Machine Learning Reporting Grants

Freelance and staff data journalists and collaborating newsrooms worldwide. The project must use machine learning or related advanced data methods for a journalistic investigation; outlet/distribution and conditional safety requirements apply.

Open to U.S. residents and journalists worldwide, including freelance data journalists, staff journalists and collaborating newsrooms. Proposals must use advanced data methods such as machine learning or natural-language processing to solve a journalistic reporting problem. Choose a team leader and submit only one project per journalist, data team or newsroom. Projects solely for academic research, advocacy or marketing do not qualify. A credible publication/distribution plan and corroborable outlet interest are required. Applications must be in English. For reporting in hostile or dangerous environments, the applicant and potential outlets must follow ACOS Alliance principles; freelancers need a firm assignment from a news organisation accepting full responsibility for their well-being. This call's FAQ allows justified freelance reporter time in some cases and specialist contractor fees, but excludes stipends for salaried newsroom/publisher staff. General travel-grant guidance excludes applicant stipends. Staff salaries, equipment purchases, outlet overhead/general expenses, start-up seed money and routine breaking-news coverage are excluded; equipment rental is considered case by case. Books and feature-length films are excluded, with the stated exceptions for independently published stories and short documentaries with strong distribution. These are project-reporting grants, not an unrestricted salary award.

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility requirements on the official page.
2. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply when ready.
3. Apply directly through the provider – Growth Forum does not process applications.