For the new Greenlight Grants, see throughout below—but especially "Grants" and "Greenlight Grants" below.
If you cannot find the answer to your question here, email application@firenewsroom.org. Thank you for checking below first.
Most Frequently Asked
Do I have to be a U.S. resident or U.S. citizen to apply for FIRE?
You may reside and work either domestically or internationally, and need not be a citizen of the U.S. But for other eligibility restrictions, see below and Guidelines and Application.
Can I receive support to produce something for an outlet outside the US?
Yes, although only for an English-language outlet. We generally give priority to projects serving U.S. or U.K. outlets. To qualify for FIRE’s newest service—contractual-related legal assistance—you must be planning or reporting a story for a U.S.-based outlet.
Can I receive FIRE's assistance for work in a language other than English?
We can only work in English and serve only English-language outlets. We cannot supply translators, although we welcome referrals for the future. If you are seeking legal assistance for a story, it must be planned for a U.S. outlet (since the attorneys we work with specialize in U.S. media law).
When is the next deadline?
Except for Greenlight Grants, which have a deadline of April 27, 2026, FIRE accepts applications by rolling deadline. For details and directions, please visit Guidelines and Application.
When will I know if I am selected?
To apply, you would first visit Guidelines and Application to submit an inquiry for a FIRE Consultancy. We aim to respond to inquiries within two weeks. If your inquiry is accepted for the Consultancy, you would be invited to apply, which involves additional vetting. If selected, you would be eligible for a Virtual Newsroom—which comes with a standard grant, or the larger new Greenlight Grants.
What if I have a more immediate reporting need?
If your inquiry clearly specifies the reason for the time-sensitivity, we would do our best to review it quickly enough to accommodate your story needs, while remaining fair to other reporters. Exceptions will prove particularly difficult in the case of Greenlight Grants.
Grants
Does FIRE award grants?
It does. Unless arranged otherwise, FIRE grants are unrestricted stipends: They cover time or reporting expenses on a proposed story, as you see fit. To be eligible for a grant, you must first be selected for a FIRE Consultancy.
How many grants do you give out, and how big?
In addition to $25,000 pilot Greenlight Grants (see below), FIRE awards standard Virtual Newsroom grants of up to $12,500 (most have fallen in the range of $5,000 to $10,000). FIRE also offers two smaller stipends: "Proposal Grants" to develop an initial story pitch for commission or funding; and "Green Outlet Grants" to subsidize the reporter's time to find a publisher or broadcaster that accepts full story liability. More here.
Do I have to apply for a specific type of grant or amount?
No. You would start by submitting an inquiry for a FIRE Consultancy. If you are interested in any grant (standard Virtual Newsroom grant or Greenlight Grants), your inquiry could indicate which one, per guidelines here. You would not need to submit an amount request or include a budget. FIRE determines any funding, including amount, in the invitation and award process. All grants are stipends.
To qualify for a grant, do I need to have an assignment letter, or other kind of commitment from a publication or broadcaster?
FIRE does not require an outlet commitment at the time you apply, only ultimately as a condition of receiving a grant. All FIRE applicants must first inquire with the FIRE Consultancy program at Guidelines and Application. In some cases the FIRE Consultancy can help you find an outlet—as well as funding. Consultancy recipients become eligible for an invitation to apply to the FIRE Virtual Newsroom with a grant—either a standard one or the new Greenlight Grants. Neither can be awarded until you secure the outlet's commitment. For the Greenlight Grants, you would also need a strong enough informal commitment from the outlet right at the start—to submit a joint application.
If I receive a grant, would I still receive the fee the publisher pays for my story? Would the grant replace or reduce the fee?
It should not. FIRE does not look favorably on outlets that use a grant to lower or eliminate story fees. Story fees are specifically assessed in the Greenlight Grants.
If I am awarded a grant, how is it disbursed?
Grant disbursals are subject to specific conditions and set out in customized agreement. But by default they are paid in three installments: one-quarter on awarding of the grant, one-quarter on scheduling of the story's release, and one-half on release of the story.
Greenlight Grants
If the Greenlight Grants require a publisher or broadcaster to be approved by FIRE, why can't FIRE just provide a list of approved publishers or broadcasters in advance?
We do not have such a list—it doesn't exist. We have something called the "Guide to Freelancer Protection," which evaluates a selection of outlets on the primary criterion, Liability Protection. Any outlet with a "Green" rating on the Guide would likely qualify on that primary criterion. But an outlet's eligibility is not determined by the Guide; it is determined by answers on the application—and in some cases, ultimately by engagement with the application process itself.
