The new fund and new class of the residency program underscore Omidyar Network’s commitment to independent reporting on how technology and humanity shape one another.
Washington, DC – Today, Omidyar Network announced the launch of the Tech Journalism Fund, a new initiative designed to support journalists and newsrooms as they pursue rigorous reporting on the systems, policies, and power structures driving the digital age.
The Tech Journalism Fund will provide project funding from $5,000 to $25,000 to support reporting costs for journalists working on a singular, time and resource intensive reporting project. These costs may include funding for travel, research and fact-checking support, multimedia enhancement, access to data such as LexisNexis searches or government record requests), and stipends to cover reporting time. Freelancers, staff reporters, editors, and teams of journalists working across any medium are eligible. Applicants with a diverse range of backgrounds, careers, and experiences are welcome, but at this time the Fund is only open to US-based journalists. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis via a portal on Omidyar Network’s website. All projects supported by the Tech Journalism Fund will be editorially independent, and published pieces must publicly credit support from the Fund.
Alongside the launch of the new Tech Journalism Fund, Omidyar Network has also opened applications for its seventh class of Reporters in Residence, which since 2023 has empowered freelance journalists to pursue ambitious reporting projects that drive national conversations and inform policy debates.
“It has never been more important to support independent journalism that explores both how technology impacts humanity and the ways in which our choices, values, and institutions shape the technologies we build,” said Alexis Krieg , a director at Omidyar Network who manages both programs. “The Tech Journalism Fund extends the vision of our Reporters in Residence program by providing journalists with another tool to support high-quality, resource-intensive reporting at the dynamic intersection of tech and society.”
The Reporters in Residence program provides each journalist with a monthly stipend, travel expense coverage, and access to Omidyar Network’s extensive partner network. Reporters maintain full editorial control and discretion over their work. Applications for the upcoming cohort will remain open until November 15th, with selections to be announced the week of December 15th.
Since its launch, the Reporters in Residence program has supported more than 24 journalists, including Zoë Bernard, Julia Black, Bryce Covert, Walter Frick, Megan Greenwell, Caroline Haskins, Kim Kelly, Lora Kelley, Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, Taylor Lorenz, Garrison Lovely, Louise Matsakis, Brian Merchant, Hamilton Nolan, Osita Nwanevu, Helaine Olen, Edward Ongweso Jr., Rita Omokha, Tekendra Parmar, Nick Romeo, S.E. Smith, Anna Louie Sussman, Vauhini Vara, and Jacob Ward.
More information about the Reporters in Residence program, along with the application portal, can be found here. Additional details about the Tech Journalism Fund, including the application form, are viewable here.
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About Omidyar Network
Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech’s trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future. So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world’s brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.