IWMF Opens Applications for 2025 Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), a global organisation seeking to unleash the potential of women and non-binary journalists as champions of press freedom to transform the global news media, has opened applications for the 2025 cycle of the Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism. Kari Howard (1962-2022) was an award-winning editor and an inspiration and mentor to journalists worldwide. She championed writing that focuses on resilience, dignity, absurdity, gut-busting humour, or heartbreak. Kari Howard loved stories that left readers feeling as though they had just met a new friend. Writers fortunate enough to work with her as their editor found themselves challenged to weave the music of everyday life and the passion of extraordinary love into the fabric of stories illuminating the most important issues of the day. Therefore, Kari’s family and friends, together with the IWMF, are honoured to offer grants to support the narrative journalism she championed. The Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism awards annual grants in support of proposals that report and publish compelling human stories, especially true and timely stories of everyday life and everyday lives caught in extraordinary moments. Grants will be for a maximum of $5,000. An applicant may be a print journalist or a print journalist leading a multi-media team. Projects reported and published in English anywhere in the world are eligible. All reporting and publishing must be completed within six months of the award of the grant. This opportunity is open to women and nonbinary journalists who may be freelance or staff print journalists and may apply individually or as part of a multi-format team. Professional journalism must be the applicant’s primary profession. Applicants must have three or more years of professional journalism experience; internships do not count as professional experience. Applicants must be able to show proof of interest from an editor or have a proven track record of publication in prominent media outlets. They must apply and publish in English.  Any multi-format reporting must supplement a printed project. Please note that stories can be published digitally and not necessarily in a newspaper or magazine. Interested eligible journalists can apply until July 13, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST. Applicants will receive a decision on their applications by early September. For more information and to apply, please visit this website. https://www.iwmf.org/programs/kari-howard-fund/.