20 media opportunities you shouldn’t miss in January 2026

As journalists, photographers, editors, researchers and media innovators, the time is now to start consolidating on one’s professional growth plan for the New Year. This is why we have curated this list of 20 media opportunities you shouldn’t miss in January 2026, as they offer a strong starting point for the New Year.

These Africa-focused and global programmes/opportunities cut across critical areas such as investigative and data journalism, media innovation, public interest reporting, ethics, artificial intelligence, health, science, travel, business and policy.

Many of them provide funding, mentorship, international exposure and/or time and space to develop ambitious reporting projects that can shape public discourse.

Preparing early for these January deadlines increases your chances of success and positions you for meaningful impact in 2026 through recognition, funding, learning and global engagement in the media space.

1. Excellence in Tax Reporting Award to open in December: The Excellence in Tax Reform Reporting Award will be open for applications on December 31, 2025. The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee designed the award to recognise and reward journalists and online influencers who provide balanced, accurate and impactful reporting on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms. APPLY HERE
2. Sony World Photography Awards open for applications: JANUARY 2026— Photographers who want to elevate their careers to the next level can apply for the Sony World Photography Awards. APPLY HERE
3. UNESCO’s Global Media Defence Fund open for proposals: DEADLINE: JANUARY 2, 2026 — The Global Media Defence Fund of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is accepting proposals. APPLY HERE
4. Global Media Defence Fund opens for proposals: DEADLINE: JANUARY 2, 2026 — The Global Media Defence Fund by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is accepting proposals for partnerships. APPLY HERE
5. Applications open for 2026 FASPE Fellowship: DEADLINE: JANUARY 4, 2026 — Applications are now open for the 2026 Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). APPLY HERE
6. Fellowship for health editors in Africa: DEADLINE: JANUARY 6, 2026 — Wikimidea and Wiki Health Africa is accepting applications for this fellowship for health editors in Africa. APPLY HERE
7. KAS Media Africa’s 2026 Local Journalism Award: DEADLINE: JANUARY 5, 2026 — KAS Media Africa invites journalists to submit entries for the 2026 Local Journalism Award. APPLY HERE
8. 2026 Tarbell Fellowship for journalists interested in artificial intelligence: DEADLINE: JANUARY 7, 2026 — The 2026 Tarbell Fellowship, a one-year programme for journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence, is now open for applications. APPLY HERE
9. 2026 Polio Press Fellowship for individual reporting in polio-affected countries: DEADLINE: JANUARY 7, 2026 — The United Nations Foundation is accepting applications for its 2026 Polio Press Fellowship for Individual Reporting. APPLY HERE
10. Knight Science Journalism fellowships open for applications: DEADLINE: JANUARY 9, 2025 — Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) is accepting applications for the Academic-Year and the Africa and Middle East Fellowships. APPLY HERE
11. 2026 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling: DEADLINE: JANUARY 9, 2026 — Journalists in Africa can submit their work for the 2026 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. APPLY HERE
12. Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Journalism, Media and Globalisation open for applications: DEADLINE: JANUARY 10, 2026 — Applications are currently open for the Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Journalism, Media and Globalisation. APPLY HERE
13. WanaData Fellowships open to African data journalists, data scientists: DEADLINE: JANUARY 11, 2026 — Code for Africa (CfA) invites African data journalists and data scientists to apply for WanaData Fellowships designed to promote a secure digital space through gender projects. APPLY HERE
14. Sigma Awards 2026 open for entries: DEADLINE: JANUARY 11, 2026 — Journalists can apply for the 2026 Sigma Awards, which celebrate the best data journalism from around the world. APPLY HERE
15. RSF Berlin Fellowship Programme 2026 now open for applications: DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2026 — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany has opened applications for the 2026 RSF Berlin Fellowship Programme, a fully funded initiative designed to protect, empower and upskill journalists working under restrictive press and information environments. APPLY HERE
16. Call for entries: 2026 ATW Media Awards: DEADLINE: JANUARY 16, 2026 — The 2026 Africa Travel Week (ATW) Media Awards seek out storytellers, photographers and content creators who bring Africa’s extraordinary travel and tourism stories to life. APPLY HERE
17. 2026 INMA Global Media Awards open for entries: DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026 — The INMA Global Media Awards will reward business practices that sustain news media and journalism. The awards recognise excellence in engaging and funding news brands, as well as the outstanding journalism they produce. APPLY HERE
18. Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards 2026: DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2026 — The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) is accepting entries for the Dr Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards 2026. APPLY HERE
19. Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism: DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2026 — Experienced journalists who want to enhance their understanding of business and economics, finance and technology can apply for the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship. APPLY HERE
20. 2026 Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards: DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2025 — Journalists can submit entries for the 2026 Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards, which celebrate excellence in insurance, risk, and resilience reporting. APPLY HERE

