Environmental Investigative Journalism 2026

📝 About Journalismfund Europe Environmental Investigative Journalism

The Environmental Investigative Journalism grant programme is designed to support cross-border teams of professional journalists and news outlets in conducting investigations into environmental issues connected to Europe.

Recognizing that environmental and societal challenges often transcend national borders, this programme encourages collaborative journalism that exposes illegal, unreported, and unregulated activities impacting nature both within and beyond Europe.

💰 Benefits

• The total funding available for the programme in 2026 amounts to €1,200,000, distributed across three application rounds.
• Approximately €400,000 will be allocated to each call, supporting multiple investigative projects.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply for this grant, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Cross-border teams of at least two journalists and/or news outlets can submit a proposal for a journalistic investigation about an issue concerning the environment (e.g., environmental protection, destruction, biodiversity, impact of climate change on nature, etc.).
• Applicants must be legally residing/registered in at least two different countries.
• Applicants must be professional journalists or registered media companies.
• Personal references and links to earlier work are essential.
• News outlets must be legal entities officially incorporated at least 12 months prior to the application deadline.
• The investigation proposal must concern cross-border environmental investigative journalism on European affairs (in or outside Europe) and must be relevant to the European audience.
• Comparative investigations into local environmental issues and policies between two or more countries, regions, or cities are also eligible.
• The result of the investigation must be published by at least two professional news outlets in at least two different countries, one of which must be in Europe. Letters of intent for publication from at least two professional news outlets are required.
• Investigative journalism published by professional media in any form is eligible, including:
  • Print
  • Online
  • Broadcast
  • Cross-media (e.g., newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television documentaries, photo-reportages, podcasts, and journalistic non-fiction books).

📅 Application Date and Process

Steps to Apply:

1. Consult the Grant Details
   Before starting your application, review the grant details, which include rules, eligibility, assessment criteria, and timing.

2. Register and Access the Application Form
   After a one-time registration with your email address, you can access the online application form.

   The application form will require the following information:

   • Team members' details
   • Information about the intended investigation
   • Information about the intended publication channels (including letters of intent from news outlets)
   • A detailed budget (using the provided budget template)

3. Collaborate on the Application

   • One team member can start a draft application and invite others to collaborate.
   • The online application-in-progress can be saved and edited at any time.

4. Upload Administrative Documents
   Ensure all required administrative documents are uploaded as part of the application process.

⏰ Application Deadline

06 August, 2026

🔗 Additional Information

For more details about the Journalismfund Europe Environmental Investigative Journalism grant, visit the official opportunity page.

This opportunity is a fantastic chance for journalists and media professionals to collaborate on impactful environmental investigations that transcend borders and bring critical issues to light. Don't miss the chance to apply! 🌱

• The total funding available for the programme in 2026 amounts to €1,200,000, distributed across three application rounds.
• Approximately €400,000 will be allocated to each call, supporting multiple investigative projects.