Deadline: 30-Nov-2026
Applications are open for the Investigative Business Journalism Award, which supports original investigative business journalism projects and professional development initiatives. The programme aims to strengthen high-quality business reporting by funding in-depth investigative work that can uncover significant economic, financial, and corporate stories.
The award also supports skill development for journalists seeking to enhance their expertise in business journalism through training, courses, and industry conferences.
Overview
The Investigative Business Journalism Award is designed to encourage impactful business journalism that combines investigative reporting with strong analytical insight. It supports projects that explore economic systems, financial markets, corporate behaviour, and broader business-related issues.
The programme promotes innovation in journalism formats, including text, audio, video, photography, and multimedia storytelling.
Programme Objectives
The award aims to:
- Support original investigative business journalism
- Encourage breaking of significant business news stories
- Strengthen professional skills in business reporting
- Promote innovation in journalism formats and tools
- Support development of data-driven and technology-enabled reporting
- Enhance public understanding of economic and financial systems
Focus Areas
Eligible projects must relate to:
- Economic and financial systems
- Corporate and business investigations
- Market behaviour and financial reporting
- Business regulation and governance
- Economic policy and industry analysis
- Investigative journalism using data or technology tools
Funding Support
Funding may be used for:
- Domestic and international travel related to reporting
- Additional journalism resources or reporting assistance
- Temporary newsroom replacement costs
- Forensic or investigative research expenses
- Development of innovative reporting tools (e.g., data analytics or AI systems)
- Professional development such as courses or business journalism conferences
Projects with budgets exceeding NZD 30,000 are more competitive when supported by employer contributions or co-funding arrangements.
Technology and Innovation
Projects involving innovative tools or systems must demonstrate:
- Strong originality and innovation in journalism methods
- Clear relevance to investigative business reporting
- Practical application in news gathering or analysis
Where funding fully supports tool development, there may be expectations for:
- Open-source access to developed tools or intellectual property
- Broader use within New Zealand’s journalism community
Ineligible Activities
The award does not fund:
- Travel for international conferences or routine media events
- Attendance at set-piece news events
- Projects focused solely on general learning or broad issue reviews
- General technology or website development without investigative journalism output
Eligible Applicants
The award is open to:
- Journalists employed by New Zealand news or current affairs organisations
- Freelance journalists based in New Zealand
- Journalists working overseas for New Zealand media organisations
Applicants must:
- Be a member of, or comply with, the New Zealand Media Council principles
- Adhere to the Broadcasting Standards Codebook and Broadcasting Standards Authority processes
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure you:
- Are a journalist linked to New Zealand media
- Work for or with a recognised news or current affairs publisher
- Comply with media council and broadcasting standards requirements
Step 2: Develop Project Proposal
Prepare a proposal that includes:
- Investigative business journalism focus
- Clear story angle with potential news impact
- Methodology and reporting approach
- Use of multimedia formats if applicable
Step 3: Budget Planning
Include:
- Detailed breakdown of project costs
- Any co-funding or employer contribution (if applicable)
- Justification for resources and tools required
Step 4: Submit Application
Submit a complete application with project plan, budget, and supporting documentation.
Tips for Applicants
- Focus on strong, original investigative angles in business reporting.
- Demonstrate potential for breaking significant news stories.
- Clearly define the economic or financial relevance of your project.
- Include innovative storytelling methods or data-driven approaches.
- Strengthen applications with employer support where possible.
- Ensure compliance with journalistic standards and ethical codes.
Why This Award Matters
Investigative business journalism plays a critical role in exposing financial misconduct, improving transparency, and informing public understanding of economic systems. This award strengthens the capacity of journalists to produce impactful reporting while also supporting innovation in tools and methods used in modern journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the purpose of the award?
- To support investigative business journalism and professional development in business reporting.
- Who can apply?
- New Zealand-based journalists, freelance journalists in New Zealand, or journalists working for New Zealand media overseas.
- What types of projects are eligible?
- Investigative business journalism projects in text, audio, video, photography, or multimedia formats.
- What expenses are covered?
- Travel, reporting support, investigative costs, newsroom replacement, and tool development.
- Are conferences funded?
- No. International conference travel and set-piece news events are not funded.
- What is required for tech-based projects?
- Demonstration of innovation and potential open-source access if fully funded.
- What ethical standards must applicants follow?
- New Zealand Media Council principles and Broadcasting Standards Authority Codebook.
Conclusion
The Investigative Business Journalism Award supports impactful journalism that investigates economic and financial issues while promoting innovation and professional development. By funding investigative reporting and new journalistic tools, the programme strengthens transparency, enhances media capability, and contributes to more informed public understanding of business and economic systems in New Zealand.
For more information, visit Universities NZ.