 

MORE MEDIA AND JOURNALISM OPPORTUNITIES FROM I-79 MEDIA

Looking to spice up the new year with brand new goals and ambitions? You can select from the list of applications.

1. New Media Writing Prize open for entries: DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2026 — The New Media Writing Prize (NMWP) is accepting entries for its 2025/2026 competition. APPLY HERE
2. Solutions Journalism Network Awards open for nominations: DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 27, 2026 — Journalists can submit entries for the Solutions Journalism Network Awards, which honour and celebrate outstanding examples of solutions journalism from around the world. APPLY HERE

ROLLING OPPORTUNITIES

Seeking funds for your next media projects? This Rolling Story Grants section is tailored for you.

you.

1. Mongabay is hiring Copy Editor: DEADLINE: ROLLING — Mongabay, an award-winning environmental science and conservation news organisation, is hiring a Copy Editor. APPLY HERE
2. Zikoko is hiring a Citizen Reporter: Zikoko, a publication of Big Cabal Media (BCM), wants an experienced Citizen Reporter to join its team. APPLY HERE
3. Climate Home News seeks pitches from freelance journalists, others: Climate Home News accepts article pitches from freelance journalists, experts and organisations working on climate policy. APPLY HERE
4. Mongabay seeks investigations editor: DEADLINE: ROLLING — Mongabay, an award-winning global environmental news platform, is hiring an Investigations Editor to manage its growing body of cross-border investigative reporting on environmental destruction and accountability. APPLY HERE
5. Pulitzer Centre offering ocean and fisheries reporting grant: The Pulitzer Centre, a nonprofit organisation that supports independent global journalism, is accepting proposals for its ocean and fisheries reporting grant. APPLY HERE
6. Naija Feminists Media seeks contributors, writers: DEADLINE: ROLLING — Naija Feminists Media is accepting articles from feminist writers who are interested in sharing original work on feminist topics. APPLY HERE
7. Apply for grants at Fund for Investigative Journalism: The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is offering grants to journalists for the production of impactful investigative stories. APPLY HERE
8. Grant writing course for journalists: Journalists who want to learn the ins and outs of applying for grants can enroll for this course: Grant Writing for Journalists. APPLY HERE
9. Pulitzer Centre seeks proposals on climate change and its effects on workers and work: DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Centre has reporting grants for its initiative focused on climate change and its effects on workers and work. APPLY HERE
10. Pulitzer Centre seeks proposals for transparency and governance reporting grants: DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Center invites applications from freelance and staff journalists worldwide for its Transparency & Governance Reporting Grants. APPLY HERE
11. Grants for underreported stories in Sub-Saharan Africa:  DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Center is offering grants for underreported stories in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proposals should focus on issues such as water and sanitation, land degradation and coastal erosion, education, maternal health, and climate resilience. APPLY HERE
12. Pulitzer Center has grants for data journalism projects: DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is offering grants for innovative data-driven journalism projects that spotlight underreported issues. APPLY HERE
13. MDIF Ventures wants to invest in growing media companies: The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) Ventures wants to invest in young and growing media companies with a positive social impact and potential to scale. APPLY HERE
14. Women journalists can apply for IWMF Emergency Fund: Women journalists are invited to apply for the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) Emergency Fund. APPLY HERE

 

STORY PITCHES

Where to submit story pitches? No worries, we’ve got you! Check below for exciting offers.

