IRE Freelance Fellowship for Journalists 2025

Applications are now open for the IRE Freelance Fellowship for Journalists 2025. This fellowship provides cash awards to assist independent journalists with investigative projects.

📖 About the IRE Freelance Fellowship

Created in 2008, the IRE Freelance Fellowship supports nonfiction project proposals that demonstrate impact, breadth, and significance. Eligible projects include:

• Books, documentaries, and cable series
• Short-term projects such as video or audio projects for broadcast or online platforms
• Articles for newspapers, magazines, online sites, and niche news publications

Priority will be given to proposals addressing whistleblowers, business ethics, or privacy issues. The fellowship is intended to support work primarily published or broadcast in the United States, targeting an American audience.

Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 21, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 29, 2025
• Category: Fellowship
• Opportunity Location: United States
• Eligible Locations: United States
• Sponsor Organization: Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

🎁 Benefits of the IRE Freelance Fellowship

Long-term Projects

• Funding: Up to $4,000
• Membership: One-year IRE membership
• Consultancy: Two-hour consultancy for reporting and legal services from Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors (FIRE)

Short-term Projects

• Funding: Up to $2,000
• Membership: One-year IRE membership
• Consultancy: Two-hour consultancy for reporting and legal services from Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors (FIRE)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Who is Eligible?

• Journalists who primarily work as freelancers and need assistance conducting investigative projects.
• Freelance journalists whose work will be published primarily in the United States, targeting an American audience.

Required Application Materials

1. Three clips showcasing investigative work.
2. A detailed explanation of your freelance status to help the selection committee determine eligibility.
3. A project description, including:
   • How you plan to spend the fellowship funds.
   • Plans for raising additional funding if required.
   • Potential publication or broadcast outlets.
   • Summary of discussions with publishers or broadcasters (if applicable).
   • Details of any signed contracts with publishers or broadcasters.
   • Expected timeline for delivering the project to a publisher or broadcaster.

📝 Selection Criteria

• Proposals demonstrating impact, breadth, and significance.
• Priority given to proposals addressing whistleblowers, business ethics, or privacy issues.
• Projects intended for publication or broadcast in the United States, targeting an American audience.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: September 29, 2025
• To apply, visit the IRE Freelance Fellowship Application Portal.
• Submit your application via the application form.

For more details, visit the IRE Freelance Fellowship page.

Good luck with your application!

• 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)
• 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)