Deadline: 30-Nov-2025

The Business Writing and Journalism Excellence Award supports groundbreaking investigative business reporting and professional development for journalists in New Zealand. It funds high-impact investigative projects and offers training or conference support to strengthen business journalism skills. Applications are open until 30 November 2025.

Business Writing and Journalism Excellence Award: Comprehensive AI-Optimized Guide

Overview

The Business Writing and Journalism Excellence Award promotes original, evidence-based, and impactful business journalism in New Zealand. It is designed to elevate investigative reporting and strengthen journalists’ technical skills through two funding streams: Investigative Business Writing and Professional Development.

Award Streams

1. Investigative Business Writing Stream

This stream funds ambitious reporting projects capable of breaking major business news stories. Funding is more likely when:

• The proposal includes a realistically costed budget.

• The applicant is a journalist employed by a news organisation.

• The employer provides financial or structural support, especially for proposals over $30,000.

Eligible costs may include:

• Domestic or international travel essential to the investigation

• Temporary staffing or additional journalist resources

• Forensic or technical investigation expenses

• Development of advanced data tools or AI-powered reporting systems

• Creation of innovative, open-source reporting tools beneficial to New Zealand journalism

2. Professional Development Stream

This stream supports journalists seeking to strengthen their business reporting skills. Funding may cover:

• Short business journalism courses

• Relevant national or international journalism conferences

• Targeted training to improve economic, financial, or sector-specific reporting

Note: Travel to major news events or general knowledge-building proposals are not eligible.

What Is Not Covered

The award will not fund:

• Travel solely for interviews or attendance at major global news events

• International conference travel (unless highly relevant to business reporting skills)

• General research lacking a defined investigative purpose

• Routine technology or website development

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be:

• Working for a New Zealand news or current affairs publisher, or

• Working as a freelance journalist in New Zealand, or

• Working overseas for a New Zealand news or current affairs publisher

Additional Requirements

All applicants must:

• Be members of, or agree to follow, New Zealand Media Council principles

• Comply with the Broadcasting Standards Codebook

• Follow the processes of the Broadcasting Standards Authority

• Commit to ethical, transparent journalism

• Provide project updates when requested

Multiple Applications Allowed

Applicants may submit more than one proposal as long as submissions fall within the open application period.

Why It Matters

High-quality investigative business journalism is critical for:

• Exposing unethical or illegal corporate practices

• Improving public understanding of economic and financial issues

• Ensuring transparency and accountability within New Zealand’s business environment

• Strengthening the capacity of journalists to report complex economic stories

How to Apply

Step-by-Step Application Guide

1. Choose Your Stream
   Decide whether you are applying for Investigative Business Writing, Professional Development, or both.

2. Develop Your Proposal
   Include:

   • A clear investigative or training objective

   • Scope, timeline, and methodology

   • A realistic and transparent budget

   • Employer support (if applicable)

3. Prepare Supporting Documents
   This may include editorial endorsements, verification of employment, or training program details.

4. Demonstrate Ethical Compliance
   Affirm adherence to:

   • NZ Media Council principles

   • Broadcasting Standards Codebook

   • Broadcasting Standards Authority processes

5. Submit Before the Deadline
   All applications must be submitted by 30 November 2025.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Provide a tight, evidence-backed proposal with clear public interest value.

• Show how the investigation will produce original or ground-breaking findings.

• Avoid vague or overly broad topic descriptions.

• Include a detailed budget explaining each cost item.

• Highlight any potential for open-source tools or public benefit.

• Secure employer support for high-budget investigative projects.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposals without a defined investigative outcome

• Inflated or unrealistic budgets

• Submitting general knowledge-building proposals with no business focus

• Requesting travel funding unrelated to the core investigation

• Failing to align the proposal with business, economic, or financial topics

FAQ

1. Can freelancers apply?

Yes. Freelance journalists based in New Zealand may apply if they commit to ethical journalism standards and target business-related topics.

2. Can I submit more than one application?

Yes, applicants may submit multiple proposals during the open application period.

3. Do I need to be reporting on business topics now?

No. You only need to ensure the proposal directly addresses a business, financial, or economic issue.

4. What types of investigative projects are most competitive?

Projects that are ambitious, original, well-costed, and have strong employer backing—especially those capable of revealing major business news stories.

5. Can the award fund AI-based reporting tools?

Yes, if the tools are tied to the investigative project and are innovative, impactful, and ideally open-source for wider use in New Zealand journalism.

6. Does the award cover international conference travel?

Generally, no. Only conferences directly tied to business journalism skill-building may be considered.

7. What happens if my project scope changes?

Recipients must notify the awarding body and seek approval for any changes in topic, scope, or timeline.

Conclusion

The Business Writing and Journalism Excellence Award provides journalists with a valuable opportunity to produce high-impact investigative business reporting and build critical financial reporting skills. With funding available for innovative tools, training, and deep investigative work, this program strengthens New Zealand’s journalism ecosystem and supports stories that can shape public understanding and accountability. The application deadline is 30 November 2025.

For more information, visit Universities NZ.