1. MIT Technology Review seeks pitches from freelance writers: MIT Technology Review is accepting pitches from freelance writers of all skill levels and from all backgrounds. APPLY HERE
2. Call for pitches: Climate Home News seeks stories on mineral supply chains: Journalists with at least three years’ experience can pitch original story ideas about the trends shaping supply chains for energy transition minerals and how to address their sustainability challenges. APPLY HERE
3. The Harbinger seeks agriculture, agritech, climate impact stories: The Harbinger seeks Agriculture, AgriTech & Climate impact stories from passionate writers, journalists, storytellers and researchers across the globe. APPLY HERE
4. Current Conservation seeks submissions; Current Conservation, a not-for-profit quarterly print and online magazine, is accepting articles, illustrations and photo essays. APPLY HERE
5. Pin Africa seeks pitches from African journalists, photographers and content creators: Pin Africa seeks pitches from African journalists, photographers and content creators passionate about positively elevating stories about the continent. APPLY HERE
6. Accountability Amplifiers Initiative seeks story pitches from campus journalists: DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Accountability Amplifiers Initiative seeks story pitches from campus journalists to investigate accountability and transparency issues at the subnational levels. APPLY HERE
7. Contributions needed on climate issues in Africa: Individuals and organisations passionate about shedding light on climate issues in relation to China’s development in Africa can apply for this project. APPLY HERE
8. Call for contributions: Chinese Energy Initiatives in Africa: The China-Global South Project (CGSP) seeks contributors to shed light on energy issues and projects related to Chinese energy initiatives in Africa. APPLY HERE
9. Submit pitches on clean energy supply chains: Climate Home News is currently accepting pitches for story ideas on clean energy supply chains. Journalists from all countries, with at least three years’ experience and fluent spoken and written English are welcome to apply. APPLY HERE
10. The Revelator seeks pitches on environmental issues: The Revelator is actively seeking both expert commentaries and freelance journalism related to environmental issues. APPLY HERE
11. IJNet seeks pitches on resources helpful to journalists: The International Journalists’ Network (IJNet) is accepting pitches related to journalism tools, apps or resources that can help journalists globally. Writers will be compensated US$200 per article. APPLY HERE
12. GIJN seeks contributors to write articles related to investigative journalism: The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) seeks contributors interested in writing articles related to investigative journalism. APPLY HERE
13. Mongabay Africa seeks pitches on climate change and land degradation: Mongabay Africa is offering paid reporting opportunities on stories focused on climate change and land degradation. APPLY HERE
14. BBC Africa Eye seeks pitches for investigative story ideas: BBC Africa Eye is currently accepting pitches for investigative story ideas. BBC Africa Eye is an investigative documentary programme that makes films from across the continent. APPLY HERE
15. The SolutionsPaper seeks stories related to religious and ethnic extremism: The SolutionsPaper is looking for solutions-oriented pitches on stories related to religious and ethnic extremism. APPLY HERE
16. Submit climate solutions pitches: The BBC Future Planet is looking for pitches on climate solutions for its Climate Guardians project. APPLY HERE
17. Social Voices wants pitches on health technologies, health and development: Social Voices invites journalists to submit pitches on how initiatives are tackling a health or development challenge. APPLY HERE
18. Mongabay seeks stories about Africa: Mongabay invites proposals from journalists for conventional news stories, in-depth features, investigative reports, profiles, and case studies. APPLY HERE
19. Rest of World seeks story pitches from Africa: Rest of World covers local stories with global relevance that explore the impact of technology on people and institutions outside the Western bubble. APPLY HERE
20. Journalists can submit pitches on technology in Africa, others: Rest of World invites journalists to submit pitches about technology in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. APPLY HERE