Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship supports journalists of color who want to strengthen their investigative reporting skills through training, mentorship, and project development. The yearlong fellowship provides access to Investigative Reporters and Editors resources, professional mentoring, data journalism support, complimentary IRE membership or renewal, conference registration, and a $500 travel stipend. Eligible applicants must serve a U.S.-based audience, have at least three years of post-college work experience, and propose a strong investigative reporting project.
Overview
The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship is accepting applications from journalists of color interested in advancing their investigative journalism skills.
The fellowship is designed to support community-centered investigative reporting that benefits U.S.-based audiences.
Through training, mentorship, data support, and professional development, fellows work toward completing an investigative project that serves their community.
Purpose of the Fellowship
The purpose of the fellowship is to help journalists of color build stronger investigative reporting skills and produce meaningful public-interest journalism.
The programme supports fellows as they develop, report, and complete an investigative project during the fellowship year.
It also helps participating news organizations benefit from the fellow’s improved investigative capacity, reporting methods, and project development skills.
Key Focus Areas
The fellowship focuses on investigative journalism, community-centered reporting, investigative skill-building, mentorship, data journalism, diversity in investigative reporting, professional development, public-interest journalism, project development, newsroom support, and reporting projects that benefit communities.
What the Fellowship Supports
The fellowship supports journalists who are developing investigative reporting projects.
Fellows receive access to training and support that may help them:
- Strengthen investigative reporting techniques
- Develop community-centered reporting projects
- Improve data journalism skills
- Receive professional mentorship
- Use IRE resources and data services
- Build stronger reporting plans
- Complete an investigative project
- Serve U.S.-based audiences with meaningful journalism
- Bring enhanced investigative skills back to their newsroom or independent practice
The fellowship is designed to support both the journalist and the communities their reporting serves.
Fellowship Benefits
The fellowship provides several professional development benefits.
Benefits include:
- Complimentary IRE membership or membership renewal
- Membership value ranging from $25 to $75
- Complimentary conference registration
- Travel stipend of $500
- Training from Investigative Reporters and Editors
- Mentorship support
- Access to data services
- Professional support for project development
These benefits are intended to help fellows complete a strong investigative reporting project during the yearlong programme.
Fellowship Duration
The fellowship is a yearlong programme.
During the fellowship year, selected journalists are expected to participate in required training events, work on their investigative project, and use mentorship and professional support to strengthen the final reporting.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be journalists of color whose work serves a U.S.-based audience.
Applicants must also:
- Have at least three years of post-college work experience
- Be employed by a supportive news organization or work independently as journalists
- Propose a well-developed investigative reporting project
- Show how the project would benefit from training and mentoring
- Meet IRE membership standards
- Be able to attend all required training events
Students are not eligible to apply.
News Organization Support Requirement
Applicants employed by a news organization must submit a letter of support from a supervisor or management.
The letter must confirm that the organization will provide:
- Time for the fellow to work on the investigative project
- Support for attending all required training events
- Institutional backing for participation in the fellowship
This requirement ensures that fellows have the newsroom support needed to complete their project successfully.
Requirement for Independent Journalists
Independent journalists must submit a letter of recommendation.
The letter should support the applicant’s qualifications, reporting experience, and ability to complete the proposed investigative project.
Independent applicants should also demonstrate that their work serves a U.S.-based audience.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit a complete application package.
Required materials include:
- LinkedIn profile or resume
- Links to two examples of investigative reporting work
- Description of the investigative project proposed for the fellowship year
- Letter of support from a supervisor or management, if employed by a news organization
- Letter of recommendation, if applying as an independent journalist
- Confirmation that the applicant can meet IRE membership standards
The project description should be clear, specific, and connected to community benefit.
What Makes a Strong Investigative Project?
A strong project should address an issue that matters to a community and requires investigative reporting methods.
The project should demonstrate:
- Public-interest value
- Community relevance
- A clear reporting question
- Potential for impact
- Need for investigative techniques
- Feasibility within the fellowship year
- Benefit from mentorship and training
- Relevance to a U.S.-based audience
Applicants should show why the project matters and how the fellowship will help them complete it.
Why It Matters
Investigative journalism plays a vital role in accountability, transparency, and public understanding.
