The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is seeking proposals from newsrooms and independent journalists that develop innovative approaches to reporting on the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) crisis using collaboration among journalists and newsrooms across state lines or national borders. This opportunity is open to the media from all over the world.
The Pulitzer Center especially favours proposals that break traditional notions of scooping and competition and instead use the power of sharing and collaboration to increase reporting capacity and expand the reach and impact of stories. This is so because, at a time of scarce media resources, the coronavirus story challenges newsrooms to find creative ways to bring accurate, compelling, and timely information to their readers.
It, therefore, seeks strong proposals that involve a strategic and concerted effort by multiple journalists and/or newsrooms to pursue a reporting project together, leveraging resources, expertise, and publication platforms.
In addition to a strong collaboration component for reporting and publication, the Center encourages proposals that: focus on systemic, under-reported issues underlying the coronavirus crisis; use data-driven and/or interdisciplinary approaches to reporting on coronavirus, and hold the powerful accountable.
Proposals should be accompanied by the following:
- A description of the proposed project, including distribution/publication plan. No more than 250 words.
- Methodology describing applicant’s approach to collaborating with other journalists/newsrooms on coronavirus reporting. Include: who has agreed to take part in the collaboration; who will coordinate the effort; what resources will be shared across teams/newsrooms; what outputs are expected; timeline.
- A preliminary budget estimate, including a basic breakdown of costs. Include travel costs, software, coordination, data work. Please do not include stipends for journalists/team members who are in the employ of newsrooms or are being paid by a publisher. If you are a journalist collaborating with a data analyst and/or data visual specialist you may include consultant fees in your budget.
- Three examples (links) of published work by the applicant (or someone applicant’s project team.) For example, journalistic collaborations that you, your newsroom or partners in this project have been part of.
- Three professional references. These can be either contact information or letters of recommendation.
- A copy of the applicant’s resume or curriculum vitae.
The Center will select multiple project proposals for support in 2020 and will consider projects of any scope and size. Applicants are encouraged to choose a team leader to submit the proposal and submit only one project proposal per team.
Most awards for the Center’s international reporting/travel programme range between $5,000 and $10,000, but maybe more or less depending on circumstances.
Interested journalists, newsrooms and freelancers should go to https://pulitzercenter.org/grant-application to apply and if in need of further information, send an email to Email info@pulitzercenter.org, checked daily for proposals from interested persons.
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is a non-profit organization that supports independent global journalism,
