The Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists offers a monthly $400 reporting grant to any journalist working on any topic in New Mexico. The grant is intended to cover work expenses that keep a journalist from finishing a story either set in New Mexico or of obvious interest to the people of New Mexico.
Grant funding is awarded primarily on the economic need of the reporter – not subject matter. Journalists from smaller outlets take precedence over those from larger outlets.
Note: This is not a grant to replace a reporter’s pay or supplement a publication’s operating expenses.
Basics:
· The grant can cover reporting expenses that help a journalist finish a story (travel, documents, small equipment, etc.).
· The story should be either based in New Mexico or of clear interest to the people of New Mexico (i.e. reporting that looks at both the New Mexico and Colorado portions of the Rio Grande).
· This is open to both staff and freelancers based in New Mexico
· This grant cannot be applied retroactively to reporting already completed.
· This is a grant for journalists – not publications. The money goes to the journalist, not an editor or publication.
· This grant is tilted to help smaller newsrooms first.
Requirements:
· Must be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists
· A short, one-page application letter (two pages max!) explaining the story, its importance, the intended audience, the intended outlet, what the money will cover, and the number of reporters and editors in the publishing newsroom.
· This letter must be written by the journalist who would receive the grant. Publications may not apply on behalf of journalists.
· If the grant will not allow a story to be finished, explain how it will advance the reporting and what the next steps will be.
· For staffers – a short email or letter from your editor endorsing the story
· For freelancers – a short email or letter from an editor indicating they are considering publishing the finished story is recommended.
· All entries must be received by the first of the month.
· Recipients must file copies (either photocopies or digital images) to SPJ Rio Grande of receipts of purchases made with grant money.
· Grant money is to be spent within six (6) months of receiving the grant.
· Provide a basic budgetary breakdown specifying how the grant will be used to help you finish your story.
How we judge entries:
· All of a month’s entries first will be ranked based on newsroom size (see first requirement above). Smaller newsrooms will top the list. The newsroom staff count includes reporters and editors – not physical production or distribution staff. Freelancers will be ranked as equal to the second-smallest newsroom applying in a month.
· The newsroom must have a history of publishing reported news
· Stories that can be finished with the grant will be ranked higher than stories that will require further reporting.
· This is for reported stories in any medium, or a combination thereof.
· The grant is not for opinion pieces.
· The grant is not for daily news or briefs, but for feature-length/special project reporting however that is defined in your publishing medium.
Additional info:
· One grant will be awarded per month, assuming at least one application meets the grant criteria.
· Reporters may apply once per month. Reporters may apply again with a story that is not selected in a previous month.
· If a reporter receives a grant, they may not apply again within the next six months.
· If there are no entries in a month, grant funds do not roll over to the next month.
· Three members of the SPJ Rio Grande board who do not belong to any of that month’s applicant publications will review and choose grantees.
· Grant recipients’ names and publications will be posted to the SPJ Rio Grande website. Their stories will be linked after they are published.
· At the request of the applicant, SPJ Rio Grande will keep applicants’ stories in confidence until they are published.
· The choice of the granting panel is final.
· For privacy and security of the reporters and their stories, all applications but the winner will be deleted after two months.
Click Here To Apply
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