offers funding for costs associated with the exhibition, performance, or production of creative work, purchase of materials or equipment to create works of art, overcome a barrier to long term success, reach a new community or market, educational opportunities in the arts (excluding academic credit), and other opportunities to enhance the applicant’s artistic development, such as working with a mentor artist, attending a conference, taking part in an artist residency programme, or marketing themselves or their work. Applicants must be a permanent resident (for at least 6 months) in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis counties as well as the Fond du Lac , Grand Portage, Bois Forte, or Leech Lake nations. Applicants must be over the age of 18.
The deadline is 15th March, 11:59 pm CT.
Philadelphia Student Mediamaker Fund (Spring)
– grants for student media makers who want to produce a digital video or audio project. Students must be in
eastern Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Northampton, Bucks, and Lehigh counties),
New Jersey
(Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester and Salem counties) or
Delaware
(New Castle and Kent counties). Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 30. The grant money must be used within five months. They offer up to
$1000
for undergraduates,
$1500
for graduates and
$1000
for a maker affiliated with a Philadelphia regional media making training institution.
The deadline is 15th March.
Artist Trust Arts Innovator Award
– unrestricted
$25,000
awards given to two
Washington State-based
artists of
any discipline
who are creating new, original work; experimenting with new ideas; taking risks; and pushing the boundaries of their fields. Applicants must be
over the age of 18
with a minimum of
five years of experience in professional art practice
The deadline is 16th March.
The 19th News Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Fellowship
– a yearlong fellowship at
The 19th
for graduating seniors, recent graduates, early-career or mid-career alumni of Historically Black College or Universities to work in reporting, audience engagement and product management roles with full-time salaries and benefits. Fellows are embedded in their respective teams and receive mentorship and professional development, as well as career coaching. Benefits include:
$1000
professional development stipend
; a
$480
work-from-home stipend
; a
$480
wellness stipend
$100
/month for coworking space membership; a Mac laptop, which fellows keep after the fellowship; access to the fellowship’s hardship fund (up to
$5000
per fellow); membership to the National Association of Black Journalists and attendance to their annual convention and career fair; and
$1500
merit bonus midway through the fellowship.. All applicants must be
legally authorised to work in the United States
and have some relevant experience in their chosen fellowship track; a genuine interest in growing their career in journalism; and alignment with
The 19th’s
values
and
community guidelines
The deadline is 20th March, 5 pm CT.
KALW Audio Academy
– a 9-month audio journalism course in
San Francisco
. It requires between a 16- and 20-hour weekly commitment, including eight hours working on their daily news show
Crosscurrents
, and eight hours out in the field where successful applicants make their own personal stories. The programme includes weekly evening seminars taught by KALW reporters, engineers, and other special guests, as well as shadowing opportunities and mentorship from the station’s staff. For the first time this year, they’re offering participants a stipend of up to
$9000
for the duration of the programme.
The 2025 deadline was 23rd
March, 11:59 pm PT.
Virginia Humanities Public Humanities Fellowships
– a
$15,000 stipend
to support a 4-month project on innovative humanities topics that are relevant to communities within Virginia, conducted by people
residing in Virginia
or
affiliated with a Virginia college or university
. Fellows get access to both the University of Virginia’s library system and the archives available at the Library of Virginia. They may also have the opportunity to participate in programmes such as their
With Good Reason
radio show and podcast, Virginia Festival of the Book’s Shelf Life, and the Library of Virginia’s
Uncommon Wealth
blog. Preference will be given to projects that engage the public in meaningful and creative ways and explore issues around public humanities topics related to subjects such as history, literature, religion, community stories and to applicants with experience engaging large, diverse, public audiences. Fellows must be
18+
The deadline is 31st March.
