The GIJC Fellowship helps selected journalists attend the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Rotterdam. The event takes place in October 2027. Full and possible partial support routes are described.
Funding is competitive and has exclusions. Applicants need working English and a persuasive plan for using the training. The official application deadline is 31 January 2027.
GIJC Fellowship Details
The programme supports investigative reporting skills and professional exchange. Applicants should explain which reporting challenge the conference training could help them address.
Journalism format alone does not decide suitability. Freelance and staff applicants should make their actual reporting experience and intended use of the training easy to assess.
Organisers | GIJN and VVOJ |
|---|---|
Location | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
Conference | 19–23 October 2027 (conference days 20–23 October; opening reception 19 October) |
Audience | Professional journalists; Global South prioritised |
Funding | Full fellowship and possible partial fellowship routes |
Deadline | 31 January 2027 |
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Always recheck the official source before submitting an application.
Benefits and Funding
Full support includes round-trip airfare, airport transfers, four hotel nights, registration and specified meals. It excludes per diem, visa fees and travel to the home-country airport.
Journalists considering a longer training route can review DW’s journalism traineeship or the Erasmus Mundus Journalism Scholarship. For another reporting-conference travel opportunity, compare the WCSJ travel fellowship and its separate subject and eligibility requirements.
GIJC Fellowship Eligibility
The call covers professional print, online, broadcast, documentary and multimedia journalists. Investigative or data-reporting experience is advantageous.
GIJN prioritises the Global South and historically underrepresented groups. Applicants outside the linked country list who cannot afford attendance may explain their circumstances under Additional Notes.
Documents and Preparation
Read the application form before preparing your responses. Use accurate examples of reporting work and explain the training’s relevance without promising outputs you cannot deliver.
Successful fellows must later produce a related story or share learning through a presentation. Consider a realistic follow-up plan that fits your newsroom or professional community.
How to Apply
Apply through the form linked in the official GIJN announcement. The application must be in English.
Check whether you wish to be considered for partial funding. Calculate the excluded costs before accepting an offer, rather than assuming every expense will be reimbursed.
Application Deadline
Applications close on 31 January 2027. No exact cutoff time or timezone is stated in the checked announcement.
Submit well before the final day. A conference registration and a fellowship application are different decisions, so use the fellowship form for funding consideration.
Conference Participation and Remaining Costs
A full GIJC Fellowship covers the specified return flight, destination-airport transfer, conference registration and four hotel nights. The listed meals include breakfast and lunch on conference days, plus specified reception and dinner events. Read the actual offer carefully because a partial fellowship may leave additional costs for you to meet.
GIJN prioritises applicants who can explain how the training will improve their reporting and benefit others. Fellows must later produce a conference-related story or share their learning through a presentation. Identify an investigative topic, reporting technique or newsroom need that the conference can realistically help you address; this is preparation advice rather than an extra published document requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The funding package pays specified conference expenses, so “funded” does not mean every travel cost is reimbursed. Visa fees and the journey to your home airport need particular attention.
The award also comes with a professional learning-sharing obligation. Consider both your reporting interests and how you could pass the training on to colleagues.
Are visa costs and a daily allowance included?
GIJN excludes visa fees, a per diem and transport to or from the airport in your home country. Budget for those costs even when applying for a full fellowship.
Can a freelance journalist apply?
Professional freelancers are included alongside print, broadcast, documentary and multimedia journalists. The geographic priorities and the strength of the proposed benefit from training still apply.
Do I need to apply and participate in English?
The application must be in English, and the workshops require a working knowledge of the language. Assess whether you can follow discussions and participate in practical training.
Can I be considered for partial funding?
GIJN says partial fellowships may be available and asks about interest in them in the form. Review which expenses an eventual partial offer covers before accepting it.
What must fellows do after the conference?
Fellows must produce a story directly related to GIJC27 or give a presentation sharing what they learned. Plan a useful reporting or newsroom outcome rather than treating the event only as travel.
Conclusion
The GIJC Fellowship can reduce the cost of specialist investigative-journalism training. Its exclusions and follow-up obligation should shape your application plan.
Make the proposed professional benefit concrete. Submit the official form before the stated date and review any funding offer in detail.
