All Hear December 2024

Dec 12, 2024

Welcome (back) to All Hear, the Everything List for Audio Opportunities.

Last month, I used this space to reflect on the importance of different ways of existing, inspired by the movement in Woods Hole to save their local radio station. A week later the BBC cancelled Short Cuts, one of the most inventive programmes on radio in my opinion. Truthfully, in the wake of the decision I’ve felt quite listless. It's hard to feel excited when the programmes you hold in high regard — the programmes you aspire to one day make — are continuously cancelled. Still, it’s inspiring to see the open letter, and to witness how many people care about spaces for creative audio storytelling. So, once again, here’s to different ways of existing!

On a more positive note, it’s a brilliant month for opportunities specifically for audio and podcast producers. Firstly, some Transom news! After five long years, we are rebooting the Transom Traveling Workshop. From March 23rd -29th 2025, 10 beginning-level students will be able to attend a week-long audio "bootcamp" on Catalina Island off the southern California coast. The workshop will be taught by David Weinberg, assisted by Ariella Markowitz. The workshops started in 2011 and the alumni have gone on to work at NPR, public radio members stations across the country, nearly every major podcast company, and become award-winning independent producers. Applications are open until January 17th. Transom is also partnering with Blue Mountain Center, to welcome audio storytellers and documentarians to apply for a cost-free month-long residency in the Adirondacks this summer.

There’s also the Sound Fields Call for Pitches for essays on the theme of archive, The Whickers Podcast Pitch and Content is Queen Micro-grants for Podcasters. Plus, if you’ll excuse the shameless self-plug, Jules Bradley and I are teaching a course in the new year on The Art and Practice of Short Audio Storytelling — QTBIPOC independent producers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, can apply for the Podcasting, Seriously Fund to reimburse the cost of the class. This renews every calendar year so now is a great time to use it if you haven’t already!

All Hear is free and always will be. If you want to show your support you can buy me a coffee or donate to Transom.

Talia x

This month’s Spotlight is the Spotify Studios Union Scholarship at Salt Institute for Documentary Studies Graduate Certificate Program, a full scholarship for one aspiring audio producer from anywhere in the world with “a diverse set of lived experiences.”

Read December's Spotlight

More Opportunities

International

AVA Digital Awards - international awards for digital media. They have Audio Production/Radio categories. Entries for a single podcast episode cost $125, or $195 for campaigns. Entry is free for work produced pro bono for nonprofits, although you must have submitted a regular entry as well.

The deadline is 12th December.

The Gracies - international awards for or about women in television, radio and digital media. They have select categories for non-English programmes and creators, with English transcripts required. Entry costs between $210 and $370 depending on the deadline and whether applicants are national or local. There are scholarships available which waive the application fee, but you must apply before 9th January. They also have student awards in both the Radio and Digital Media sections, which cost $75, or $50 before the early deadline.

The early deadline is 12th December; the regular deadline is 23rd January; the extended deadline is 30th January, all 11:59 pm ET.

The Peabody Awards - a celebration of excellence in broadcasting across radio, podcasts, television, streaming network programmes and websites. International submissions are welcome for the Radio/Podcast category, but the audio must be in English. They also have a specific Arts category for media on the presentation, appreciation, or history of the arts, including but not limited to podcasts. Entry costs $450 for any audio submissions.

The deadline is 12th December, 11:59 pm PT.

Open City Documentary Festival - a festival celebrating international works of non-fiction art. The Open City Documentary Festival takes place in venues across London between 6th –11th May 2025 and will present a diverse programme of international contemporary and retrospective non-fiction film, audio and cross media, as well as filmmaker Q&As, panels, talks and workshops. Audio entries cost £10. All selected makers receive screening fees: £275 (including VAT) for works over 60 minutes; £140 for works over 40 minutes and £70 for works under 40 minutes. Open City Documentary Festival has no strict premiere requirements, but the programming team will prioritise works that have yet to receive a public screening in London prior to OCDF 2025.

The deadline is 13th December.

International Journalism Programmes - 6- to 8-week exchange programmes which enable German and international journalists to travel to each other’s countries and report within host organisations. Each delegate will receive a stipend which is intended to cover most of their travel expenses, meals and accommodation, and varies depending on the programme. Age ranges may apply. All candidates must have a strong command of English. Radio journalists are welcome to apply, and applicants can be staff or freelance, unless otherwise specified.

International Journalism Programme (IJP) initiatives with upcoming deadlines are:

United Kingdom - for journalists aged 18 to 40 from the United Kingdom. The delegates receive a €3800 stipend.

The deadline is 15th December.

Northern Europe - for journalists aged 18 to 40 from the between the five Nordic and three Baltic states and Germany, taking place between April and June 2025. The delegates receive a €3800 stipend.

The deadline is 15th December.

Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency - a 7-week programme for international artists who work in all media and are at all stages of their careers. Mediums include drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and nonfiction writing, interdisciplinary, social practice, and architecture. A vehicle is needed during the residency stay. They cannot accommodate family members, partners or pets; visitors are allowed for two night stays. Successful applicants have the option of an open studio exhibition of their work at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR) studio. Artists chosen for the residency will be required to donate one completed work to the JTHAR programme. They offer a $1500 scholarship to deter costs of participating in the programme along with studio space and living accommodations. Applicants must be 18 years or older.

The deadline is 15th December.

Sound Fields Call for Pitches - Sound Fields is an online publication and event series dedicated to the art of audio documentary, in theory and practice. They are asking for international proposals (in English) for their second issue, exploring the idea of the archive in audio documentary. An archive can be anything from a historical record of sounds (a collection of recordings of animal sounds, a repository of found sounds from thrift store mixtapes, recordings of supreme court arguments, voicemails from a deceased family member…) to an assemblage of sound across time, even space. It can be both literal and expansive. They accept either original essays (1500-2000 words, $400 honorarium, editor provided) or transcribed and edited interviews or conversations ($200 honorarium). Submittors maintain all intellectual property of the pieces. You can read Sound Fields manifesto for Transom here.

The deadline is 15th December, 11:59 pm ET.

The Arthur and Lila Weinberg Artist-in-Residence Fellowship for Independent Researchers - a 1-month fellowship for international writers, journalists, filmmakers, visual and performing artists and other humanists working outside of traditional academic settings who would benefit from using the Newberry Library’s collections to further their creative work. Preference is given to those engaged in projects centered around social justice or reform. Successful applicants receive a $3000 stipend. The Newberry sponsors international scholars under the J-1 visa.

The deadline is 15th December.

DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program - a 12-month residency in Berlin offering outstanding international (non-German) artists from the fields of visual arts, film, literature, and music/sound the time and space to focus on their creative practice without production obligations. It is intended for established artists who have already developed their own voice and standing. Fellows are invited to actively engage not only with the dynamic cultural scenes of Berlin and Germany but also various communities within the city. An academic background is not required, but the programme is primarily interested in positions that critically engage with historical issues as well as contemporary discourses. Artists residing primarily in Germany are excluded from applying, except those in residence for no more than fifteen months. They provide: a furnished apartment and travel and luggage expenses. They also provide housing and travel stipends for families if needed. Applications must be in English.

The deadline is 15th December, 11:59 pm CET.

University of California Berkeley Journalism M.A. Funding - various funding packages for University of California Berkeley Journalism Master’s students. All domestic, undocumented, and international students are considered. They have both merit- and need-based funding that applicants are automatically considered for, from $5000 to fully-funded fellowships. They also have additional scholarship and fellowship opportunities which require separate applications, such as: The Reporting on China Fellowship — a 2-year scholarship of $14,000 annually for prospective students who demonstrate interest in becoming a journalist specialising in coverage of China; The Litke Fellowship in International Reporting — a $10,000 scholarship for a student who demonstrates interest in becoming a journalist specialising in international reporting in broadcast or visual journalism; and The 11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Scholarship — a 1-year $10,000 scholarship for a student with an interest in reporting on food systems.

The deadline is 16th December.

The Podcast Show Panellist and Session Call for Proposals - The Podcast Show in London are open for submissions for live panels or sessions in English from international speakers. Session durations range from 30 minutes to 45 minutes. The conference is happening on 21st - 22nd May 2025. It is unpaid, but those involved receive two free tickets.

The deadline is 16th December.

Third Coast - an awards and festival celebrating the best of audio storytelling. They have nine categories, including Best New Artist, Best Documentary: Non-English Language, and Audio Unbound (for innovation within the medium). Each category has several finalists, and there are cash prizes for the main winners (unspecified), which vary depending on the category. Entry prices vary from $40 to $375 depending on deadline, length of the piece, and independent/institutional production. They currently have a flash sale.

The flash sale deadline is 17th December.

The deadline is 16th December.

BEA Festival of Media Arts - The Broadcast Education Association's international digital media and broadcast competition for full-time faculty and students at BEA schools. There is an audio competition with various categories for students and faculty respectively. Works can be in any language but if they’re not in English applicants must provide subtitles.

The deadline is 16th December.

Derek Ingram Press Fellowship - a 3-month residential programme at Wolfson College, Cambridge, for mid-career journalists from Commonwealth countries to research a project of their choosing under light academic supervision. Applicants can come from any medium, but the project needs to be relevant to one or more of the broad themes: the changing role of media in a networked world; improving the reporting of business, the environment, sustainable developmental medicine, bioscience and technology; the role of free media in democratic governance; and the implications of AI for journalism. The fellowship takes place during Easter Term (April to June). The fellowship covers the fees, living, travel, visa and project-related expenses of the fellow from the moment they arrive until they depart. The fellow is provided with a room in the college, as well as full dining rights.