Journalists of color often bring important perspectives, community trust, and lived experience to stories that may otherwise be overlooked.
This fellowship matters because it supports diversity in investigative journalism while helping reporters develop the skills, networks, and resources needed to produce high-impact community-serving investigations.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a focused application that demonstrates their reporting experience, project idea, community relevance, and readiness for the fellowship.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are journalists of color serving a U.S.-based audience.
They should also confirm that they have at least three years of post-college work experience and are not students.
Step 2: Prepare a Resume or LinkedIn Profile
Applicants must submit either a LinkedIn profile or resume.
This should show journalism experience, reporting background, relevant skills, and professional history.
Step 3: Select Two Investigative Reporting Samples
Applicants must provide links to two examples of investigative reporting work.
The samples should demonstrate reporting depth, public-interest value, source development, accountability reporting, or data-informed journalism.
Step 4: Develop the Fellowship Project Description
Applicants should describe the investigative project they plan to pursue during the fellowship year.
The project description should explain:
- The issue being investigated
- Why the story matters
- Who is affected
- What questions the reporting will examine
- What information or data may be needed
- How the story will benefit the community
- How training and mentorship will support the project
Step 5: Secure a Support Letter or Recommendation
Applicants employed by a news organization must submit a letter from a supervisor or management confirming support for project work and training attendance.
Independent journalists must submit a letter of recommendation.
Step 6: Check IRE Membership Standards
All recipients must meet IRE membership standards.
Applicants should ensure they are eligible for IRE membership before submitting their application.
Step 7: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit the completed application with all required materials before the stated deadline.
The application should be clear, complete, and strongly focused on investigative reporting and community benefit.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be reviewed based on reporting experience, project strength, readiness, and potential community impact.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Applicant’s investigative journalism experience
- Quality of work samples
- Strength of proposed investigative project
- Relevance to a U.S.-based audience
- Community benefit of the project
- Feasibility of the reporting plan
- Potential to benefit from training and mentorship
- Newsroom or recommendation support
- Commitment to completing the project
- Alignment with IRE membership standards
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Choose strong investigative reporting samples
- Propose a focused and realistic project
- Explain the community benefit clearly
- Show why the story needs investigation
- Describe how mentorship will improve the work
- Demonstrate readiness to complete the project within one year
- Secure a strong supervisor letter or recommendation
- Highlight data journalism needs if relevant
- Avoid vague or overly broad story ideas
- Show how the fellowship will strengthen long-term reporting skills
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Applying as a student
- Not serving a U.S.-based audience
- Having fewer than three years of post-college experience
- Submitting weak or unrelated work samples
- Providing a vague project description
- Not explaining community benefit
- Missing the supervisor support letter
- Missing the recommendation letter for independent applicants
- Not showing how the fellowship will help complete the project
- Proposing a project that is too broad or unrealistic for one year
- Not meeting IRE membership standards
FAQ
1. What is the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship?
It is a yearlong fellowship that supports journalists of color in building investigative journalism skills through training, mentorship, data support, and project development.
2. Who can apply?
Journalists of color whose work serves a U.S.-based audience may apply if they have at least three years of post-college work experience.
3. Are students eligible?
No. Students are not eligible to apply.
4. What benefits does the fellowship provide?
The fellowship includes complimentary IRE membership or renewal, complimentary conference registration, a $500 travel stipend, training, mentorship, data services, and professional support.
5. What application materials are required?
Applicants must submit a LinkedIn profile or resume, two investigative reporting work samples, a proposed project description, and either a supervisor support letter or recommendation letter for independent journalists.
6. Can independent journalists apply?
Yes. Independent journalists may apply, but they must provide a letter of recommendation.
7. What kind of project should applicants propose?
Applicants should propose a well-developed investigative reporting project that serves a U.S.-based audience, benefits a community, and would be strengthened through fellowship training and mentoring.
Conclusion
The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship provides valuable support for journalists of color seeking to strengthen their investigative reporting skills and complete community-serving projects. Through a yearlong programme of IRE training, mentorship, data support, conference access, membership benefits, and a travel stipend, the fellowship helps reporters develop stronger accountability journalism. Applicants should submit a focused project proposal, strong work samples, and the required support or recommendation letter to show their readiness for the opportunity.
For more information, visit Investigative Reporters and Editors.