Paul Dresher Ensemble Artist Residencies
– an opportunity for
early- to mid-career Northern California-based
artists actively exploring new aesthetic premises and pushing the boundaries of conventional art forms and media. They provide artists with a stipend of
$1500
, free studio space and up-to-date equipment to create new work in time-based arts such as theater/performance, dance/movement, music/sound art/instrument invention, and collaborative and interdisciplinary work. They also have performance opportunities. They define an early- to mid-career artist (or group) as one who has finished their academic training or studies and is actively creating, producing, and performing their work but who is not yet receiving significant institutional support in the form of grants or commissions and is not yet touring nationally or internationally.
The deadline is 6th April, 11:59 pm PT.
Koch Continuum Grant in Public Health and Disability Investigative Reporting
$10,000
grant for investigative reporting in the medical and public health fields which highlights research and reporting on public health issues and/or issues affecting people with disabilities. They intend to support work that will be published for
United States
and/or
Canadian
audiences. The use of mapping and Geographic Information System [GIS] is highly encouraged in the projects. They also offer a two-year IRE membership, and a registration, transportation stipend and lodging for the IRE Conference to present the project. Applicants must be journalists, either freelance or working for a news outlet.
The deadline is 7th April, 11:59 pm ET.
AAJA Executive Leadership Program Asia
– a development programme cultivated to grow
mid-career Asian American
journalists as news leaders, managers and executives who can thrive in uncertain times and build a sustainable future for journalism. The programme explores the responsibilities and challenges of a media workplace, leading in a changing landscape and the role of cultural values in a corporate environment. They offer career coaching and mentorship in the form of a small group pairing with a senior news leader at a major media company. They connect successful applicants with industry peers and leaders from Asia and the United States.
The deadline is 6th April, or as soon as spots are filled.
Vermont Arts Council Creative Grant
– a grant of up to
$5000
to individual artists or groups who are
residents of Vermont
. Funds must be used only for the creation of new work, including the artist’s time (and other artists’ time, if applicable), the cost of materials, equipment, studio space, travel, etc.
The deadline is 6th April, 1 pm ET.
Dr. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship
– a
$5000
scholarship supporting
Arab American students
pursuing careers in
journalism, film, television, radio, or media studies
. Eligible applicants are
university students e
nrolled for 2026-27, juniors, seniors, or graduate students, majoring in journalism, television, radio, film, or media studies, with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
NOTE:
Applications must be submitted by mail.
The deadline is 12th April.
Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program
– a professional development opportunity for
U.S based women and nonbinary journalists
from
underrepresented backgrounds
, designed to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions across newsrooms in the U.S. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from the leadership team and will be paired with senior media professionals.
The deadline is 30th April, 11:59 pm ET.
United Kingdom + Ireland
Digital Installation Commission at London Museum Docklands Open Call
– a
£12,500
call out for digital designers, filmmakers, animators, sound artists, or multidisciplinary collectives to create a temporary, highly accessible digital installation at London Museum Docklands. The commission focuses on disabled people’s nightlife in London (1930s, 1980s, and the present/future) and will be co-produced with deaf, disabled and neurodivergent collaborators. The final work will be a 12-18 minute digital experience using film, animation and sound, designed for gallery presentation. Disabled-led teams are strongly encouraged to apply, and applicants should have experience with accessible, audience-focused digital work.
The deadline is 15th February.
Associate Artist Call Out (GL4)
– a paid associate artist role open to artists
aged 18+
working in any artform to collaborate with communities and young people in
Matson, Gloucestershire
. The role runs March – June with a £3,450 fixed fee for 10-15 days, plus a
£500
materials budget. The Associate Artist will support a primary school co-creation project with a visiting artist and lead a new
youth artists’ collective
through workshops and a final public intervention. Artists from all disciplines are welcome, with a strong emphasis on community engagement over specific outcomes. GL4 particularly welcomes applications from artists who are local to Matson, Global Majority, working class, D/deaf or disabled, or neurodivergent.
The deadline is 22nd February, 5pm GMT.