The deadline is 20th December.

Premios Ondas (Global Waves) Podcast Awards - free-to-enter podcast awards celebrating work in Spanish or in one of the co-official languages of Spain. There are 14 categories, including Fiction, Non-fiction Narrative, Experimental, Entries in a Foreign Language other than Spanish, Production, Script, Sound Design, and the Special Awards for career achievement.

The deadline is 20th December, 11:59 pm CET.

Sound Scene - an honorarium of between $200 and $2000 for an art piece involving interactive installations, live performances or small group workshops. They accept international applicants. Their roots are in sound art, but they also accept multimedia pieces; generally they want pitches that are “outside the box.” For the 2025 theme, Sound Scene will explore the power and necessity of working together (symbiosis, partnerships, pairs, besties, teamwork) including the contrasts, complements, and collaborations that enrich our world.

The deadline is 22nd December, 11:59 pm ET.

The Robert Cox Investigative Journalism Scholarship - a 1-year graduate course scholarship opportunity for the Postgraduate Program in Investigative Journalism at the Universidad del Sur de Buenos Aires (USBA). The course is in Spanish. The scholarship is open to international journalists holding a Bachelor's or tertiary degree, final-year journalism students, and/or experienced practicing journalists. The scholarship covers the full cost of the programme. The course is delivered online, and is designed to equip professionals with exceptional journalistic skills and rigorous academic training. Course attendees participate in professional internships at Perfil.com, including one at Radio Perfil.

The deadline is 29th December.

Sonic Dash - a 48-hour international competition to create a 2-minute audio piece entirely from scratch. The contest starts on 3rd January at noon ET and ends at the same time on 5th January. The first prize winner will receive $1000 with more prizes to be announced later. Every element of the piece must be made within those 48 hours, which means that the use of archival material and pre-existing music is not allowed. Submissions should be understandable to an English audience. Entries cost $25.

The registration deadline is 29th December, 12 pm ET.

Anna Rabinowitz Award - a prize awarded to poets and their collaborators for venturesome, interdisciplinary work that combines poetry with any other art or discipline. The finished work should have been produced or published in 2024 but can involve or be based in part on work from any era. Candidates are required to provide materials documenting the process of their projects. They provide a $1000 honorarium to the winners. The entry fee is $10. It accepts international entries but works must be in English.

The deadline is 31st December.

The Sigma Delta Chi Awards - awards that recognise the best in international professional journalism across print, online, audio, television and more. Apart from Spanish-language categories, non-English entries must include an English transcript or subtitles. Early bird entries cost $30 (SPJ members) and $40 (non members) and regular deadline entries cost $35 (members) and $45 (non-members).

The early bird deadline is 31st December, 11:59 pm ET. The final deadline is 11th February, 11:59 pm ET.

Pulitzer Centre Rainforest Investigations Network Call Out - a 1-year fellowship for experienced investigative journalists with a proven track record covering the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia regions to pursue both individual and joint investigative projects, examining the root causes and structural drivers of deforestation across the aforementioned three main tropical rainforest regions. The Pulitzer Centre covers the reporter’s salary (or part of it, depending on variables such as location and experience). Additional support will be provided to the journalist’s reporting expenses, such as travel and hiring of consultants. Fellows will receive training in data analysis, communication, and research and coordination support from the Pulitzer Center. Applicants can be staff or freelance journalists working on a wide range of platforms, including print, radio, video, and multimedia. Freelance reporters will need to have the support of a local or international newsroom that agrees to host them and publish the work they produce during the fellowship. The outlets hosting the fellows will receive $10,000 to cover travel and other editorial costs.

The deadline is rolling until 31st December.

Migration and Technology Fellowship for Displaced Journalists - a 12-month programme for displaced, migrating, or forcibly occupied international journalists and community members to actively contribute to research, storytelling, policy-making, and advocacy related to migration and technology. Fellows are required to participate in monthly webinars, which provide training on project development, ethical storytelling, public outreach, and other essential topics. These sessions also feature guest speakers who aim to learn from and connect with the fellows. Fellows are expected to present their projects at a public event, such as a conference or workshop, to expand their professional networks. They offer a $30,000 stipend. Accepted project fields are: Research, Journalism, Culture, Education, Tech-in-use, Tech and Environment, or Other.

The deadline is 31st December.

University of Ohio Graduate Study in Journalism - a fully funded M.Sc. in Journalism from the University of Ohio. Students can tailor their plan of study from a range of classes, which include podcasting and radio. Entry-level journalists as well as mid-career professionals are welcome to apply. Students accepted into the programme compete for two years of tuition waivers and a stipend of $10,000 per year. Applications will be accepted through the whole year, but they have a suggested deadline For those applying for admission to the Fall 2025-26 semester.

The suggested deadline is 1st January.

The Engine Room International Sound Art Competition & Exhibition - a free-to-enter competition for new works from emerging international sound artists, including students. Entries must have been created after January 2024. Collaborative works will be accepted, providing all contributors are emerging artists. Submissions are limited to one work per entrant. They welcome entries in the following media: sound installations and sculptures; interactive works; audio only works (including multi-channel works); audio-visual works; and graphic scores. It is unpaid.

The deadline is 2nd January.

FASPE Journalism Program - an intensive, 2-week study programme for international students and early-career journalists interested in professional ethics and ethical leadership, conducted by Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). Fellows spend two weeks in Berlin and Poland, where they visit key sites of Nazi history and participate in daily seminars led by specialised faculty. The programme is designed to challenge fellows to critically examine constructs, and issues that raise ethical concerns in their professions in contemporary settings in which they work. This year’s programme will take place from 20th June - 4th July 2025.

The deadline is 2nd January, 11:59 pm ET.

Content is Queen Micro-grants for Podcasters - micro-grants of up to £1000 which help 20 international podcasters develop trailers, original pilots, or special episodes within their existing series. Content is Queen will also offer production support. Successful applicants will have access to their studios, producers and editors, and Epidemic Sound library. Creators will have the opportunity to pitch their show to Audible for commissioning and further development. New or existing podcasters are welcome to apply. Registered commercial businesses or organisations with over ten employees or turnover greater than £50,000 cannot apply, nor can schools or charities. Applicants will need to commit to completing their project within 12 weeks of the first instalment of their grants. Regarding intellectual property, Content is Queen will not own any part of the developed podcast, but applicants must list them in any credits. You can read my Spotlight here.

The deadline is 3rd January, 6 pm GMT.

IWMF Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraine’s Unseen Frontlines Program - reporting trips for American, French, and German women and nonbinary journalists representing local and regional news outlets to increase and deepen coverage of critical issues surrounding the war in Ukraine. The first trip will take place from 12th - 26th February 2025. All reporting fellows will begin their trip in Warsaw, Poland, before traveling to the base location in Ukraine. Fellows will have the opportunity to network with other journalists, report collaboratively with their peers, and gain access to various sources and sites related to their reporting. The IWMF arranges travel and in-country logistics for all fellows and covers fellowship-related costs within the framework of the reporting trip including travel, lodging, and meals. Story pitches should explore underreported issues in Ukraine, with a focus on communities impacted by the war that are important to applicant’s local communities in the United States, France or Germany. Stories must be published in American, French and German regional and local outlets. Applicants may be freelance or staff journalists and may apply individually or as part of a team. Professional journalism must be the applicant’s primary profession, and they must have three or more years of professional journalism experience (excluding internships). Applicants must provide a letter of support from an editor. Fluent English speakers are strongly preferred.

The deadline is 5th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School Matter of Intelligence Open Call - support for the development and presentation of ambitious art and research projects by national and international early or mid-career artists, writers, scholars, and activists, especially those who are members of underrepresented communities in the art world and those who struggle to find support because of the experimental, political, and/or research-intensive nature of their practice. This year’s focus theme is “Matter of Intelligence.” They ask: Where does intelligence start? Where does it reside? What forms does it take? Does it even exist? Projects will be considered for the The Vera List Center (VLC) Fellowship, as well as a range of other programmes, including the centre’s seminar series, exhibitions, annual VLC Forum, and digital or print publications.

The deadline is 6th January.

National Endowment for Democracy Grants - grants to support the projects of nongovernmental groups outside of the U.S. who are working to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions in more than 100 countries. They only fund nongovernmental organisations, which may include civic organisations, associations, independent media, and other similar organisations.

The deadline is 7th January.

EJN Story Grants to Strengthen Coverage of Environmental Crimes and Sustainable Solutions in the Amazon - €1500 - €2000 story grants from the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) for international journalists to produce stories on transnational conservation crimes in the Amazon Region and the threats faced by Indigenous peoples and local communities in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The aim is to produce high-quality, factual, and engaging public information on the impacts of conservation crimes and highlight viable community-led and policy-driven solutions to mitigate these impacts. They accept applications in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and stories can be produced in the same languages (provided there is an English translation). Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio and more). They accept applications from both early-career journalists and experienced reporters, whether freelance or staff, and from all types of media organisations — international, national, local, and community-based. 

The deadline is 9th January, 11:59 pm PET.

The George Polk Awards - awards for the groundbreaking, impactful work of reporters across all media and means of communication. International journalists from international organisations are welcome but all entries must be in English and have appeared in the U.S. Winners are chosen from newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online news organisations. There is a monetary award (unspecified). The application fee costs $75.

The deadline is 9th January.

