Tech Journalism Fund Scholarship 2026 in USA

The Tech Journalism Fund is a grant program that provides project funding between $5,000 and $25,000 to US-based journalists. It supports in-depth reporting on the intersection of technology and society, covering topics like AI regulation, investigations of the tech industry, AI’s impact on children, and how workers are adapting to technological change.

Only US-based journalists are eligible. This includes freelancers, staff reporters, editors, and teams of journalists working in any medium (text, audio, video, etc.). Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged, but the fund is not open to non-US journalists at this time.

Priority is given to pitches in four areas: legislation and policy proposals on regulating AI and the tech sector; investigative pieces on the companies, organizations, and ideas shaping AI and tech; the impact of AI on children, youth, and families; and how workers, unions, and employers are contending with AI and other technological advances.

Applicants can request between $5,000 and $25,000 for a single, resource-intensive reporting project. The exact amount depends on the estimated costs detailed in the proposal budget. The fund covers expenses such as travel, research support, multimedia production, data access, and stipends for reporting time.

The fund may cover travel, research and fact-checking support, multimedia enhancement, access to databases like LexisNexis or government records, and stipends to cover reporting time. All proposals must include a detailed budget that itemizes these costs, and only costs directly related to the reporting project are eligible.

You must submit a proposal through the official application portal. The proposal should outline your reporting project, its significance, and a detailed budget. The application form is available at the Omidyar Network website, and you can email [email protected] with any questions about the process or your application status.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline. You can submit your proposal at any time. All applications are generally reviewed within 30 days, though due to the high volume of submissions, only accepted applicants will be contacted directly by Omidyar Network.

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed within 30 days. The review process is selective, and only accepted applicants are notified. If you do not hear back within that timeframe, it means your proposal was not selected. Questions about application status can be sent to the program’s email address.

Yes, teams of journalists are eligible to apply. The fund welcomes collaborative projects across any medium. Whether you are a solo freelancer, a staff reporter, an editor, or part of a larger team, you can submit a proposal as long as all members are US-based and the project meets the funding criteria.

No, at this time the Tech Journalism Fund is only open to US-based journalists. International applicants are not eligible. The program focuses on reporting projects that are carried out by journalists currently residing in the United States, though the stories themselves may have global relevance.