What if I haven't found a candidate publisher to work with? Can I apply first, and secure an outlet's participation later?
Yes. You can submit the initial email inquiry without a partner outlet, although it would help to identify two prospective or aspired candidates. But if you are invited to the application stage, you will indeed need an outlet to complete your co-application (though not a contract). If necessary—e.g., if you were recently laid off as a staff reporter, are new to freelancing, have limited connections—FIRE would do its best to facilitate your initial contact with a preferred outlet on request. Such assistance would be only in limited circumstances and under certain conditions—and is not guaranteed.
I have never co-applied with a publisher. What questions will I have to ask them to answer?
The primary question will be whether the outlet promises in writing (directly in the contract, or extra-contractually with FIRE's guidance) to cover your defamation-related legal expenses as long as you report responsibly. The other questions will cover safety, intellectual property, pay and expenses, and payment timeliness. You can download a PDF of the application questions at this page.
If I don't have a contract at the time of applying, how can the publisher or broadcaster answer questions about our agreement?
By agreeing in principle. Would your outlet develop and release the story as long as the story ultimately fulfills a minimum version of its promise? If so, it could answer the questions. Its answers should presume that the story is contracted, survives vetting, meets the outlet's needs, and is ready to release to the public. Both co-applicants will be accountable to their answers. But the answers are not a commitment to contract or release the story.
What if the answers have to change over the course of the story's development?
To receive the grant, ultimately you would have to sign an agreement with FIRE and the outlet confirming the terms represented in the application, explaining any differences. A grant could not be awarded until you, the outlet, and FIRE sign such an agreement.
What if the story doesn't work out? Do we still get the money?
It depends why the story was abandoned or killed. The Greenlight Grants award an up-front payment of one-quarter the grant amount. If the story does not run, no additional payments would be guaranteed. FIRE would resolve additional payments on a case-by-case basis.
What if I want to use the grant to do more than one story?
The Greenlight Grant must result in a version or versions of the story you propose. As long as it's with the same outlet you may propose more than one story, or add one or more stories, within a time limit agreed by FIRE, you, and the outlet. The grant is designed to encourage ongoing relationships with commissioning editors.
I plan to apply to other funding sources for a story. Will the awarding of another grant affect my chances for Greenlight Grant?
You will be required to notify FIRE of all your story’s funding or potential funding. You will be encouraged to fund your reporting by any other source, as long as it’s primarily dedicated to promoting journalism, as FIRE may determine (we may not support a story whose funder primarily advocates for a non-journalistic cause, in our sole discretion). FIRE also will require story credit appropriate to our commitment of resources, regardless of when you may receive other story support, or whether you've already received it. To receive a Greenlight Grant, you would sign an agreement addressing credit details.
The Greenlight Grants award $5,000 to the publisher or broadcaster. What happens if my outlet wants to partner-publish with a larger one? Which one gets the money?
Whichever outlet contracts directly with the freelancer (i.e., agrees to pay and indemnify the applicant) receives the $5,000. In the unlikely event that one outlet pays and the other indemnifies, whichever indemnifies.
Are there spending restrictions on the grant?
There are no restrictions. The freelancer and the contracting outlet may use the money as a stipend, supporting the reporting as they see fit.
Services
Does FIRE help with legal protection, insurance, or contracts?
FIRE offers a Legal Consultancy, which provides access to pro bono attorneys for customized contractual-related legal assistance. A Legal Consultancy recipient who is invited to receive a Virtual Newsroom award would also qualify for prepublication legal review and fact-checking of their story. FIRE’s Virtual Newsroom supports only stories for which an outlet promises to indemnify a reporter. The Greenlight Grants requires confirmation of the practice in advance.
Can FIRE refer me to any other services or support?
A FIRE Consultancy is designed to help a reporter identify or clarify particular needs to achieve successful custom solutions. The process can result in referrals to other organizations to supplement FIRE’s assistance. For a glance at what’s available from allied organizations, view our Resources page.
I have a question about my application that is not answered here. What can I do?
You may contact application@firenewsroom.org, marking “FIRE application question” in the subject line. We will do our best to reply in a timely manner.
Eligibility and Qualifications
If I am affiliated with a news site or center for investigative reporting, do I qualify?
Not if you want to do a story only for the outlet you're affiliated with. FIRE serves freelancers. You must produce a piece for a separate outlet with which you’re not affiliated. Your piece would have to run for that other outlet before, or at the same time as, it appears for your site.
What if I am affiliated with an outlet as a stringer or "permalancer"?