Research and Development for Individuals
– a National Lottery Project Grants opportunity for individual England-based creative and cultural practitioners to develop new ideas or explore new ways of working while
Developing Your Creative Practice
is paused. Grants range from
£1000
to
£30,000
(with most awards up to
£12,000
) for research-and-development only projects lasting up to one year, with no match funding required. The deadline is 26th February, 12 pm GMT.
The Wincott Awards
free
to enter awards for business, economic and financial journalism which is primarily for a U.K. audience. There are seven Wincott Awards with monetary rewards from
£1500
£5000
, including Audio Journalism of the Year. They have a Young Journalist of the Year category for the best individual journalist under the age of 30, working in any medium.
The deadline is March 2nd.
Charles Parker Prize
free
-to-enter award for student audio storytelling in the
U.K.
from accredited media training courses. Ten pieces are shortlisted and the top five are awarded a slot on BBC Radio 4 as part of the New Creatives programming. The shortlisted makers receive mentorship to adapt the programme for the radio and a small
fee
unspecified)
for the adaptation. The work must have been produced between 1st April 2025 and 22nd March 2026 and be between 10 and 15 minutes in duration. Entries must not have been previously broadcast on a national broadcasting network. The Prize is not open to paid employees of audio production companies or radio stations.
The deadline is 23rd
March, 11:59 pm GMT.
The Orwell Prizes
– a
free
-to-enter competition for work which comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition “to make political writing into an art.” There are five prizes, three of which accept audio content. Entries must be able to
demonstrate a link to the U.K. or Ireland
, or work first created or published between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026.
The Orwell Prize for Journalism
– a prize recognising sustained reportage and/or commentary in any medium. They offer a
£5000
cash prize. Applicants must submit a minimum of three items published by recognised publishers, news organisations or broadcasters. Entries must be able to
demonstrate a link to the U.K. or Ireland
The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness
– a prize recognising evidence-led reporting and/or commentary on homelessness in all its forms. They offer a
£3000
cash prize. Entries can be in any medium other than books — podcasts are accepted.
The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils
– a prize recognising investigative reporting of the social fabric of the U.K., covering optics such as poverty, housing, education, disability, welfare and the impacts of government policy. The winner receives a
£5000
cash prize, and two runners-up receive
£2500
each. Accepted entries include podcast episodes and radio broadcasts.
The deadline is 31st March.
Lyra McKee Bursary Scheme
– a
free
5-month training and mentoring scheme for people in the
U.K.
and
Ireland
who are from
underrepresented backgrounds
and who aspire to become journalists or who are at the very early stages of their journalism career. They welcome applications from people from poorer backgrounds, people of colour, people with disabilities, carers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Travellers and anyone who cannot afford to pay for the Centre for Investigative Journalism Summer training. Depending on needs, they may also pay for travel and accommodation in London to attend the Summer Centre for Investigative Journalism Conference. Applicants must be
18+
The deadline is 6th April, 11:59 pm BST.
Mary Mulvihill Award
– an award open to
undergraduate and postgraduate students
enrolled in a higher education institution anywhere on the island of
Ireland
at the time of submission. In addition to the overall award of
€2000
, the judges may, at their discretion, make an additional award of
€500
for a highly commended entry. The theme of this year’s competition is “Life” which may be addressed in scientific, environmental, imaginative or other terms. Joint entries or individual submissions are eligible.
The deadline is 7th April.
Kent Press & Broadcast Awards
– a
free
-to-enter competition celebrating and rewarding Kent’s local media across print, online, radio or TV. Many of their categories include radio and podcasts.
The deadline is 10th April, 5 pm BST.
Koestler Awards
– a
free
-to-enter competition celebrating art made by people
incarcerated in U.K. prisons
. They also run an arts mentoring scheme for entrants who want to develop their work further. They accept audio entries in several categories, including Radio Play, Spoken Word, Performance, Radio and Podcast Production and Music Composition. Prize money ranges in increments from
£25
£100
The deadline was 17th April.
