Freelance journalists can apply to the fund.
The Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART) is back, providing much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists producing 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.
Work funded in 2025 includes:
Anna Rankin: An in-depth exploration of the ripple effects of paper mill closures
Janhavi Gosavi: A rigorous investigation into the MLM, Legacy Collective
Kristin Hall: A critical look at the resurgence of homelessness in Rotorua
Eric Frykberg: A complex piece on future-proofing state finances and the welfare state
James Borrowdale: A moving long-read on the hospice experience and how we die.
Structure of the fund
In 2026, the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund will allocate $30,000 to support freelance journalists. This year the fund has shifted from fixed biannual deadlines, to a rolling application model. This allows journalists to apply the moment a time-sensitive or breaking in-depth story emerges.
Instead of flat $5,000 grants, the fund offers flexible funding levels depending on the project’s scope, related costs and word count – paid at $1 per published word, with word count agreed at the outset (maximum 5000 words).
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 will be invited to apply for the grant 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) and likely wordcount
*Applicants should also provide a breakdown of any costs associated with their proposal, ensuring the funds are allocated effectively and transparently
The Spinoff editor will assess the submissions. Pitches will be assessed 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.
The Spinoff will aim to notify applicants of decisions within 15 working days from application. Please note that unfortunately, we’re not able to give individual feedback on submissions.
Editorial support and publication
The Spinoff will play a key role in supporting the awardees throughout the production of their stories. 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.
