Apply for the Pulitzer AI Accountability Fellowship today

If you’re a journalist passionate about reporting on artificial intelligence (AI) and its global implications, the Pulitzer Center’s Artificial Intelligence Accountability Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to take your work to the next level.

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Fellowship Benefits Who Can Apply Application Requirements How to Apply

Applications are now open for the fourth cohort of the AI Accountability Fellowship, which supports in-depth, high-impact journalism exploring the social, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of AI systems.

The fellowship is designed to fund reporting that sheds light on the opaque world of AI development and deployment, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and governance. It seeks to support at least two major projects that explore:

How AI systems are financed and built across borders
Hidden and harmful AI supply chains
The laws, business practices, and institutions that contribute to a lack of transparency in AI technologies

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

Up to $20,000 in financial support to fund their reporting project over 10 months
Access to mentorship, training, and a global community of peers
Pro bono legal assistance and help with public records access
Opportunities to collaborate with other journalists working on similar topics
Time and resources to report on a critical, underreported issue

Who Can Apply

The Pulitzer Center welcomes proposals from:

Journalists based anywhere in the world, with a strong encouragement for applicants from the Global South
Freelancers or staff reporters working across print, radio, video, or multimedia platforms
Journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, including those from diverse social, racial, ethnic, and economic groups
Reporters with a demonstrated interest in how AI is shaping society, particularly those eager to investigate accountability gaps

Application Requirements

To apply, you must submit the following materials via the online application form:

A 500-word statement of purpose explaining how this fellowship aligns with your career goals and why you’re uniquely positioned to carry out this project.
A detailed 500-word project proposal outlining a concrete, well-researched story idea (not just a general theme), including any pre-reporting you’ve done.
A budget breakdown showing projected expenses (e.g., travel, data analysis, software, public records requests). If your budget exceeds the $20,000 cap, specify other funding sources.
Three published work samples from the past three years (not necessarily related to AI).
A letter of interest or commitment from at least one media outlet willing to publish your work.
Three professional references (either contact details or letters of recommendation).
A current resume or CV.

How to Apply

All materials should be submitted via the online application form before the deadline.

Application Deadline: August 11, 2025

The Pulitzer Center offers the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Fellowship for journalists interested in exploring AI's global impacts through in-depth reporting. Now in its fourth cohort, the fellowship supports projects focusing on the social, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of AI, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Fellows receive up to $20,000, mentorship, legal assistance, and opportunities for collaboration over a ten-month period.

Applications are open to journalists globally, including freelancers and staff reporters in various media platforms, with a preference for those from the Global South and underrepresented backgrounds. Applicants must submit a proposal, budget, work samples, and a commitment letter from a media outlet, among other materials. The application deadline is August 11, 2025, and all submissions should be completed through the online application form.