IRE announces new grant for public health and disability reporting

(February 6, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors is pleased to announce the new Koch Continuum Grant in Public Health and Disability Investigative Reporting. 

“We are enthusiastic about this major grant program, the largest in IRE’s portfolio,” said IRE Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes. “When budget cuts sweep newsrooms, all too often it’s specialized reporting that takes the hit. The Koch Continuum Grant is designed to boost coverage in the all-important areas of public health and disabilities.”

The program will award two $10,000 grants to journalists pursuing investigative reporting projects focused on public health issues or issues affecting people with disabilities. Grant recipients will also receive financial assistance to present the results of their reporting at the 2026 IRE Conference June 18-21, 2026 in Washington, D.C. 

IRE is accepting proposals for the new grant through April 6, 11:59 p.m. ET. 

The program is geared toward investigative reporting, so proposals could deal with issues raised by whistleblowers, ethical debates or deep-dive analysis of public records. A proposed project could also demonstrate the potential for ground-breaking legislation or showcase problems unnoticed by those in power. Projects using mapping and GIS are highly encouraged.

To be eligible for this grant, an applicant must meet IRE membership requirements and be a working freelance journalist or journalist working for a news outlet. Projects can be in any form that can be produced and published/aired within a year — print, TV, radio, film, online — for a U.S. and/or Canadian public audience. Grant winners will have until June 1, 2026 to publish/air their projects.

“There are many communities in our backyards that are disproportionately affected by health concerns and inadequate accommodations for disabilities that are frequently overlooked or flat-out ignored,” Fuentes said. “This grant can help enterprising journalists uncover failures that jeopardize safety and quality of life and shine a spotlight on issues that could spark much-needed change.”

This grant program was established through the generosity of a longtime IRE member who prefers to remain anonymous. A veteran journalist and author specializing in medical and public health coverage, his hope is this program will serve others in the area of work he pursued for 25 years.

For more information or to apply for the grant, visit the Koch grant page.

If you’d like to contribute to an IRE program or fellowship, please visit our donation page.