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.

This call seeks to provide financial support to local, regional, and global not-for-profit organisations for the implementation of projects aimed at bolstering journalists’ legal safety and advancing media freedom through investigative journalism and strategic litigation.

An indicative budget of $800,000 will be awarded to support meaningful action that helps break the cycle of impunity for crimes against journalists, distributed in grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.

Proposed projects must contribute to at least one of the following GMDF Outputs:

• Rapid legal assistance and mechanisms to enhance journalists’ legal protection
• Investigative journalism to reduce impunity
• Strategic litigation to enhance media freedom

The deadline to submit proposals is January 2, 2026.

APPLY HERE

MEDIA AND JOURNALISM OPPORTUNITIES FROM I-79 MEDIA

Howard G. Buffett Fund for female journalists

DEADLINE: ROLLING — Female journalists around the world can apply for the Howard G. Buffett Fund offered through the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). APPLY HERE

O’Shaughnessy Fellowships offer innovative creators up to $100,000

DEADLINE: ROLLING — The O’Shaughnessy Fellowship is a one-year programme open to innovative creators around the world. APPLY HERE

Pulitzer Centre will fund investigative stories on science misinformation

DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Centre is offering grants for in-depth and investigative stories related to science misinformation, science denial, and the spread of pseudoscience. APPLY HERE

Grants for underreported stories in Sub-Saharan Africa

DEADLINE: ROLLING — The Pulitzer Centre 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

Pulitzer Center is offering global reporting grants

DEADLINE: ROLLING —The Pulitzer Centre’s global reporting grants support in-depth, high-impact reporting on critical issues that are often overlooked in the media, from global health to climate change. APPLY HERE 

Call for applications: RCDIJ Africa Fund

DEADLINE: ROLLING —The RCDIJ Africa Fund is currently open for applications from journalists across Africa. APPLY HERE

Mongabay seeks pitches from journalists

DEADLINE: ROLLING — Mongabay seeks story pitches from journalists interested in writing about carbon credits, offsets or markets. APPLY HERE

Unbias the News seeks pitches on underreported stories

DEADLINE: ROLLING — Unbias the News is accepting pitches on underreported stories with global relevance. APPLY HERE