UK/Brazil Season of Culture - an invitation for partnering organisations in the U.K. and Brazil to apply for funding for activities which will take place in both countries and will promote their cultural heritage and foster relationships among artists, cultural leaders and institutions. They encourage innovative approaches to addressing contemporary cultural and social issues through artistic collaboration. There are two funding tiers: £50,000 and £100,000; the higher tier is suitable for organisations with experience in managing complex projects and those capable of delivering extensive, multifaceted initiatives in collaboration with international partners. They want to support diverse cultural expressions from both the U.K. and Brazil through emerging talents and underrepresented voices in both countries. This year’s theme is “Flows/Fluxos,” exploring the ongoing evolution of cultures within a world in continuous movement and dynamic interaction, encompassing the flows of time, people, nature, and information, which together form the rhythm of life. It is open to a diverse range of organisations, charities and arts practitioners, regardless of size.

The deadline is 10th January, 11 pm BRT.

National Center on Disability and Journalism Awards - free-to-enter international awards recognising excellence in journalism on topics related to disabilities. Journalists working in digital, print, audio, and broadcast media are eligible to enter both contests, but work must be in English. First-place winners in each category receive $2500 and an invitation to speak about their work at the awards ceremony this autumn in Arizona; second-place winners receive $1500; third-place winners receive $1000. There is also a student award — the Gary Corcoran Student Prize for Excellence in Reporting on Disability — which offers $2500 for first place, $1500 for second and $1000 for third. Entrants must have been enrolled as a student at the time of publication or broadcast, and the work must have appeared on a campus or affiliated platform.

The deadline is 10th January.

Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Sound Art Residency - a 5-month residency in France for sound artists who come from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The winning artist will receive €8000 as well as housing and travel/material cost reimbursement. They are looking for work which fits with themes, collections and ideas of the museum, whose focus is non-European cultures.

The deadline is 12th January.

Salt x Spotify Studios Union Scholarship (Summer) - Spotify Studios Union is sponsoring a scholarship for a semester-long Salt Institute for Documentary Studies Graduate Certificate Program at MECA&D for an aspiring audio producer with “a diverse set of lived experiences.” The scholarship covers tuition, fees, and room and board in its entirety for one student each semester. The recipient will also be paired with a current employee of Spotify Studios who will serve as a mentor; they will meet with their mentee four times over the course of a year. Applicants must apply by the priority deadline. International applicants are welcome, but the course is in English and they must pay for their own travel and visa. The Summer programme begins in mid May 2025 and Fall begins late-August.

The priority deadline is 12th January.

Logan Science Journalism Program - a 10-day programme allowing international science journalists to forget about story deadlines and immerse themselves in basic biomedical or environmental research. Applicants must have at least five years’ experience. Fellows conduct research training at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where they can choose between biomedical or environmental hands-on research courses. Room, board, course fees, and travel costs are covered. Writers, editors, and broadcast journalists are welcome to apply.

The deadline is 15th January.

Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program - a 9-month programme for ten international journalists who specialise in science, health, technology, and environmental reporting. Fellows receive an $85,000 stipend, a travel and housing stipend (unspecified) and basic health insurance. Applicants must: be full-time journalists, whether staff or freelance, and have at least three consecutive years of experience covering the relevant beats. Successful applicants are expected to produce a well-thought-out research project during the academic year. Fellows will reside full time in the Boston or Cambridge area for the MIT academic year, which runs from mid-August to May. Radio and audio journalists are eligible.

The deadline is 16th January, 11:59 pm ET.

Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East - a 1-semester fellowship, hosted by the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, designed to enrich the training of a journalist from Africa or the Middle East so they can contribute to a culture of high quality science and health journalism in those regions. Applicants must have at least three years’ experience reporting on science, health or environmental issues in the regions. They offer a $40,000 stipend; MIT health insurance; a housing and relocation stipend (unspecified); networking opportunities; and full access to MIT benefits such as subsidised public transportation, access to museums and other programmes in the area.

The deadline is 15th January, 11:59 pm ET.

APWLD Media Fellowship on Digitalisation and Feminist Digital Rights and Justice - a 1-year fellowship for women media professionals, journalists, data and visual journalists across Asia and the Pacific region to produce multimedia reports that tackle grassroots women’s issues, analyse structural inequalities and promote feminist collective action and solidarity through a feminist and human rights lens. This year’s media fellowship supports reportage on the rise of digitalisation in the region and its gendered impact on women and their communities. Selected individuals will be given a stipend of $3000 while teams will be provided with $5000 to cover expenses for research and travel. Fellows will have an option to produce news, feature, photo, data and/or podcast/audio stories, audio-video content or documentary or a combination of these formats with a feminist lens that highlights the gendered impact of digitalisation on women’s human rights. Selected fellows will be invited to attend a four-day in-person Media Fellowship Training in April 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At the end of the fellowship, the fellows are invited to a two- to three-day reflection meeting.

The deadline is 15th January.

U.K. International Radio Drama Festival - free-to-enter awards for international audio. Despite the name, work submitted does not have to be a radio drama; the curators are flexible on what constitutes an audio drama — it can be “anything from a radio play to a podcast,” and it “doesn’t need to be fiction.” They have two categories: Feature Length Drama (maximum 60 minutes) or Short Form Drama (maximum 7 minutes). You can submit up to two longform pieces and three short form. Audio Dramas in any language can be submitted. Full Length winners receive £2000, and Short Length receive £750. There is also a £750 Public Award prize for favourite show voted by the listeners (in person and online). The 2025 Festival takes place in Canterbury from 24th - 28th March.

The deadline is 17th January.

Small Audio Art Call Out - audio producer and artist Phoebe McIndoe is inviting makers to send in small audio and art pieces exploring wooden spoons. Your wooden spoon might be a well-loved family heirloom or a simple kitchen companion, a keeper of recipes or a conductor of kitchen symphonies. How many hands have held it? What traditions does it keep alive? Perhaps it reminds you of someone special, or connects you to your culture and heritage through the daily rhythms of cooking and sharing food. The piece could be in any format — audio, photography, poetry, collage — and any language. The suggested length for audio is 1-10 minutes. She will post the results online in a shared space. Send your piece to mcindoephoebe@gmail.com. There is no fee for participation.

The deadline is 15th January.

Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency - a 3-month residency in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, for artists to evolve new creative practices within the dynamic realms of New Media and Digital Art, particularly concepts and ideas that originate from or relate to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the Global Majority. They support work at the intersection of art, science and technology. Residents are provided with a production budget (unspecified) and comprehensive support, covering all stages from conceptualisation to execution. Artists live and work at the DAF centre, a space conducive to creativity and innovation.

The deadline is 20th January.

Sonic Arts Forum Call Out - an opportunity for international creative people, working with sound as a significant element in their practice, to introduce their work, and receive feedback in a supportive environment. They are seeking artists, musicians, technologists and noise-makers working with live electronics, field recordings, fixed media, audio vision, installation, algorithmic composition and more. The Sonic Arts Forum 2025 will be held at Maynooth University in Dublin on 5th April. They cannot make any contribution to travel or accommodation expenses.

The deadline is 24th January.

Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Media Fund - funding to strengthen the infrastructure and transmission systems of Indigenous community media and radio stations, as well as training opportunities for community journalists. Their goal is to improve and ensure the sustainability of community media run by communities and Indigenous peoples. Indigenous community radio stations, collectives and Indigenous community media can apply for a grant of up to US$8000; and Indigenous community media network proposals involving three or more community media can apply for up to $12,000. They prioritise funding projects that promote the participation and inclusion of women, other genders, and youth. This year, they are particularly looking to support activities related to environmental justice in the face of climate change, including disaster prevention, mitigation, and response. The eligible countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Canada, United States, Mexico, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia. Proposed projects should be completed within 6 to 10 months. Applications can be in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese.

The deadline is 26th January.

FIJ Funds - The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) offers grants of up to $10,000 three/four times a year for investigative journalism. All journalists can apply, but most are freelancers. International reporters are accepted but there must be a “strong U.S. angle involving American citizens, government, or business” and all stories must be published in English in a U.S.based media outlet. In rare cases, they provide expedited review for proposals that you can prove are extremely urgent. Pitches for radio stories and podcasts are welcome.

The next deadline is 27th January.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards - international awards which honour a free and fair press and celebrate media professionals whose work explores issues of human rights, social justice, and the power of individual action. Audio specific and medium agnostic categories include: Radio; Nontraditional Media; and Criminal Justice. Their free-to-enter student awards also accept all media. The professional category winners will receive $1000 and the student categories will receive $500.

The deadline is 31st January.

Joan Shorenstein Fellowship (Fall/Full Year) - semester-long fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School, aimed at experienced international journalists, scholars, politicians and policymakers. The fellowship includes creating a project alongside other commitments such as speaking engagements, interviews, meetings, events, social gatherings, reports and publishing original work on the Shorenstein Center’s website, which could take the form of expert commentaries, a white paper or policy paper, a podcast or video series, or other forms. The content should contribute meaningfully to the public’s understanding of how essential information is created, conveyed, and/or consumed. Stipends and other financial and material assistance for fellows are dependent on need and scope of a fellow’s work and contribution to the center. Stipend funds are limited and not guaranteed. Journalists must have a minimum of ten years of full-time experience, either at professional news organisations or as a full-time freelancer. Applicants must be fluent in English.

The deadline is 31st January.

The Homiens Art Prize - a free-to-enter, non-acquisitive art prize open to all international artists and art forms. Each round, six winning artists: are exhibited by Homiens; receive an unrestricted cash award of $500; are published in their exhibition catalog and publication; receive an optional interview; and may request a letter of recommendation from Homiens’ jurors. Up to 200 artists are Highly Commended. Video- and sound-based works may be of a duration up to 30 minutes.

The deadline is 31st January.

