Deadline: March 8, 2026
Applications are open for the Tarbell Grants 2026 for Original Reporting on AI and its Impacts. As artificial intelligence grows more influential, the companies building it and the policymakers regulating it warrant the kind of scrutiny that journalism exists to provide. they believe rigorous, independent reporting serves the public interest—demystifying technical developments, following the money, and documenting what happens when these systems enter the real world.
This round, they are seeking applications across six focus areas:
- Accountability reporting on frontier AI companies
- AI policy and politics
- AI explainers and analysis
- AI in government and militaries
- AI labor impacts
- AI developments in China
Grant
- Tarbell offers grants of $1,000–$20,000 to support original reporting on AI published in established outlets, whether from freelancers or staff.
Eligibility
- They welcome submission from all experienced journalists and media creators: both staff writers/editors/producers and freelancers are welcome to apply.
- Journalists with an investigative background are particularly encouraged to apply. A background in reporting on AI and/or technology is desirable, but not mandatory.
Evaluation Criteria
When evaluating applications, they look for:
- Potential for Impact: They care about stories that make a difference. They want the reporting we enable to help society navigate the challenges ushered in by increasingly capable and widespread AI systems, whether that be by raising awareness of an underdiscussed harm or catalyzing policy change.
- Reach: They hope grantees’ stories will be read, heard, or viewed widely, and by people with decision-making power. They prefer to fund stories that are likely to be published in established and influential outlets.
- Journalistic experience: They look to fund journalists with a track record of impressive reporting. They tend to only fund journalists who have written at least one piece like the original journalism they’re proposing, whether that’s an ambitious investigation or a captivating explainer.
- Feasibility: They look for pitches and budgets that demonstrate a realistic plan for how to pull off the proposed story.
Application
For more information, visit Tarbell Grant.
