Deadline: September 1, 2026
Applications are open for the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Freelance Fellowship 2026. Created in 2008, the fellowships are awarded for nonfiction project proposals which demonstrate impact, breadth and significance. Proposals for books, documentaries, cable series and other long-form projects are eligible.
They also accept proposals for shorter term work such as video or audio projects for broadcast or online sites, articles for newspapers, magazines, online sites and niche news publications, among others. Proposals that deal with whistleblowers, business ethics or privacy issues will be given priority. It is intended to support work that will be primarily published or broadcast in the U.S. and in outlets where the primary audience will be at least a part of the American public.
Benefits
There are two types of awards:
- Short-term project – Up to $2,000; a one-year IRE membership; and a two-hour consultancy for reporting and legal services from Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors (FIRE). This includes video or audio projects for broadcast or online sites; articles for newspapers, magazines, online sites and niche news publications; among others.
- Long-term project – Up to $4,000; a one-year IRE membership; and a two-hour consultancy for reporting and legal services from Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors (FIRE). This includes books, documentaries, cable series and other long-form projects.
Eligibility
Open to
- Journalists who make their living primarily as freelancers and need assistance in conducting investigative projects.
- Freelance journalists who will publish the work primarily in the U.S. and in outlets where the primary audience will be at least a part of the American public.
Criteria
- Proposals which demonstrate impact, breadth and significance.
- Proposals that deal with whistleblowers, business ethics or privacy issues will be given priority.
- Intended to support work that will be primarily be published in the U.S. and in outlets where the primary audience will be at least a part of the American public.
Application
Required application materials include:
- Three clips showcasing investigative work
- Explain your freelance status in as much detail as necessary for the selection committee to determine your eligibility
- Describe your project.
- How do you plan to spend the money if you receive one of the IRE freelance fellowships?
- If your project requires additional funding, how do you plan to raise the rest of the funding necessary to complete your project?
- Where do you hope to publish or air the project?
- Have you discussed publication with any specific outlets? If so, please summarize the conversations.
- If you have already signed a contract with a publisher or broadcast outlet, please provide specifics.
- If you receive one of the fellowships, when do you expect to deliver the project to a potential publisher or broadcast outlet?
For more information, visit IRE Freelance Fellowship.
