Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to three freelance writers.
The Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART), has opened its second round to provide much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists, empowering them to produce in-depth, high-quality journalism in an increasingly constrained media landscape.
The fund supports freelance journalists to produce stories that take time, research and intensive reporting, with the editorial and structural support of The Spinoff – where the completed features will be published.
Structure of the fund
The Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund allocates $30,000 to support freelance journalists. The fund will be distributed over two intakes, offering three grants of $5,000 each (a total of six grants per year). These grants will be paid 60% on confirmed selection and 40% on final delivery and will cover writing fees and associated costs like travel, research and data collection, ensuring the awardees can focus on producing quality work with fewer financial barriers.
Application process
Freelance journalists invited to apply for the grant before the deadlines detailed below by completing a Google form and attaching a one-page pitch outlining their proposed project.
The pitch should clearly articulate:
- The story’s focus, including a draft headline
- Why it matters
- Its relevance to contemporary Aotearoa
- The intended approach (key interviews, sources and research)
- Applicants should also provide a breakdown of any costs associated with their proposal, ensuring the funds are allocated effectively and transparently
A panel of senior editors from The Spinoff, chosen for their editorial expertise and commitment to journalistic excellence, will assess the submissions. This panel will consider each pitch based on criteria including originality, importance of the topic, relevance to contemporary Aotearoa, potential impact, the applicant’s track record, and the feasibility of the proposed budget. Please note that unfortunately, we’re not able to give individual feedback on submissions.
Editorial support and publication
Journalists will receive editorial guidance from The Spinoff, including detailed feedback, sub-editing, fact-checking and legal advice (where necessary) to ensure their work meets the highest journalistic standards. This ongoing editorial partnership will help freelancers refine their stories, develop their reporting and produce polished, publication-ready pieces.
Once completed, the features will be published on The Spinoff’s website, reaching a wide and engaged audience.
Timing & deadlines
Second intake 2025
Monday June 9, 2025: Submissions for second intake 2025 opens
Friday July 11, 2025: Second intake 2025 closes
Friday July 25, 2025: Second intake 2025 awardees notified and announced
November 2025: Successful submissions delivered with ongoing consultation with The Spinoff editor
