Grants for investigative journalism on the impact of AI

Free Press Unlimited (FPU) has launched a grant call supporting cross-border collaborative investigative journalism projects focused on the impact of artificial intelligence.

The call is part of the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI) and aims to support independent media organisations and journalism teams across Europe.

The programme supports investigative reporting projects exploring the impact of AI on society and the media landscape.

Under the grant programme, applications may be submitted by cross-border teams of independent European media organisations, freelance journalists, and staff journalists with a proven track record in cross-border investigative journalism.

Main eligibility criteria:

• Teams must consist of at least two journalists or two media organisations.
• Applicants must represent two different European countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme.
• Eligible applicants include journalists and media organisations from EU countries and participating Creative Europe countries.
• Journalists from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia who are legally residing in the EU are also eligible to apply.

The programme includes EU countries such as Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and other European Union member states.

Participating non-EU Creative Europe countries include Ukraine, Norway, Serbia, Iceland, Georgia, Albania, and others.

Within the grant programme, up to 4 grants will be awarded, each worth up to EUR 5,000.

The programme supports journalism teams working on investigative stories exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on society and different areas of public life.

Supported project topics include:

• AI as a technology;
• political power and agendas related to AI;
• accountability of AI companies;
• environmental impact of AI;
• AI and human rights;
• AI and human psychology.

Funding conditions:

• 80% of the grant funding is paid upon signing the agreement;
• the remaining 20% is paid after project completion and positive evaluation.

The financial support is aimed at strengthening quality investigative journalism and improving public understanding of AI technologies and their societal impact.

The grant programme roadmap includes several key stages, from application submission to final reporting and grant disbursement.

Main programme stages:

• July 22, 2026 (23:59 CEST) — application deadline.
• July–August 2026 — selection process.
• August 2026 — winners are contacted.
• September 2026 — start of grant projects and disbursement of the first funding instalment.
• September 2026 – February 2027 — implementation period, including research, production, and publication activities.
• March 2027 — submission of final narrative and financial reports.
• April 2027 — final grant payment following a positive project evaluation.

The programme follows a phased implementation process with evaluation and final funding disbursement based on project results.

To participate in the grant programme, applicants must complete several mandatory application steps.

Step-by-step application process:

1. Complete the application form by July 22, 2026, 23:59 CEST.
2. Submit the project budget using the provided Budget Template.
3. Applications must be submitted through the online application form — submissions through other channels will not be considered.
4. All application materials must be prepared in English.

The organisers note that applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the content rather than English language proficiency.

Applications under the grant programme will be evaluated by the jury according to several key criteria.

Main evaluation criteria:

• Editorial quality — the jury will assess under-reported topics, fresh perspectives, and evidence-based or solution-oriented approaches.
• Story relevance — proposals will be evaluated based on their local, national, regional, or European importance, including cross-border relevance.
• Reach and impact — evaluators will consider audience engagement potential, publication format, dissemination plan, and expected impact.
• Project feasibility — assessment will include the realism of the timeline, budget, risk evaluation, and mitigation measures.
• Applicants’ experience — the team’s ability to successfully implement the project will also be reviewed.

Additionally, the jury will seek to ensure balance across target countries and story themes.

• Project budget.

Within the grant programme, beneficiaries are required to comply with specific reporting and financial accountability requirements.

Main requirements:

• All expenses must be properly documented, including receipts and invoices.
• Records must be retained for seven years and made available upon request.
• Grantees are responsible for all taxes and duties related to the grant.
• Narrative and financial reports must be submitted in February 2027.
• Reporting templates will be provided to beneficiaries.

These requirements are intended to ensure transparency, proper financial management, and accountability in the use of grant funding.