Deadline: 22-Jan-2026
The Environmental Investigative Journalism Programme provides support to cross-border teams of professional journalists and/or news outlets investigating illegal, unreported, and unregulated environmental issues linked to European interests, both within and beyond Europe.
The investigation should address an underreported or significant environmental issue with a novel angle and strong investigative components. It must have a clear, verifiable methodology and added value beyond mainstream coverage.
The proposal should demonstrate feasibility, cross-border collaboration, and team experience. It must show effective networking, audience engagement, a rational budget, reasonable travel plans, and justified funding needs while contributing to journalism’s watchdog role over institutions, policies, and finances.
The total available amount per call is €400,000, distributed among all supported investigations, with a total budget of €1,600,000 for 2025. The grant aims to support freelance journalists and media outlets working in cross-border teams of at least two professional journalists and/or news outlets legally residing in at least two different countries.
Eligible costs include journalists’ working time and expenses such as logistics, travel, insurance, access to legal support, translations, and data sets. Additional covered expenses include participation in trainings and conferences, access to investigative tools like datasets or satellite imagery, and limited post-production costs up to €1,000. However, overhead costs, tangible investments such as hardware, and food or per diem allowances are not eligible.
The investigations must address environmental issues relevant for European audiences and result in publications in at least two media outlets based in different countries, with at least one being a European outlet.
Applications will be assessed by an independent rotating jury of experts in investigative journalism and environmental affairs, based on the strength of the proposal, novelty, feasibility, and cross-border collaboration. The selection also considers diversity in region, topic, and publication form.
The deadline for applications is 22 January 2026.
For more information, visit Journalismfund Europe.