McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism

The McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism is a program dedicated to supporting high-impact investigative and enterprise journalism that explores crucial issues in business, finance, and economics. The Fellowship is part of the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, offering financial and editorial backing to journalists with compelling story ideas but limited resources. Since its inception, the program has enabled reporters and freelancers to produce impactful journalism that “Follows the Money” and exposes systemic challenges, inequities, and trends that shape the global economy. While not a residency program, the McGraw Fellowship allows journalists to work from their own offices with flexibility and autonomy. The program values rigorous reporting, original insight, and storytelling that informs and engages audiences across different platforms—including text, audio, and video formats. The Fellowship encourages submissions from diverse candidates with expertise in complex subjects and proven reporting experience. Applicants are expected to develop well-researched proposals and demonstrate how their work contributes meaningfully to public understanding. The McGraw Fellowship is committed to supporting journalism that drives informed discourse, accountability, and impactful change.

The McGraw Fellowship provides grants of up to USD 15,000 to journalists who want to pursue investigative or enterprise stories that offer fresh insights into significant business, financial, or economic issues. The funding is designed to support the time, research, and expenses required to complete the project, including reporting costs and living stipends for freelance journalists. It covers in-depth text articles, audio features, and short-form videos but does not support long-form documentaries. The program seeks proposals that offer new perspectives on critical topics, highlight under-reported issues, and provide potential for real-world impact. The exact funding amount depends on the scope of the project and the expenses involved. Freelancers, staff reporters, and editors are eligible to apply, with freelancers being able to allocate part of the grant for living expenses during the reporting period. The Fellowship prioritizes applicants with a track record of thorough reporting and expertise in the subject area, ensuring that supported projects are well-researched and feasible. Through this grant, journalists are empowered to undertake stories that may not fit into conventional newsroom funding models but are essential to uncovering economic truths.