The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is calling for applications from women-identifying journalists in dire straits – journalists who have faced significant financial hardship, lost work, were recently laid off or who urgently need assistance to avoid severe, irreversible outcomes to apply for its Journalism Relief Fund.
The Foundation is turning its attention to how it may best serve its community of women journalists at this unprecedented moment in history, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation anticipates a great need for support within its global network of journalists – especially among freelancers with no safety net, based on early, anecdotal evidence of cancelled assignments, lost income and an inability to pay essential living expenses.
The IWMF appeals that those whose situations are not urgent should not delay help to their peers in need by submitting requests that are not urgent as it has limited staff capacity to review applications.
To be eligible for the IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a staff or freelance woman-identifying reporter, working in any medium, whose primary profession is journalism (priority would be given to freelancers and journalists recently laid off);
Has worked full-time as a journalist within six months of applying for assistance;
Apply for assistance directly related to the global health crisis;
And, has no other sources of income available at this time.
The IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund provides women-identifying journalists with living assistance to prevent homelessness and food insecurity; acute medical care and mental health services; childcare and legal support.
To request assistance from the IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund, applicants must complete the preliminary questionnaire. All requests undergo a verification process and those that do not meet the criteria above will not be considered. Requests will be reviewed daily and applicants who have any questions relating to the IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund should please email info@iwmf.org.
Persons submitting an application for the fund are to be aware that the IWMF have been overwhelmed with the volume of requests that it receives and will therefore continue to respond to those in dire straits on a first-come-first-serve basis until funds are depleted. The Foundation does not expect to be able to meet every request and appreciate applicants’ patience with this process.
For further information and to apply for the fund, please go to https://iwmf.submittable.com/submit/41e7f7ce-db40-4ff6-873f-e24450e27497/journalism-relief-fund-english.