Columbia’s Knight-Bagehot Fellowship - a 9-month fellowship for reporters to study business and economics at Columbia Business School and Columbia Journalism School. They accept international applicants and usually have a couple of audio journalists in their ten-person cohort. Fellows receive full tuition, health insurance and stipend of $70,000. They take business courses for credit and some stay for a second year to complete their M.B.A degree or an M.A. in Journalism (the second year will not be covered). They meet weekly as a fellowship for seminars and dinners with business leaders and professors. Applicants must have four years’ reporting experience on a beat that involves money, which can include finance, real estate, government policy or even health, climate and science. There is a $100 application fee.

The deadline is 31st January.

The New York Festivals Radio Awards - international awards for radio. They have 14 categories, including a student award for documentary, drama programme and social justice content. Applications cost $320 for a single programme and $450 for a series. Their student awards are $100.

The deadline is 31st January.

COMESA Media Awards - free-to-enter awards that honour journalists who have reported on and made significant contributions to the subject of regional integration. They accept entries in various fields, including print, radio, television and online media. Only journalists from the COMESA Member States can apply. Entries must be in one of the COMESA official languages: English, French, or Arabic.

The deadline is 31st January.

Indigenous Journalism Fellowship - a 2-month virtual training for Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, First Nation, Inuit or Métis college or graduate students pursuing degrees in broadcast, print or digital journalism. Student fellows work with mentors to produce content throughout the fellowship while completing a virtual curriculum designed to fill in the blanks left by traditional journalism schools. During the fellowship, successful applicants will complete a fellowship reporting project and attend the Indigenous Media Conference in Albuquerque in August. The Indigenous Journalism Association (IJA) will cover fellow air and ground travel, hotel accommodations and conference registrations as well as providing a $500 stipend for the week of conference.

The deadline is 31st January.

EBU Audio Storytelling Festival - a call out for international submissions of the best, most inspiring and impactful crafted audio programmes for The Audio Storytelling Festival (formerly known as the International Features Conference or IFC), an annual gathering of professionals working with radio and audio content. The 2025 Festival theme is Community and Connections. Applicants can propose their own work or a piece of audio they’ve heard elsewhere that really impressed them. The submitted pieces could be narrative- and sound-led audio programmes (factual and fiction); workshop ideas; or inventive approaches to listening to and assessing podcast series. Submitted pieces can be documentaries, series, drama, short-form or any other type of crafted audio story, as long as the submissions are 60 minutes or less (series makers should submit one episode or a compilation presentation). Works must have been produced after May 2023. Entrants can be public service audio producers, independents, or commercial producers and studios. Those selected must attend the conference which this year takes place in Vilnius, Lithuania, 25th - 28th May. The event is free to all, and participation is without compensation — travel costs are at the expense of the participants, including speakers, moderators, and selected producers. All programmes, including English programmes, must provide an English video transcription.

The deadline is 31st January.

TRACE Prize for Investigative Reporting: Uncovering Commercial Bribery - an international award recognising journalism that uncovers business-related bribery and financial crime with the goal of increasing commercial transparency and good governance. Nominees may be print, broadcast or online reporters. There will be two winners, who will each receive a cash prize of $10,000, and up to two honourable mentions, who will receive $1000.

The deadline is 31st January.

The Ferriss – UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship - ten $10,000 reporting grants for international journalists reporting in-depth print and audio stories on the science, policy, business, and culture of psychedelics. Students are eligible as long as they have three work samples. International applicants are welcome to apply but stories must be in English and the programme cannot assist with visas.

The deadline is 31st January, 11:59 pm PT.

Transom x Blue Mountain Center Residency - a 1-month free residency in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, typically open to artists, writers, filmmakers, composers, activists, organisers and cultural workers who produce transformative work for their times. In collaboration with Transom.org, Blue Mountain Center is offering residencies for creative, independent audio artists and storytellers whose craft will benefit from a residency. They offer undistracted time, quiet, good food, and a beautiful space for people to pursue their work. They are committed to supporting artists whose work evinces social and ecological concern and encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ artists and activists, as well as those who have never participated in a residency before.

The deadline is 1st February, 11:59 pm PT.

Leipziger Hörspielsommer Short Audio Drama Competition - a free-to-enter competition for short audio pieces under 3 minutes. The theme is completely open. Pieces in German, English, Russian, or French are accepted. The pieces should be less than two years old.

The deadline is 1st February.

Leipziger Hörspielsommer International Audio Drama and Sound Art Competition - a free-to-enter competition for young, amateur artists and creators to submit audio pieces between 3 and 45 minutes. German or English works are accepted. Submittors can have no more than three works published (excluding self-publishing, open channels, amateur radio stations or locally non-commercial radio stations). The pieces should be less than two years old.

The deadline is 1st February.

Science in Society Journalism Awards - a recognition of international investigative or interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact on modern society. They have six categories, four of which accept audio. The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) will award separate cash prizes of $2000 per category — the prize money is intended for content authors or producers, not publications or news organisations. Entries must be in English.

The deadline is 1st February, 11:59 pm ET.

Wave Farm Transmission Arts Residency Program - a 10-day residency for international transmission and radio artists. It takes place in the Catskill Mountain Park in upstate New York. Each resident will receive a $1000 artist fee, but they are expected to pay for their own travel expenses, as well as expenses related to meals during their stay. In 2025 the programme will emphasise “A Radio Art Hour.” Each residency will conclude with a radio broadcast on Wave Farm Radio: WGXC 90.7-FM Radio for Open Ears in NY’s Upper Hudson Valley. One resident will win The Rising Tide Award — a $1500 prize to support an applicant with “a multidimensional life and background.”

The deadline is 1st February.

Wallace House Livingston Awards - a free-to-enter award to recognise the best journalists under 35. There is a $10,000 prize in three categories: local, national and international reporting. They accept international applicants but the work must appear in U.S.-controlled media. Print, online, video, audio, and data visualisation work are eligible. Entrants must be 34 years of age or younger as of 31st December 2024.

The deadline is 1st February, 11:59 pm PT.

SPJ Mark of Excellence Award - an award honouring the best in student journalism for anyone enrolled in a college or university in 2024 while studying for an academic degree. International applicants are welcome. The audio-specific categories are Best Podcast and Best All-Around Radio Newscast. Works must be published or broadcast (i.e. they cannot be unpublished projects for class). Students who have had full time professional journalism experience (outside of internships) at the time of publication or broadcast of the entered work are ineligible. Non-English entries should include an English translation. Early bird entries cost $30 (SPJ members) and $40 (non members) and regular deadline entries cost $35 (members) and $45 (non-members).

The deadline is 4th February, 11:59 pm ET.

CENSE Call Out - the Cross European Network for Sonic Ecologies (CENSE) is seeking international proposals for papers, research reports, artworks, performances, and workshops on sound art, ecomusicology, and sound for their conference. The conference is on 23rd - 26th September in Ljubljana, Slovenia. They pay special attention to Central Europe, but the geopolitical range of topics remains open to the broader world.

The deadline is 10th February.

MacDowell Fellowship (Fall/Winter) - a 6-week residency for international artists representing a wide range of perspectives and demographics. MacDowell offers exclusive use of a studio, accommodations, and three prepared meals a day during the residency. They also offer stipends (unspecified) to cover rent, utilities, childcare, and to replace lost income. Artists may submit only one application every 24 months. It costs $30 to apply, but anyone in need of financial aid may request a fee waiver. They don’t specifically include audio journalism or sound art but according to them, this would come under their literature section. They do also have The Art of Journalism initiative.

The deadline is 10th February.

The Whickers Podcast Pitch - an international funding opportunity for narrative podcast series and one-off audio documentaries. Applicants submit up to four minutes of original taster audio for consideration. Five finalists attend the Sheffield Documentary Festival in June and conduct a live pitch. The winner receives £15000 plus mentorship, and one runner up receives £5000. All six finalists receive tickets to the festival, two night’s accommodation, and a contribution of up to £400 per project towards their travel expenses. The programme must be in English. You can read my Spotlight here.

The deadline is 25th February, 11:59 pm GMT.

United States

AIR AMPLIFY Podcast Accelerator - an 8-week marketing accelerator for 16 independent, U.S. based, historically marginalised podcasters who have an existing podcast and are ready to take it to the next level. The programme will equip the makers with marketing and development skills to help their shows break through the noise. An applicant must: be an independent podcaster without the support of mainstream resources; have an active podcast that has a minimum of three completed episodes released in the past year; and identify as historically marginalised (BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, etc.). Successful applicants receive a $1000 stipend, mentorship and opportunities to connect with the audio community. The programme runs from February - April 2025. Applications open on 20th November and the information session will be on 5th December at 2 pm ET (it will also be recorded).

The deadline is 13th December, 11:59 pm ET.

JAWS Health Journalism Fellowship - a 7-month opportunity for eight early-career U.S. based journalists who identify as women who would like to improve their health care reporting skills, led by the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS). Applicants must have between two and seven years’ professional reporting experience. Fellows will work on a substantive reporting project as well as one shorter-form story, assisted by a reporting grant of $4000 and mentoring by an experienced health journalist for the duration of the projects and beyond. Both staff and freelance journalists are encouraged to apply, but freelancers should obtain tentative approval from editors. Audio and podcast projects are accepted. The fellowship will run from January to July.

The extended deadline is 13th December, 5 pm ET.

Patrick Henry History Fellowship - a 9-month full-time residential fellowship which supports outstanding work on American history by both scholars and non-academics. Applicants must be legally authorised to work in the U.S. Prospective fellows should propose a project which addresses the history and/or legacy of the U.S. founding era or the nation’s founding ideas. They offer a $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and accommodation. Applicants should have a significant project currently in progress — a book, film, oral history archive, podcast series, museum exhibition, or similar work.

