Six grants of USD$2,500 available to Pacific journalists
The Journalism for Anti-Corruption and Transparency (J-PACT) project is inviting expressions of interest from individual Pacific journalists, including freelancers, for its Media Anti-Corruption Story Grant.
Six grants of USD$2,500 each will support journalists to investigate and publish high-quality, unbiased and investigative stories addressing corruption, good governance, transparency, accountability and other integrity issues affecting the Pacific.
The initiative aims to strengthen public-interest journalism, bring under-reported issues to light and help communities better understand how corruption affects their lives and livelihoods.
Who can apply?
Journalists and freelancers working in print, online, broadcast, documentaries or podcasts are eligible to apply if they work in one of the following 14 Pacific Island countries:
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Applications from women journalists, early-career journalists, independent journalists and journalists from underrepresented communities are particularly encouraged.
The grant aims to support two journalists from each Pacific sub-region: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, with at least half of the grants awarded to women journalists.
What stories are eligible?
Proposed stories may investigate corruption, abuse of power, misuse of public money or resources, conflicts of interest, fraud, political financing, climate finance, natural resources, government procurement, public services, sports integrity, gender and corruption, and other emerging corruption risks in the Pacific.
Stories may also highlight individuals and organisations working to promote transparency, accountability and integrity.
How to apply
Applicants must:
- Complete the application form.
- Describe their proposed story and explain the corruption, governance or accountability issue they intend to investigate.
- Provide a simple budget showing how the grant will be used to produce the story.
- Obtain a Letter of Commitment from a news outlet agreeing to publish the proposed story, provided it meets the outlet’s expectations and standards.
Key dates
- Applications open: 19 October 2026
- Application deadline: 2 November 2026
- Award notification: 19 November 2026
- Story publication deadline: 12 February 2027
Applications will be assessed competitively by a panel comprising representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed before the final grant recipients are announced.
Apply now
Eligible Pacific journalists are encouraged to submit their applications, story proposals and budgets before the deadline.
For enquiries, contact PINA Manager Makereta Komai at pacnews1@pina.com.fj or sanjeshnikumar98@gmail.com
Application form: https://forms.gle/f1mXyANUQgseviaBA
The J-PACT project is implemented by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and administered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through the Empowering Pacific Unity in the Fight Against Corruption Programme, supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme.