Europe
The Franco-German Journalism Prize
– a competition celebrating outstanding French or German journalistic work that contributes to a better understanding of Franco-German and European relations. This could be France-related topics from a German perspective, European issues from the perspective of either of the two countries, or Franco-German topics from the perspective of a third country. Audio can be submitted in three categories: News, Documentary, Investigation. Category winners receive
€6000
. The prize is open to all authors and editorial teams irrespective of whether they are working freelance, for public sector or commercial media. Submissions must be in German or French, or containing a German or French “summary.”
The deadline is unclear.
Residency for Baltic Sound Artists
– a 2-week, in-person residency in Kintai, Lithuania, (8th – 23rd June) for sound artists from the Baltic states or based in the Baltics, focused on site-specific sonic research and performable sound works. Three artists are selected to develop new pieces, exchange practices, and present public outcomes in Kintai and Vilnius, with further performances in Estonia and Latvia and a digital release via Music Information Centre Lithuania. The residency offers an
€800
artist fee, accommodation and food, travel support (
€200
allowance plus travel/accommodation for regional performances), and basic technical equipment. It is open to individual artists working in music and sound; applications are accepted in
The deadline is 16th February.
EJN Story Grants to Support Reporting on Biodiversity Issues in the Western Balkans
– reporting grants for journalists based in
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo
to produce in-depth stories on biodiversity, nature loss and conservation solutions. They provide mentorship and up to 15 grants of
€1200
per story. Publication must take place by 30th August. Topics include biodiversity threats and solutions, conservation efforts, and links with climate change or human health. It is open to print, online, TV and radio journalists, early-career or experienced, freelancers or staff, applying individually or in groups (including cross-border teams with one lead applicant). Applications must be submitted in
; stories may be published in any language but require an
English translation
The deadline is 19th February, 11:59 pm CET.
Media Forward Fund (DACH Region)
– grants for
independent
media organisations based in
Germany, Austria, or Switzerland
developing projects that strengthen financial sustainability and serve the common good, particularly for underserved audiences. Funding ranges from
€200,000 – €400,000
over two years, depending on organisation size and structure: small non-profit outlets may receive up to
€400,000
; larger organisations are eligible for 50:50 co-financing (typically
€200,000
). Eligible applicants must publish original journalism, follow recognised editorial standards, demonstrate (or plan) a clear separation between editorial and business functions, and show an existing business model with proof of concept. It is open to non-profit and for-profit media organisations. Applications must be submitted in
The deadline is 20th February.
Culture Helps Solidarity: Individual Care Grants
– individual wellbeing grants for
Ukrainian
arts and culture professionals aged
18+
based in Ukraine or Creative Europe
countries, who are working with displaced people and vulnerable communities (including veterans) and need support to sustain their mental health, resilience, and wellbeing. Grants offer up to
€1200
per person as a one-off contribution for personal wellbeing support (e.g. psychotherapy, trauma-informed coaching, restorative care, cultural participation), not for project or organisational costs. Applications are accepted
in Ukrainian or English
, and this call is part of a rolling series opening roughly every six weeks.
The next deadline is 23rd February, 1pm CET.
Journalismfund Europe Grant Programmes
– funding which enables journalists and media to independently produce relevant cross-border investigative stories of public interest with a European mindset from international, national, and regional perspectives. It is open to
E.U. member states
and participating countries in the
Creative Europe Programme
(Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Tunisia). Unless otherwise specified, the results of the journalistic investigations can be published in any language, but
applications must be in English
. The grants with upcoming deadlines are:
Belgian Bridge
– a programme for
Belgium-based Dutch- and French-speaking journalists
working in
cross-language investigative teams
on local issues of national importance, with required publication in both language communities. They offer
€50,000
per call, covering reporting time and costs such as logistics, legal support, insurance, and data access. Projects must be published in
at least two Belgian outlets
one Dutch, one French
), ideally simultaneously. Applications are accepted in Dutch or French.
The deadline is 26th February at 1pm CET.