The deadline is 15th December.

National Press’s Widening the Pipeline Fellowship - expenses-paid training, mentoring, workshops and peer support for U.S. based journalists of colour who aspire to lead newsrooms. Applicants should have seven years or less of professional newsroom experience. They can be from any medium (print, television, radio or online media). The foundation will cover airfare, hotel, some ground transportation and most meals for the two in-person trainings in Washington, D.C., held in February and December 2025.

The deadline is 15th December.

The Shaufler Prize in Journalism - a free-to-enter award recognising the best student and professional journalism in the U.S. which advances the understanding of issues related to underserved people in society, such as communities of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities. Audio features are limited to 10 minutes and podcasts to 30 minutes. The first place prize in the professional category is $10,000, second place is $3000 and third place is $2000. One winner of the student category receives $5000. Students entering the competition must be enrolled in an accredited journalism programme at the time the entry was published or broadcast.

The deadline is 16th December.

NAHJ Adelante Academy ¡Presente! Leadership Program - a 6-month free training programme designed to empower Hispanic U.S. based journalists who are ready to rise as the next generation of news executives. Applicants must have over eight years of newsroom experience, including roles in broadcast, digital and print media. The programme includes in-person sessions at Columbia University in New York City and the NAHJ Annual Conference in Chicago, alongside two virtual phases. Participants will engage with top industry experts, receive mentorship, and develop projects that address significant challenges or opportunities in journalism today. They particularly encourage underrepresented applicants, such as Afro-Latinos, DACA recipients, Indigenous Latinos, Latinos with Disabilities, and Non-binary, Queer, and Trans Latine individuals.

The deadline is 16th December.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship - an $8000 unrestricted cash grant available for artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein. They support different disciplines each year; the 2025 categories include Music/Sound. Applicants must be 25 years or older by the application deadline date.

The deadline is 17th December, 5 pm ET.

California Health Equity Fellowship - a fully-funded fellowship supporting U.S. based reporters pursuing ambitious projects on under-covered health and health equity issues in California. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of professional journalism experience. The fellowship includes a week of in-person training followed by five months of ongoing mentorship and virtual meetings. Fellows receive a $2000 - $10,000 grant to help with reporting costs. Freelancers are welcome to apply, but they must have a confirmed assignment with an outlet to be considered for acceptance. The fellowship is open to journalists from print, broadcast, and online media outlets throughout California, or national correspondents with a California-focused project.

The deadline is 18th December.

The Webbys - international awards for “excellence on the internet.” They have a podcast category honouring exceptional work in podcasts and audio, including Shows, Individual Episodes, Limited-Series & Specials, and Features. Podcast categories include Best Co-Hosts, Best Indie Podcast, Business, History, News & Politics, and Best Creator or Influencer Series. Prices range from $215 to $665 depending on the deadline and the type of work. Student work can be entered in all categories is $90 ($85 early bird). Non-English podcasts must be dubbed or subtitled into English with videos.

The final deadline is 20th December.

AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship - a 10-week summer programme which places U.S. based science, engineering, and mathematics students at media organisations nationwide. Fellows work as journalists at media organisations such as National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, WIRED, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and NOVA. Fellows collaborate with media professionals at radio and television stations, newspapers, and magazines. They are provided a stipend of $8000 for the summer as well as travel expenses to and from AAAS and their sites.

The deadline is 1st January.

Switzer Fellowship - a 1-year fellowship for U.S. graduate students from accredited New England and Californian institutions whose career goals focus on environmental improvement. The fellowship includes a $17,000 cash award, leadership training, and opportunities for professional development and grants throughout fellows’ careers. Fellows participate in two multi-day retreats during their fellowship year focused on cohort-building, networking, and equity-centered leadership and skills development. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylum seeker according to the definition provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must plan to be enrolled for the entire 2025-26 academic year.

The deadline is 6th January, 11:59 pm PT.

What Can We Do? Artist Grant Application - funding for New York City based Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists addressing community care in creative ways. They support artists to create or develop an existing or new project that centers community building, healing, reflection, and joy, and not limited to being solely reactionary to moments of crisis or protest. All disciplines and stages of artistic exploration/developments, activism, community organising, educational practice, and thought leadership are welcome. The project must benefit communities in Chinatown, Manhattan; Flushing, Queens; and/or be a social justice project focused on the support of Palestinian creators and their communities within New York City. Each awardee will receive $1500. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.

The deadline is 7th January, 11:59 pm ET.

NEH Funding for Media Projects - a programme supporting the development, production, and distribution of radio programmes, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series  that engage general U.S. audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Applicant organisations must be U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations, accredited institutions of higher education (public or nonprofit); state and local governments and their agencies; and federally recognised Native American tribal governments. They offer two levels of funding: Development and Production. The maximum award amount is $75,000 for Development, $700,000 for Production and $1,000,000 for Chair’s Special Awards. The period of performance is 6-12 months for Development and 1-3 years for Production. The programme funds media projects exploring both international and American subjects.

The deadline is 8th January.

WABJ Urban Journalism Workshop - a free programme which teaches high school students in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area the fundamentals of journalism through interactive lectures, hands-on training, and field trips. It aims to address the underrepresentation of Black people and other minority groups in newsrooms across the country by building a diverse pipeline of future journalists and leaders that’s critical for equitable representation in news coverage and decision-making. It is led by professional journalists and educators who provide mentorship and supervision to the programme participants. Students must attend in-person sessions from early March to late April 2025 at American University’s School of Communications. At the end of the program, students use the skills they learned to report and produce their own multimedia stories. NOTE: They encourage all students in the area interested in pursuing careers in media and appreciate their mission to consider applying regardless of their identity or background.

The deadline is 8th January.

The Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting - a free-to-enter award honouring investigative reporting from U.S. news media that promotes more effective and ethical conduct of government, the making of public policy, or the practice of politics. The winner receives $25,000 and five finalists receive $10,000. While the subject can address issues of foreign policy, a submission qualifies only if it has an impact on public policy in the U.S. at the national, regional or local level. Newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, radio, podcasts, and online news organisations are eligible.

The deadline is 9th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The NPR College Podcast Challenge - a free-to-enter competition where U.S. based college students make an original short audio piece on any topic they want. The podcast can be in many different formats, including an interview, narrative story, or even investigative reporting, as long as it is between 3 and 12 minutes long. The contest is open to students of all ages pursuing an Associate's or Bachelor's degree, as well as those who have already graduated earlier in 2024. It can be done alone or with collaborators. Roughly ten finalists will be awarded a $500 scholarship, and one Grand Prize Winner will receive $5000 and their story will have the chance to feature on NPR. You can read my Spotlight here.

The deadline is 10th January, 11:59 pm ET.

Bronx Council on the Arts BRIO Award - a $5000 prize for individual Bronx-based artists who create works in the literary, media, visual, and performing arts, and demonstrate proficiency, knowledge, and intense practice in their chosen artform.

The deadline is 13th January.

Stanford’s John S. Knight Fellowship (United States) - a 9-month journey of professional and personal exploration for U.S. based journalists to develop the leadership resilience needed for these times of uncertainty. The fellowship involves twice-weekly cohort events that include leadership workshops, skills training and discussions with guest experts. Applicants must have at least five years of full-time professional journalism experience, but NOTE: applicants do not require college degrees or experience in traditional newsrooms. Stanford offers: tuition; a stipend of $125,000; advice on securing housing; and Stanford health insurance.

The deadline is 15th January, 1 pm PT.

Richard C. Longworth Media Fellowships - $10,000 to $20,000 grants for journalists based in Chicago and the Midwest focusing on global issues that are relevant to their local audiences. To be eligible, field reporting must be conducted from international locations and the selected topics should be timely and of clear interest and importance to audiences in Chicago and the Midwest. The fellowships are open to print, broadcast, and online journalists. Staff or freelancers are welcome to apply, but applicants should be able to demonstrate a committed interest from editors and/or producers.

The deadline is 15th January.

The Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics - a recognition of ethical decisions in reporting stories in any medium, including print, broadcast and digital, by U.S. based (I think) journalists working for established news organisations or publishing independently. Each news organisation can submit up to two nominations. The award includes a $5000 prize and travel expenses to accept the award and discuss the reporting at an awards ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on 9th April 2025.

The deadline is 15th January.

Press Forward’s Open Call on Infrastructure - an open call focusing on strengthening the infrastructure of the local news industry in the U.S. Applicants must be IRS 501(c)(3) U.S. based nonprofits. Press Forward is seeking to fund solutions to the common challenges that outlets face in sustainably creating and disseminating local news. They are particularly seeking scalable, replicable or new ideas, tools or technology that will help multiple independent local newsrooms address their four priority areas: Audience, Operations, People, and Revenue. Successful proposals will be bold ideas that benefit multiple organisations, build stronger shared infrastructure at the national, regional or local level, and/or have the potential to impact the sector at large. They expect most grants will range from $500,000 to $1,500,000 over three years, though awards may fall outside of this range.

The deadline is 15th January, 11:59 pm ET.

O'Brien Fellowship In Public Service Journalism - a 9-month fellowship for journalists residing in the U.S. or its territories with at least five years of professional experience to report and produce an in-depth public service journalism project on a regional, national or international topic. Successful applicants receive a $75,000 salary stipend and additional support. Fellows traditionally are in residence at the O’Brien newsroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but they also take remote or partially remote applications. They offer additional stipends for fellows with family and relocation requirements, and a $9000 travel and research stipend. Applicants may be connected to print operations, radio, television, websites, podcasts, online publications, wire services, or magazines of general public interest. Freelance or staff journalists are welcome to apply, but they must have an outlet to broadcast or publish their project. There are no academic prerequisites.

