Deadline: October 13, 2025
Applications are now open for the prestigious McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism Fall 2025. This highly competitive programme offers funding and editorial support to experienced journalists looking to produce deeply reported enterprise or investigative stories with a strong business or economic focus.
If you’re a journalist with a compelling story idea that uncovers critical issues in finance, business, the economy, or public policy, this is your chance to take your reporting to the next level.
What is the McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism?
The McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism Fall 2025 is a non-residency fellowship hosted by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, City University of New York.
It provides grants of up to $15,000 to support experienced journalists in producing high-impact business journalism in any medium—print, audio, video, or multimedia. Fellows work remotely and receive editorial guidance throughout the reporting process.
This programme is designed not only for journalists covering financial markets but also for those reporting on the broader economic implications of healthcare, education, technology, environmental justice, inequality, and corporate accountability.
Fellowship Benefits
Here’s what you stand to gain:
- 💰 Grant Funding: Up to $15,000 per project to support reporting and production costs. Freelancers can use a portion to cover living expenses.
- ✍️ Editorial Support: Direct guidance from veteran business editors to shape and refine your story.
- 🌍 Remote Participation: Work from your own location—no relocation or residency required.
- 📢 Publication Opportunities: Projects may be published on the McGraw Center site or in collaboration with top-tier U.S. media outlets.
- 🔍 Investigative Focus: Fellows have explored critical themes including private equity in housing, misuse of public funds, financial crime, and workforce health.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open to:
- Journalists with a minimum of five years’ professional experience.
- Both freelance and staff reporters are eligible.
- Applicants from all backgrounds and nationalities.
- Reporters with non-business beats (e.g., health, environment, education) are encouraged to apply if their story has a strong economic or financial angle.
Application Deadline and Key Dates
- 📅 Deadline: October 13, 2025
- 📆 Fellowships are awarded twice yearly. The next round opens in Spring 2026.
What You Need to Apply
Applicants must submit:
- A 3-page story proposal outlining the issue, relevance, reporting plan, and why it stands out.
- Three journalism samples demonstrating your investigative or narrative strengths.
- An updated CV/resumé.
- References are not required at the initial stage. Finalists may be asked for editor recommendations (flexible for freelancers).
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
To increase your chances:
- Target under-reported but high-impact topics.
- Show clear investigative intent—focus on revealing new insights.
- Present a realistic timeline and budget.
- Demonstrate your ability to execute the project.
- Highlight the story’s public interest value and relevance.
Examples of Past Projects
Some recent McGraw Fellows have investigated:
- Crypto scams and regulatory loopholes
- Financial implications of private equity ownership in childcare and housing
- Allocation misuse of opioid settlement funds
- Environmental health hazards in federally funded cleanup zones
Ready to Apply?
If you have a compelling business story idea that could benefit from both funding and editorial collaboration, don’t miss this opportunity.
🔗 Click here to apply for the McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism Fall 2025
🔍 Read more about the McGraw Fellowship Programme here
Need Help With Your Application?
Writing a compelling proposal that fits the fellowship’s goals can be time-consuming. For expert help in proposal drafting, refining, and review, contact grantsdatabase.org.