You would be eligible as long as the contract under which you would report is a non-exclusive freelancer-like contract (i.e., non-staff), as determined in FIRE's sole discretion.
What if I self-published or write a subscription-based column?
FIRE has a sharply defined constituency: freelancer reporters. We are not set up to support self-publishers (e.g., Substack columnists), except when they may act outside their self-publishing arrangement, as a freelancer (e.g., contracting with a publisher, embargoing the story to the publisher's satisfaction).
May I request Virtual Newsroom support for more than one project?
As above, the Greenlight Grants allow multiple stories with the same outlet, but generally FIRE prefers to consider one story at a time, per person.
Do you support multiple-reporter teams?
As long as they meet other criteria, freelance applicants working together on a story can apply to FIRE. Please note that if a grant is awarded, the grant will be awarded to one person; the team is responsible for sharing all resources and/or the grant—and ensuring that all relevant parties comply with FIRE guidelines.
What if I applied previously?
If you are invited to apply, we can usually draw on certain material you previously submitted. But you may need to submit most of the application again because some forms have changed. To begin, you must first submit an email inquiry, following instructions at Guidelines and Application.
What if I want support for a story and some portion of the material has already appeared elsewhere?
We support only original reporting. If you have reported material in any form previously, or if anyone else has reported similar material in any form previously, your project would have to substantially advance the material.
Do you support book projects?
If you are also planning to turn your reported material into a book, that’s fine. But we support original reporting for release in periodical media only—broadcast, newspaper, web publications, magazine outlets, etc.
Can a newspaper, magazine, broadcast station or other outlet apply?
No representative of an outlet may apply for FIRE, even on behalf of a freelance reporter—except in the case of Greenlight Grants, and then only as a co-applicant with the freelance reporter.
Services: Virtual Newsroom v. FIRE Consultancy
What’s the difference between a FIRE Consultancy and Virtual Newsroom?
Whether for legal assistance, reporting assistance, or both, a FIRE Consultancy provides a minimum of up to two hours of complimentary advice, orientation, and referrals for freelance independent reporters, on a one-time basis. The Virtual Newsroom provides a range of reporting services, accompanied by a grant (either a standard one up to $15,000, or the new $25,000 Greenlight Grant). For more, visit FIRE Guidelines.
If I am awarded the Virtual Newsroom, do I automatically get a grant?
Yes. The Virtual Newsroom comes with a grant and a range of reporting services.
What if I just want the grant from the Virtual Newsroom, but none of the accompanying services?
If you are invited to apply, the application will give you a list of the services FIRE offers and ask you to choose the most relevant or important ones for you. If you don’t need any, you will have a chance to mark accordingly—and just request the money.
It says that a FIRE Consultancy provides up to two hours of complimentary help, on a one-time basis. What if I need to follow up?
At our sole discretion, FIRE may augment a consultancy with additional time, access to specialized contractors or services, or referrals for additional assistance. Due to limited resources, we can commit in advance to only two hours of staff time for each FIRE Consultancy recipient. (In select cases, recipients are invited to apply for the Virtual Newsroom, which provides far more editorial time, more robust services, and grant support.)
Mechanics and Details of Applying
What's involved?
To start, you would send in a brief inquiry for the FIRE Consultancy, following instructions at Guidelines and Application. We try to review inquiries within two weeks. If your inquiry is accepted, you would be invited to apply. If invited to apply, you would fill out a questionnaire; submit a resume, three work samples, and a one-page Story Proposal Form; and answer any additional story-related questions. If selected, you may be invited to apply for a Virtual Newsroom.
I would like to apply for a grant. Do I need to have an assignment letter, or other kind of commitment from a publication or broadcaster in order to qualify?
As above, FIRE does not require an outlet commitment at the time you apply, only before the grant is awarded.
Non-application Questions
Does FIRE provide opportunities for freelance investigative editors or fact-checkers?
It does. FIRE also commissions experienced freelance investigative editors and fact-checkers to work with freelancer reporters on their stories on a contract basis. Interested editors or fact-checkers should check Hiring Opportunities or contact FIRE, selecting the "Editor/Fact-checker" category from the drop-down menu.
Can FIRE refer me to any other services or support?
A FIRE Consultancy is designed to help a reporter identify or clarify particular needs for custom solutions. The process can result in referrals to other organizations to supplement FIRE’s assistance. For a glance at what’s available from allied organizations, view our Resources page.
Does your program provide accreditation credentials for covering news events?
It does not. For ideas on credentials or how to identify yourself in the early-stage interviews (before your piece is commissioned), feel free to email info@firenewsroom.org.