The deadline is 19th January.

Global Health Media Fellowship - a 12-month fellowship offering practical training for U.S. based medical students in the fundamentals of journalism, communications, and global health reporting on a variety of media platforms. The aim is to build a generation of physician-storytellers who can combat medical misinformation and shine a light on untold global health stories. Fellows learn how reporting on global health issues can impact health and human rights efforts, foundation and government health assistance, and individual health choices. Through coursework at Stanford’s Graduate Program in Journalism, independent reporting, and a CNN internship, fellows gain an understanding of how to tell compelling stories and work with local, national and international media outlets in order to share valuable medical and global health information with the general public. Training will be on a variety of media platforms, including print, online, broadcast, and social and digital media. A modest travel stipend (unspecified) is awarded, and fellows receive a stipend (unspecified) from CNN during their internship portion.

The deadline is 21st January.

NPR’s Next Gen Radio - free week-long intensive digital media training with a focus on narrative audio. Each selected participant is paired with a professional journalist and together they find, report, and produce a 3:30 to 4-minute-long non-narrated audio story. Anyone new to audio can apply — college students, recent graduates, people who have just started their own podcasts, and those looking to change careers. Selected participants also receive a stipend for their work that week. The programmes are digital-first, meaning they can be done remotely. You can read my Spotlight on NPR Next Gen here. There are various Next Gen applications, each with different requirements. You can apply to any programme at any time, but the project with an upcoming deadline is:

Oregon Public Broadcasting, 23rd - 28th February, for applicants living no more than an hour’s drive from the headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

The deadline is 26th January, midnight PT.

Pulitzer Prize - prestigious awards for U.S. journalism. They have an Audio Reporting category, which looks for “deep and revelatory reporting in the public interest” across all forms of audio storytelling, from podcasts to radio broadcasts. It is open to independent American producers and U.S. broadcast outlets. The prize is $15,000. Audio entries may not exceed a total of five hours of recorded material. Digital news sites operated by broadcast and audio organisations are also eligible in most Journalism categories. Independent U.S. based producers can apply. Submissions cost $75.

The deadline is 27th January, 11:59 pm ET.

Hillman Prize (United States) - a free-to-enter award honouring excellent U.S. journalism that is in service of the common good. They specifically seek out investigative journalism that exposes social and economic injustice and fosters meaningful public policy change. Entries should be widely accessible to a U.S. audience. They have a Broadcast Journalism category for television, radio or podcasts; entries should be at least 20 minutes in total package length. They also offer the SEIU Award for Reporting on Racial and Economic Justice, which all Hillman Prize entries are automatically considered for. Prize winners receive $5000.

The deadline is 30th January, 11:59 pm ET.

Nieman Visiting Fellowship (United States) - short-term research opportunities for individuals interested in working on special projects designed to advance journalism. Candidates do not need to be practicing journalists, but must demonstrate the ways in which their work at Harvard and the Nieman Foundation may improve the prospects for journalism’s future. Applications may be related to research, programming, design, financial strategies or other topics. Nieman Visiting Fellows utilise the extensive resources at Harvard and MIT, including local scholars, research centers and libraries, to achieve concrete results, either developing a project that can be completed during the time spent at Harvard or as part of a larger undertaking that continues after the fellowship period ends. Fellows are expected to share their progress and findings either through publication on one of Nieman’s in-house websites — Nieman Reports, Nieman Journalism Lab, and Nieman Storyboard — or in another medium or format better suited to the project. Applicants list their preferred start date, the number of weeks requested (no more than 12, with most being between 4 to 8 weeks). Fellows not supported by an employer will receive a stipend of $1325 per week. For fellows not residing in the Boston area, free use of a furnished one-bedroom apartment will be available for the length of the fellowship.

The deadline is 31st January.

Nieman Fellowship (United States) - a residency for up to 12 journalists who are U.S. citizens working in any medium. Those selected spend two full semesters at Harvard auditing classes. Fellows must speak, read and write English fluently. Selected applicants will receive a stipend of $85,000 over the nine-month period to cover living costs, along with accommodation. To be eligible, you must be a working journalist with at least five years of full-time media experience. There are no age limits or academic prerequisites, and a college degree is not required.

The deadline is 31st January.

NYU’s Urban Journalism Workshop - a 10-day intensive workshop designed to help develop underrepresented students in New York City into the next generation of great journalists. Students must be over the age of 16 and living and attending high school in the New York City metropolitan area. The workshop will take place at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University from 14th - 23rd July.

The deadline is 31st January.

The Autistic Voices Oral History Project Fellowship - a U.S. based fellowship programme which aims to expand understanding of neurodiversity, foster collective and accessible community documentation of the Autistic lived experience and advocacy movement, and enhance the fields of archives and oral history. There are two fellowships: The Autistic Community Fellowship, which is open to Autistic community members and will build a more representative historical record by centering Autistic narratives and empowering Autistic people to play an active role in capturing and preserving their community’s memory; and the The Memory Workers Fellowship, which will train non-Autistic (allistic) and Autistic professionals working in archives, libraries, and oral history, as well as students, on neuro-affirming practices, cross-neurotype communication, and Autistic culture. Fellows will participate in a workshop, conduct two oral history interviews, and participate in ongoing cohort activities. Fellows will be compensated with $3000 and interviewees will be compensated with $300.

The deadline is 31st January.

FIJ Seed Grants - The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) offers seed grants of up to $2500 to cover the expenses of preliminary investigative reporting such as open-records requests and initial reporting trips. The grants are primarily for freelance journalists and those who are not in full-time staff roles at a media outlet. Journalists must be U.S. based or working on a story with a very strong U.S. angle. Journalists who receive seed funding can apply for full grants (up to $10,000) once they conduct the preliminary reporting and secure a commitment from a media outlet to publish or broadcast the story. Pitches for radio stories and podcasts are welcome.

The next deadline is 31st January.

Higher Ed Media Fellowship - a 6-month, non-residential programme for early- and mid-career journalists from U.S. based news outlets who are looking to complete Career and Technical Education (CTE) reporting projects. Topics could include data sourcing and analysis, best practices for solutions journalism, and the intersection of postsecondary education and civic learning. They accept applicants from print, online, TV, and radio news outlets. Each fellow will receive $10,000 ($5000 as a stipend and $5000 towards their proposed reporting project). The fellowship begins with an expense-paid postsecondary CTE symposium in Durham, North Carolina, from 28th - 30th April.

The deadline is 1st February, 11:59 pm ET.

Spencer Fellowship for Education Reporting - a 1-year fellowship at Columbia Journalism School for four journalists and educators of all disciplines who want to develop and publish an ambitious long-form project that advances public understanding of education. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. There are residential and non-residential fellowship options. Residential fellows receive an $85,000 scholarship for personal living expenses and non-residential fellows receive a $43,000 stipend. Both fellows receive $7500 for project expenses and one-on-one mentorship with a full-time faculty mentor from the Journalism School. Only residential fellows will receive Columbia’s basic student health insurance. A college degree is not required to apply.

The deadline is 4th February.

United States

The deadline is 13th December, 11:59 pm ET.

The extended deadline is 13th December, 5 pm ET.

The deadline is 15th December.

The deadline is 16th December.

The deadline is 17th December, 5 pm ET.

The deadline is 18th December.

The final deadline is 20th December.

The deadline is 1st January.

The deadline is 6th January, 11:59 pm PT.

The deadline is 7th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 8th January.

The deadline is 9th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 10th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 13th January.

The deadline is 15th January, 1 pm PT.

The deadline is 15th January.

The deadline is 15th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 19th January.

The deadline is 21st January.

Oregon Public Broadcasting, 23rd - 28th February, for applicants living no more than an hour’s drive from the headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

The deadline is 26th January, midnight PT.

The deadline is 27th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 30th January, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 31st January.

The deadline is 31st January.

The next deadline is 31st January.

The deadline is 1st February, 11:59 pm ET.

The deadline is 4th February.

Europe

CIVIS Media Prize - honouring outstanding productions on television, radio, internet, and cinema that promote the peaceful coexistence of people of different geographical and cultural origins within Europe. There is an Audio Award with three subcategories: Short Contributions (up to 6 minutes), Long Contributions (more than 6 minutes) and Podcasts. All come with a prize of €2000. The Civis Top Award additionally honours the best production of the year across other categories, which comes with a prize of €15,000.

The deadline is 12th December.

Journalismfund Microgrants for Small Newsrooms - a grant and mentoring programme which aims to empower 50 local independent media outlets in Europe to foster resilience and viability through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services. Small- and medium-sized, local, and independent media outlets in E.U. member states and participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia) can apply. They provide each newsroom with up to €5000 and personalised mentorship. The programme will: allow small news outlets in countries where media plurality is under threat to implement new tactics and skills to build resilience and viability; encourage a culture of innovation at the local level through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services; accumulate a vast set of case studies and best practices that can then be shared with other newsrooms across Europe, in countries suffering from a lack of plurality and beyond. The results of the investigation can be published by a professional media outlet in any language, but applications must be in English.

The deadline is 17th December.

INHABIT Artist-in-Residence - a 3-month residency in Frankfurt for Europe-based artists from various disciplines to collaborate with the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics team of scientists and researchers. Residents will be creating new work, or further developing an existing project, in a scientific research environment. They provide space, resources, and facilities for productive experimentation, dialogue, and collaboration. Work developed during the residency will be presented in cooperation with various local arts institutions in the form of an exhibition, performance, concert, or other mode of presentation, and complemented by discursive formats. They have previously had sound artists as residents. They offer: a fee of €8000; an accommodation stipend of €2000 and a production budget (depending on the project); travel costs; access to the library, sound studio and scientific facilities of the institute; and curatorial support during the residency.