European Cross-border Grants
– a programme for cross-border teams of at least two professional journalists and/or newsrooms from
at least two different countries in Europe
. Funding can support journalistic research costs such as travel, translation, database access, and reporting time; fixed costs, equipment, and production expenses are not supported. Teams may also apply for expert project-advisor support. At least 80% of the requested budget goes to journalists or media based in EU countries. All media formats are eligible.
The deadline is 19th March, 1 pm CET.
Arthur F. Burns Fellowship (for Germans)
– a 9-week exchange fellowship for young German journalists to live and work in North America. Applicants must be between
21-40 years old
with
at least two years professional, full-time journalism experience
. Each fellow receives a
€4000
stipend to cover living expenses in the United States, as well as
€1500
for travel. Freelance and staff journalists can apply.
The deadline is 1st March.
S+T+ARTS Innovative Collaboration and Artistic Exploration Prizes
– two prizes (Innovative Collaboration and Artistic Exploration) each with
€20,000
prize money honouring innovative projects
in the European Research Area
at the intersection of science, technology and the arts. In addition the prize winners will be supported in presenting their work at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. The jury is looking for submissions from a broad variety of fields and disciplines including new media applications, human computer interaction, machine learning, biotechnology, art and science, green technologies, material research, smart cities and citizen empowerment, robotics, and quantum technology.
The deadline is 4th March.
EJC Journalism Science Alliance Grants
– grants for investigative journalism projects that pair media outlets with academic or research institutions in
Creative Europe
countries, focusing on public-interest topics like climate change, healthcare, emerging technologies, and local governance. Funding is available in three tiers
(€10,000, €20,000,
and up to
€50,000)
and includes training, mentoring, and networking to support cross-sector collaboration and science-backed reporting. It is open to
collaborative teams
with at least one media outlet and one research/academic organisation; the lead applicant must be a media outlet (applications submitted by a staff or freelance journalist with outlet backing). Projects can be local, regional, or transnational. Applications must be submitted in
The deadline is 23rd March, 5 pm CET.
International Journalism Programmes
– 6- to 8-week exchange programmes which enable German and international journalists to travel to each other’s countries and report within host organisations. Each delegate will receive a stipend which is intended to cover most of their travel expenses, meals and accommodation, and varies depending on the programme.
All candidates must have a strong command of English
. Radio journalists are welcome to apply, and applicants can be staff or freelance, unless otherwise specified.
International Journalism Programme (IJP) initiatives with upcoming deadlines are:
Turkey
– for journalists from
Turkey
or
Germany
, taking place between October and November. The delegates receive a
€4000
stipend.
The next deadline is 31st March.
Kreativ Kulture Berlin: Diverse Democracy Media Award
– an annual journalism award recognising exemplary
German-language
reporting on civic participation and democratic engagement. It is open to journalists whose work addresses issues of political involvement in a factual, comprehensive, and accessible manner. The prize is endowed with
€2000
and is awarded for individual works or series, including articles, books, film, television, radio, and multimedia contributions. Applicants may submit up to three entries on different topics, all of which must be published within two years prior to the application deadline. Any format, genre, length, or platform is eligible, provided the work demonstrates careful research and unbiased presentation for a broad public audience.
The deadline is 31st March.
Africa
Sanlam Financial Journalism Awards
– a recognition of the best in African financial journalism, across print, online, radio, podcasts and TV media, for journalists
residing in Africa
, employed by an African news organisation, and publishing or broadcasting their work on the continent. Each category carries a cash prize of
R 35,000
, as well as
R 30,000
for the Best Newcomer and
R 45,000
for the Financial Journalist of the Year winner. There are nine distinct categories, including one specifically for financial audio/radio broadcast. Entries must have been broadcast in 2025, and they can be in the language that a media house reports its news — organisers of the competition will arrange translations for non-English entries.
The deadline is 28th February.
