Coronavirus News Collaboration Challenge 2020

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2020 ― The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is seeking proposals that develop innovative approaches to reporting on the novel coronavirus crisis using collaboration among journalists and newsrooms across state lines or national borders.

This opportunity is open to all newsrooms and independent journalists across the globe including groups of freelance journalists working together and groups of newsrooms collaborating on a project.

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.

The Pulitzer Center is eager for 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.

The Pulitzer Center is seeking 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 Pulitzer 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
• Hold the powerful accountable

Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

• A description of the proposed project, including distribution/publication plan. No more than 250 words.
• Methodology: Please describe your 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 you (or someone your 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 your resume or curriculum vitae.
• Applications may also include a more detailed description of the project, which can be uploaded as additional material.

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Pulitzer Center will select multiple project proposals for support in 2020. Pulitzer Center will consider projects of any scope and size.

A team leader is expected to submit the proposal while only one project proposal is allowed per team.

This grant opportunity is now open, and applications will be reviewed on a first-come, rolling basis.

Pulitzer Center will begin reviewing applications as soon as they are received and typically notify applicants within a week or two if they’re being considered for support.

Pulitzer Center does not have a budget range for these awards and are open to supporting multiple projects in 2020. For comparison, most awards for Pulitzer Center international reporting/travel program are between $5,000 and $10,000, but may be more or less depending on circumstances.

APPLY HERE