The deadline is 29th December, 11:59 pm CET.

E75 Art Bus Project and Residency - a 6- to 8-week art journey exploring the E75 road through Europe, a 5639 km route that starts from Vardø, Norway, and ends at Crete, Greece. They accept applications from professional artists resident in the regions of the E75 Art Bus route: Finnmark, Norway; Finland; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; Poland; Slovakia; Hungary; Serbia; and North Macedonia, Greece. The new artworks produced in the project will be experienced along the road and on the bus. Performance, site-specific, durational and interactive works can be realised in different places the tour stops in and/or on the road within the bus itself. On the bus trip, they bring the artists together with the organisers and the audiences — the extra seats on the bus will be sold to members of the public. Priority is given to media art, light art, sound art, performance art, live art, community art, and environmental art. The artist fee is €1500/month/person (this will be increased up to €2700/month if the project secures extra funding). The art journey itself along the European E75 route takes place in April - May 2026.

The deadline is 6th January.

Axel Springer Prize for Young Journalism - awards for young German-speaking journalists working in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Anyone can nominate outstanding work from 2024 which was created by trainees, editors, or freelancers who were no older than 33 at the time of publication. Awards will be presented in the categories of Politics and Business, Reportage, Future, and Entertainment. There is also the Best Team Performance award recognising outstanding contributions that are the result of teamwork, including innovative journalistic projects and products. Additionally, the George Weidenfeld Prize for courageous reporting will be awarded as a special honour, endowed with €10,000.

The deadline is 8th January.

College of Europe Scholarships - a free 10-month Advanced Master’s course for students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine who have completed at least a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or are in their final year of university studies. Degrees are available in a variety of fields, for All Hear we emphasise the one for students applying to the College of Europe in Natolin (Warsaw, Poland), where they also have a Master's in Journalism and Media Studies. The programmes at the College of Europe are bilingual, with classes conducted in both English and French. Students admitted to the College of Europe in Natolin who need to improve their English or French can attend the Summer Language Academy, which offers intensive online language courses in August, before the start of the academic year. They cover tuition fees, board and lodging on campus, and offer pocket money (unspecified) during the academic year.

The deadline is 15th January.

The Regional Media Contest (Ukraine) - a competition supporting Ukrainian education and youth projects in both the European Union and Ukraine, with the objective of facilitating the development of a talent pool of young people engaged in Ukraine’s recovery and European integration. Journalists from regional and local print and online media, TV/radio studios, and social media influencers with established communication channels and consistent audiences are invited to apply. They allow for up to 10 minutes for radio stories or podcasts. Entries are expected to address the role and importance of the European Union’s support for Ukrainian education and youth. The prize for first place is a Bluetti charge station, second place is a tablet and third place is a multifunctional power bank.

The deadline is 15th January.

Milena Jesenská Fellowship - a 3-month programme in Vienna, Austria, offering European (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey) cultural journalists time off from their professional duties in order to pursue in-depth research on a topic of their choice. Cultural, in this case, should be interpreted in a broad sense to encompass a wide variety of intellectual and artistic fields. Applicants must have worked in print, broadcast or online journalism for several years and must have an outstanding professional record. The next fellowship term is September 2025 to June 2026. Fellows receive a stipend of €3300/month. In addition, they are provided with an office including access to the internet, administrative and research facilities as well as other services free of charge. All application materials should be in English.

The deadline is 15th January.

Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism - project-based grants for a cross-border team of professional journalists and/or news outlets to conduct investigations into environmental affairs related to continental Europe. This round, The Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism are giving out €400,000 in total. There is no limit to the amount you can request as long as the budget seems reasonable for the project. Successful applicants can also apply for mentorship. The final project can be published in any language.

The next deadline is 23rd January, 1 pm CET.

European Cross-Border Grants - funds for a cross-border team of at least two journalists to complete an investigative project. Most cross-border grants vary from €2000 - €14,000 per project, but there is no limit to apply for. Applicants must have at least two letters of intent from professional news outlets who are willing to publish the result of their investigation. Projects can be in any language, but the application must be in English. Although the majority of projects are print, they have supported podcast work before. The grant happens four times a year.

The next deadline is 23rd January.

The Pascal Decroos Fund - a grant programme for Dutch nationals to promote in-depth journalism in the Dutch-language media in Belgium. They are seeking original and innovative proposed projects which are relevant to Flanders and cannot be realised through regular journalistic channels. They have three types of grants: Investigative Journalism, In-depth Journalism and Preliminary Research. All journalistic media are accepted, including radio and podcasts. Both early-career and experienced journalists can apply, but those with more than two years of experience must provide a letter of intent for publication from at least one professional news outlet. There is no limit to the budget you can suggest.

The next deadline is 6th February, 1 pm CET.

Professional Development Grants for Environmental Journalism - funds for activities and services propelling environmental investigative journalism in Europe. They support project ideas from incorporated legal entities for training and professional development programmes related to environmental journalism. There is no limit to the amount you can request, so long as the budget seems reasonable for the project. The total amount distributed per call for all supported projects is €84,000. The results of the projects can be published in any language.

The next deadline is 13th February, 1 pm CET.

Pluralistic Media for Democracy - a total of €1,400,000 in financial support for 40 local and regional European outlets, community media, investigative journalism, and public interest news organisations that operate in "news deserts" or areas experiencing strained media pluralism. The grant programme is open to legal entities with a registered seat in one of the EU27 countries and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia & Serbia. The programme aims to empower media organisations to continue their critical role in upholding democracy and fostering informed public discourse across Europe through strategic support in innovation, business sustainability, and audience engagement.

The deadline is 13th February.

United Kingdom

ARTCRY Grants - rolling funding for responsive, social and political art which happens for free, in public space in the U.K. They give a decision on applications within seven days. Work must start immediately on receipt of the funding. They are looking for work which: starts a conversation; can startle people with a new point of view; makes audiences think more deeply; strives to make an impact; respects difference; has a spirit of openness and accessibility at its core; is representative. They are particularly interested in funding works which explore: transparency and accountability in democracy; the fight for human rights and equality, especially art that engages with the UK’s Immigration and Asylum systems. They offer up to £2500, although they currently have one grant of £5000 (including VAT) available to apply for an exceptional application addressing one of their areas of focus.

The deadline is rolling.

Seedbed Artist Callout - a call for work from U.K. based artists whose proposals explore heritage, environment, inclusion and public space in natural landscapes and celebrating Greenham Common. Artists should have at least three years of professional practice. They have a specific focus on supporting ideas and approaches that can be developed for natural landscapes — in particular the Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Greenham Common. The programme will support initial research and development on up to 10 projects to a value of £2500 each. At least three of these projects will be further supported with a small commissioning award to create a final public presentation in Summer 2025 as part of a programme of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Greenham Common’s return to public ownership after almost 60 years of military occupation. They require a minimum 2-day period of residency time at the 101 Outdoor Arts Centre, the National Centre for Arts in Public Space.

The deadline is 16th December.

Women in Journalism Scotland Mentoring Scheme - a programme for early- to mid-career journalists in Scotland looking to develop their practice. Applicants should have specific goals they want to reach or challenges they’d like to overcome. The scheme supports a diverse range of beats, from politics and investigations to travel, food and drink, arts, health, sport, local news, digital, data, opinion and tech. Successful applicants will be paired with a journalist mentor based on their specialism and goals. Mentees will receive: twelve career development sessions, an introductory online workshop guiding them through what to expect from the mentoring year, a mentoring meet-up at BBC Scotland HQ, and invitations to events hosted throughout the year by Women in Journalism Scotland. It is not open to students, with the exception of women of colour student journalists and students who want to be sports journalists.

The deadline is 18th December.

BBC Sport New Voices - a scheme which aims to find the next generation of U.K. based sports commentators. They offer one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities. They require submissions of a minute of commentary on any sport which includes a goal, try, point, basket, etc. Applicants must be U.K. residents and over the age of 18.

The deadline is 20th December.

Somerset House Studios Assembly Residency - a 12-month non-residential programme for London-based artists working in music and sound whose practices are interested in experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration, demonstrating an engagement with bold ideas, urgent issues and/or new technologies. During this period, participating artists will develop new live work to be presented at Assembly, the Studios' biannual series of experimental music and performance, returning in Spring 2026. Applicants should have a track record of publicly sharing music or sound projects (experience of doing so for up to six years) or be returning to their practice after a notable break. Artists should apply with a concept or idea that they would like to explore and develop during the residency and make the case that their practice will benefit from the opportunity. They offer free, dedicated studio space at Somerset House; a £3000 project budget (including artist fee); access to 1:1 mentorship; production support, including access to recording studio, rehearsal spaces and a sound engineer; access to the artist community based at Somerset House Studios, with opportunities for networking, social events, and peer support; and an artist profile page on the Somerset House website. Artists must be over the age of 18.

The deadline is 31st December.

The Scene Podcast Call for Script Submissions - a call out for scripts from U.K. makers for 10-15 minute audio plays to be adapted with The Scene Podcast. There is no upper limit of characters. Writers can send in one submission each. At the end of each season, the Scene Podcast team hosts a podcast liveshow where they bring the scripts to the stage at small theatres across the U.K. Pay is unspecified.

The deadline is 31st December, midnight GMT.