SADC Media Awards
– a celebration of the work of journalists from
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States
. The themes of the entries must be on issues and activities promoting Regional Integration in the SADC region such as infrastructure, economy, water, culture, sports, agriculture, and more. They have a Radio Journalism category. The first prize winner in each category receives
$2500
and the runner-up receives
$1000
The deadline is 29th February.
Latin America + the Caribbean
The Gabo Prize
– an award celebrating
Spanish and Portuguese
work covering the issues that affect Latin America. The motto of the call for works is “El Periodismo Vive” (“Journalism Lives”), specifically in the face of threats to press freedom. They have an audio category for works of sound journalism, such as radio or podcasts. The winners of each category will receive
$35,000,000
Colombian Pesos
The deadline is 20th February, 11:59 pm Colombia Standard Time.
Canada
The Mark Rosenfeld Fellowship in Higher Education Journalism
– a fellowship which supports in-depth and innovative journalism centred on higher education in
Canada
. They provide
CAD $10,000
for research and reporting, hired equipment, and travel. If necessary, The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) will also provide editorial support. It is open to Canadians, permanent residents in Canada, and non-Canadians holding a valid work permit. Full-time, part-time, and freelance journalists (including students) can apply. Podcasts are an accepted medium for the project. Applications can be submitted in either
English or French
The deadline is 6th March.
Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship
– a 2- to 4-month grant for
British Columbia-based
emerging or experienced journalists to research, produce and publish or broadcast a deep-dive journalism project of significance to British Columbians. This year two awards are available: one of up to
CAD $12,000
for an emerging journalist and one of up to
$25,000
for an established journalist. The journalism produced can be in
any language
. It could be written for print or digital publishing or may be multimedia such as a video or podcast. Applicants can be staff or freelance, but freelancers must have a letter of support from a publishing source which confirms to publish or broadcast the work upon its completion and staff must have a letter of support from their employer stating that they may have the requisite time off to work on the project.
The deadline is 15th March, midnight PT.
Oceania
Community Broadcasting Foundation Grants
– content grants which increase and diversify the voices heard in
Australian
media by supporting the creation of compelling content. They have Specialist Radio Programming Grants for stations producing content that meets the needs of particular communities. This funding is intended to encourage stations to: serve people with a print disability, create programmes to serve a defined local ethnic community, and create First Nations Australian programmes. They also have Development and Operations grants, Quick Response grants, and Sector Investment grants.
The deadline is 3rd March, 2 pm AEDT.
CBF Specialist Radio Programming and Development & Operations Grants
– funding to support efforts to diversify voices in
Australian
community media by servicing the information needs of particular audiences, namely people with a print disability, and Ethnic and First Nations communities. This
unspecified
funding is for: programmes to serve people with a print disability, ethnic programmes to serve a defined local ethnic community, and First Nations Australian programmes.
The deadline is 3rd March, 2 pm AEDT.
Asia
Shorenstein Journalism Award
– a
$10,000
award for an
Asian news media outlet or a journalist
whose work has primarily appeared in Asian news media. While organisations are eligible, teams of journalists are not. The reporting must be accurate, deeply investigated, and nuanced. A nominee’s work may be in traditional forms of print/online/broadcast journalism or in emerging forms of multimedia journalism.
The deadline is 15th February.
SOPA Awards
– a celebration of quality journalism in
English, Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia
from across the
Asia-Pacific region
or organisations that distribute widely in the region, organised by The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA). They have an Excellence in Audio Reporting category, as well as other categories that allow for audio entries. Submissions cost between
HK$900
$115
) and
HK$1800
$231
) depending on language, membership status and whether the reporting is local or global.
The deadline is 26th February.
Danish Siddiqui Journalism Scholarship
– financial aid and guidance for talented Master’s-level journalism students in
India
, with a particular focus on fostering ethical journalism. Preference will be given to applicants from economically weaker situations (with income less than
₹350,000
) who’ve secured admission in journalism degree courses at a government college. The scholarship is for one year with a potential extension to the second year of study.
The deadline is 31st March.
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and
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