Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is inviting applications for the 2027 Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship.
The year-long programme helps journalists of colour strengthen their investigative and data-journalism skills while developing an investigative reporting project that benefits their newsroom and community.
This is primarily a training, mentorship and professional-development fellowship. The official announcement does not advertise a direct cash grant.
Fellowship Details
Cohort: 2027
Applicant Notification: Around early November 2026
Application Fee: None stated
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will receive:
- Participation in an IRE Data Journalism Bootcamp
- Attendance at the NICAR Conference
- Attendance at the annual IRE Conference
- Investigative reporting mentorship
- Access to data services and professional support
- A mentor network comprising IRE members
- Monthly video meetings with mentors for up to one year or until the project is completed
- Guidance in developing and producing a community-focused investigative project
Who Can Apply?
Applicants should:
- Be journalists of colour interested in investigative reporting
- Have at least three years of post-college professional experience
- Be employed by a supportive news organisation or work as an independent journalist
- Present a well-developed investigative project that would benefit from training and mentorship
- Be able to participate in the required training programmes and conferences
- Produce reporting intended for a US-based audience
Students are not eligible.
Can Journalists Outside the United States Apply?
Yes. The official announcement states that journalists globally may apply.
However, an international applicant’s work must be intended for a US-based audience.
Therefore, an applicant from India or another country should have a credible plan to publish or broadcast the proposed investigation through a US-focused publication, broadcaster or news platform.
Investigative Project Requirement
Applicants must propose an investigative reporting project that can be developed during the year-long fellowship.
A strong proposal should:
- Address an issue of public importance
- Benefit a clearly identified community
- Require investigative or data-journalism methods
- Have an achievable reporting plan
- Explain how the fellowship’s training and mentorship would improve the project
- Identify its intended publication or broadcast audience
- Demonstrate potential public impact
Selected fellows are expected to pitch and produce the proposed project while participating actively in the fellowship’s training and mentoring activities.
Employer Support
Journalists employed by a news organisation must obtain a letter from their supervisor or management.
The letter should confirm that the organisation will:
- Allow the journalist sufficient time to work on the investigative project
- Permit attendance at the Data Journalism Bootcamp
- Permit attendance at the NICAR Conference
- Permit attendance at the IRE Conference
- Support participation throughout the year-long programme
The letter should also function as a recommendation.
Independent journalists must submit an appropriate recommendation letter.
Application Requirements
The current application form requests:
- Contact and affiliation details
- A description of the proposed year-long project
- A one- or two-sentence project summary
- An explanation of why the applicant wants the fellowship
- Professional goals connected to the fellowship
- Details of existing data-journalism experience and tools
- Information about current professional support
- Details of previous professional-development programmes
- Three investigative reporting samples
- A LinkedIn profile or résumé link
- A supervisor-support or recommendation letter
Documents uploaded through services such as Google Drive or Dropbox should have link-sharing enabled so that the selection committee can access them.
How to Apply
1. Develop a clear investigative project proposal.
2. Prepare a brief one- or two-sentence project summary.
3. Select three strong investigative reporting samples.
4. Update your résumé or LinkedIn profile.
5. Obtain the required support or recommendation letter.
6. Upload documents to an accessible cloud-storage service if necessary.
7. Complete the official online application form.
8. Submit it by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on 1 September 2026.
Important Notes
- This is the application for the 2027 fellowship cohort.
- The deadline falls in 2026, but the fellowship is identified as the 2027 programme.
- Applicants require at least three years of post-college work experience.
- Students cannot apply.
- International journalists may apply only when their reporting serves a US-based audience.
- The official call does not advertise a direct cash award.
- Applicants should verify all requirements before submitting their application.
Official Fellowship Page
Official Application Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHocjFIJxCaMH4JuIrgry04QB8Z-kZ4RS4T4tHLDj3wpLr1A/viewform
Disclaimer
Media Hole shares fellowships and professional opportunities for informational purposes. Eligibility, benefits, deadlines and programme conditions may be revised by the organising institution. Applicants must verify the latest information through the official fellowship page before applying. Media Hole is not associated with IRE or its selection process and does not collect application fees.
How to apply
Submit a project proposal, three investigative work samples, résumé or LinkedIn profile and a supervisor-support or recommendation letter through the official application form. Apply by 1 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.