IRN Awards for News Radio - free-to-enter awards for U.K. commercial radio stations affiliated to Newslink and Forces Radio. Categories include News Team of the Year; Best News Special; Best News Story or Coverage; Reporter of the Year (National); Reporter of the Year (Regional); Best Interview; Specialist Reporter of the Year; Best Sports Coverage; Newcomer of the Year and Student Journalist of the Year and the Gold Award.

The deadline is 14th January, 5 pm GMT.

New Generation Thinkers - a scheme for five early-career researchers at a U.K. research organisation who are specialising in arts and humanities, allowing them to be “researchers in residence” at BBC Radio 4, where they will work with programme makers and produce a piece of writing to be recorded for radio. See the eligible research organisations here. Successful applicants also take part in learning and development opportunities with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) around working with the media, engaging the public with research, and how to work with policy makers. Applicants must be: over the age of 18; currently studying for their first PhD, having made considerable progress in their research; or within eight years of the award of their first PhD, excluding any period of career break such as parental leave, caring responsibilities, health reasons, or reasons consequent upon the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants must be within the first six years of their academic appointment and not a senior lecturer.

The deadline is 28th January, 4 pm GMT.

Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards - free-to-enter awards that champion the achievements of the U.K.’s current and emerging writers, publishers, photographers, broadcasters, content creators, and personalities whose work encourages audiences to broaden their understanding of food and drink. They have a Radio and Podcast category. The category winners receive a trophy, a Fortnum & Mason Hamper.

The deadline is 29th January, 12 pm GMT.

Amnesty Media Awards - a celebration of excellence in human rights journalism at U.K. based media outlets. There is a Radio & Podcasts category, as well as a free-to-enter, medium agnostic Gaby Rado Award for New Journalist category, for an applicant who has been working for five years or less in paid employment as a journalist. Entries must be in English or subtitled in English. Entries cost £200, but freelance journalists, non-profit or small media outlets can apply for sponsorship.

The deadline is 31st January.

Sandford St Martin Awards - a free-to-enter award for U.K. broadcast content that explores religious, spiritual or ethical themes. Relevant categories include: Radio/Audio category, Journalism and the Young Audience award, for media made for those under 18.

The deadline is 31st January, 11:59 pm GMT.

Charles Parker Prize - a free-to-enter award for student audio storytelling in the U.K. from accredited media training courses. Ten pieces are shortlisted and the top five are awarded a slot on BBC Radio 4 as part of the New Creatives programming. The shortlisted makers receive mentorship to adapt the programme for the radio and a small fee (unspecified) for the adaptation. The work must have been produced between 13th February 2024 and 10th February 2025 and be between 10 and 15 minutes in duration. Entries must not have been previously broadcast on a national broadcasting network. The Prize is not open to paid employees of audio production companies or radio stations.

The deadline is 10th February, 11:59 pm GMT.

Africa

Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Spring) - a fully funded, 2-year Master’s of Journalism from The University of California Berkeley for applicants from any African country. They teach narrative writing, radio, photography, broadcast and online video production, multimedia storytelling, and data- and investigative-based journalism.

The deadline is 16th December.

AUDA-NEPAD Emerging Technologies Media Award of Excellence - an annual recognition of African journalists publishing work in African-led media houses that is at the forefront of reporting of African-led technologies and innovations. It aims to promote reporting of technologies and innovations being developed by and for use towards the achievement of the continent’s aspirations, as well as to raise public awareness, understanding, participation, and local ownership of these technologies and innovations. This edition will focus on innovations at the nexus of water, food and energy. The competition is open to published and broadcast works in print, radio, television, and online media. The radio journalism category allows for reports between 3 and 6 minutes long, which can include podcasts and reports on online-only media platforms. The Grand Prize is $5000, and all category winners receive $2500 for first place and $1000 for second. All entries must be in English or French; stories done in local languages should be translated, with the original language indicated.

The deadline is 10th January.

Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence - an award for African journalists who have contributed to increasing public awareness and understanding of emerging health technology in Africa. Stories must be published in African-led and Africa-based media houses. There are two relevant categories, for Radio and Online Media. For both, the prize is US$2500, and $1000 for the runner-up. There is also a $5000 grand prize. Applications can be submitted in English or French; stories reported in local languages should be translated.

The deadline is 10th January.

Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling - an award that honours up-and-coming journalists in Africa who strive to strengthen people's voices and illuminate the transformational change taking place on the continent. English-speaking journalists working for print, broadcast and online news media based in Africa are eligible. Applicants must have no more than ten years of journalism experience. Winners receive a $5000 cash prize and will spend two weeks at The Economist’s headquarters in London.

The deadline is 12th January.

Gender Links Media Parity Capacity Building Programme - an opportunity for media outlets based in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho or Zambia who are interested in strengthening their positioning and resilience by enhancing gender perspectives in reporting, appealing to diverse audiences, and ensuring a safe, professional work environment for everyone. Organisations must: be involved in radio, television, print or online journalism; currently operating; be in existence for at least three years; have staff of at least five journalists; and have a politically independent editorial line. The Media Parity programme will work with selected media outlets to build journalists capacity in gender inclusive reporting through workshops and mentorship, as well as professional development workshops and activities for safer, respectful and professional media workplaces. Small reporting grants (unspecified) will support journalists to produce stories in collaboration with the project team. The programme involves a 2-day regional inception workshop; a 5-day training workshop; follow-up mentorship; and professional development.

The deadline is 31st January.

Canada

Storyhive Video Podcast Program - CAD $12,000 grants for emerging creators based in Alberta and B.C. to produce locally reflective nonfiction podcasts accompanied by a video component. Each project will consist of a minimum of eight 30-minute episodes. They are seeking stories that capture the voice, personality and experiences of communities across Western Canada. The programme is self-guided, so successful applicants will be responsible for their own learning, though they will have a Program Manager to support them. Applicants must be first time or emerging content creators who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who have not had access to the Canadian Broadcasting system in the last five years. Those in the programme retain the copyright of their projects.

The deadline is 12th December, 11:59 pm PT.

R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship - up to CAD$25,000 of funding for a significant foreign reporting project by a Canadian journalist (staffer, freelancer or student) working in any medium. They are looking for first-hand, in-depth coverage of important stories outside Canada’s borders. The funding is intended to cover the costs of time spent researching, reporting, travelling, and producing a significant project; and, renting equipment and paying for help (e.g. translators, photographers, videographers). It will not cover the purchase of equipment. Published work remains the property of the fellow, but Carleton University reserves the right to use completed projects to promote the Fellowship. The Fellowship is open to Canadians, and non-Canadians holding a valid Canadian work permit. Applications can be in English or French.

The deadline is 13th January.

Hillman Prize (Canada) - a free-to-enter award honouring excellent Canadian journalism that is in service of the common good. They specifically seek out investigative journalism that exposes social and economic injustice and fosters meaningful public policy change. Entries can be across print, digital and broadcast platforms, but they should be widely accessible to a Canadian audience. Self-published work is not eligible. Prize winners receive an honorarium (unspecified).

The deadline is 15th January, 11:59 pm ET.

Latin America + The Caribbean

Solidarity Reporting Prize - Instituto MOL’s awards for journalists and journalism students who report on citizenship practices in Brazil. Works in text, audio, video and image format are accepted. Winners of the professional and student prizes receive R$6000 for first place, R$4000 for second place and R$2000 for third. Applicants must complete the free online course on solidarity reporting before submitting entries.

The deadline is 6th January.

Jeduca Education Student Journalism Awards - a competition for material and quality work by recently graduated university Brazilian students on relevant topics across educational journalism and Brazilian public education. They also have a student category which accepts existing works (articles, documentaries, podcasts, etc.). The first prize is R$3000, the second is R$2000 and the third is R$1000.

The deadline is 31st January.

Middle East

Emergency Residencies Programme for Artists and Cultural Practitioners Living in Palestine - 3-month residencies in various cities across Spain for Palestinian artists and cultural practitioners residing in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Residents will receive accommodation, legal and psychological counseling, and access to a network of organisations and professionals with whom they can share, develop and continue with their creative projects. Their goal is to provide a safe and stimulating environment where artists can continue their work despite adverse circumstances and generate dialogue spaces that ensure freedom of expression through joint activities both in Spain and with international collaborators. They cover: visa and insurance expenses; legal and financial assistance; round-trip travel; accommodation and a workspace. They offer a fee of €1300/month and €2000 total for production expenses. It is not mandatory to produce new works or projects; the residency is designed to be a space for reflection, practice and connection with new audiences and local art scenes. Artists are expected to return after the residency. Applicants must speak English, French or Spanish and be over the age of 18.

The deadline is 31st December.

Oceania

Government of South Australia Professional Development Grants - up to $15,000 of funding for the professional development of individual, independent artists and arts workers in South Australia to undertake skills development and training that is relevant to their professional practice. Applicants must be Australian citizens or have permanent resident status, living in South Australia six months or more per year. You can apply for: mentoring, short courses, work placement, masterclasses, workshops, conference attendance, arts residencies, festivals and internships, although NOTE: in the case of residencies the host organisation is expected to make a significant contribution towards a grantee’s placement.

The deadline is 3rd February, 5 pm ACDT.

That’s it for this month! Thanks for subscribing.

If you have any upcoming resources you can submit them via this form or via email to allhear [at] transom [dot] org. The next newsletter comes out on Thursday 9th January, so for any upcoming opportunities please reach out before Friday 3rd January.

All Hear is edited by Jennifer Jerrett and Sydney Lewis.

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All Hear

All Hear December 2024

Welcome (back) to All Hear, the Everything List for Audio Opportunities.

More Opportunities

International

United States

Europe

United Kingdom

Africa

Canada

Latin America + The Caribbean

Middle East

Oceania

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