Alicia Patterson Fellowship 2027 for Journalists with Funding up to USD 40,000

The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has opened applications for the 2027 Alicia Patterson Fellowship, which supports experienced journalists undertaking in-depth written journalism projects addressing issues of public importance.

The fellowship gives journalists dedicated independent time to conduct research, travel, collect documents, carry out interviews, and write a series of reports on a specific topic. Applicants may choose either a six-month or a full-year fellowship.

Fellowship Duration and Funding

The fellowship is available in two tracks:

1. Six-month fellowship: USD 20,000.
2. Twelve-month fellowship: USD 40,000.

The fellowships will begin in early 2027, and funding will be paid directly to the journalist in monthly instalments throughout the fellowship period.

Eligible Projects

The proposed project must:

1. Be a written journalism project intended for print or digital publication.
2. Be in-depth, investigative, or focused on accountability.
3. Address a topic of public importance.
4. Have a clear and substantial focus on the United States.
5. Be intended for publication through a US-based media outlet.
6. Provide new information or meaningfully advance existing coverage of the issue.

Selected fellows will receive the following benefits:

1. Funding of up to USD 40,000 to complete an in-depth journalism project.
2. The ability to use the funding to cover living expenses during the fellowship.
3. Coverage of travel, research, and document and public-record acquisition costs.
4. Either six months or one full year dedicated to an independent journalism project.
5. No requirement to submit a publication commitment letter at the application stage.
6. Permission to work part-time or undertake limited freelance assignments during the fellowship.
7. The opportunity to publish a series of written reports resulting from the project.
8. The flexibility to pitch the project to different US-based media outlets.
9. Membership in a network of journalists who have received the fellowship since its launch in 1965.

Eligible Use of Funding

The fellowship funding may be used for:

1. Personal and family living expenses.
2. Project-related travel.
3. Accommodation during reporting trips.
4. Research and information gathering.
5. Fees for obtaining records and documents.
6. Interviews and field visits.
7. Other necessary expenses required to complete the journalism project.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a journalist with previous experience producing in-depth written reporting.
2. Have a strong portfolio of published journalistic work.
3. Be able to work independently and carry out a large-scale project.
4. Provide preliminary findings or evidence demonstrating that the proposed story can be developed further.
5. Be able to dedicate sufficient time to completing the fellowship.
6. Not hold another full-time position during the fellowship period.
7. Employed journalists must take leave from their jobs for the entire duration of the fellowship.

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