The aim of the award is twofold:
- To promote original, investigative, well-informed business journalism projects that clearly demonstrate the potential to break a major business news story or stories
- To provide support to upskill journalists who are either already reporting business news or want to move into this field.
The award has two categories:
1) Investigative business writing:
We are particularly interested in original, investigative projects that clearly demonstrate the potential to break a major business news story or stories. The format could be text, audio, video, photography or a mix of these. We are less interested in applications where there is an intent to become better informed or undertake a general review of an issue.
2) Professional development:
This award offers support to upskill journalists who are either already reporting business news or want to move into this field. Funding might cover short course study or attendance at a business journalism conference, for example. We do not fund travel for reporters to cover international conferences or set-piece news events.
It is not necessary for applicants in either category to be actively involved in business reporting, but their proposal must be relevant to economic, financial, or business matters.
Eligibility:
More than one application can be made during the period applications are open.
Applicants must be either:
- Working for a New Zealand news or current affairs publisher, OR
- Working in New Zealand as a freelance journalist, OR
- Working overseas for a New Zealand news or current affairs publisher
AND
- Be a member of, or be willing to adhere to the principles established by, the New Zealand Media Council, and
- Agree to adhere to, and be subject to, the Broadcasting Standards Codebook and Broadcasting Standards Authority processes.
Value and criteria of awards:
For the investigative business writing category, we are more likely to fund a project with a realistically costed budget.
For applicants who work for a news organisation, we are more likely to look favourably on their application where there is a financial contribution or other commitment from an employer. This is particularly the case if the total budget is more than $30,000.
Funding could cover:
- Travel, domestic and/or international in pursuit of the project.
- Additional journalist resource, either to assist with the project or to allow a reporter to be temporarily replaced in a news team while they pursue the project.
- Forensic investigation costs.
- Development of ground-breaking new reporting tools (eg, data analysis or AI tools). The emphasis is on “ground-breaking” ideas rather than general tech development. Where the fund is being asked to fund such a project in its entirety, we would seek some degree of open-source IP to allow such developments to be more widely used in NZ business journalism.
What we do not cover:
- Travel to international conferences or set-piece news events (eg APEC, COP). We are not a travel fund for conference coverage.
- Travel for single interviews.
- Applications where there is an intent to become better informed or undertake a general review of an issue.
- General tech/website development.
Application timeline
Investigative business writing:
Opening date: 1 February 2026
Closing date: 30 November 2026
Decisions on investigative journalism projects will be made on an ongoing basis by the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will attempt to come back to applicants with a decision or a request for more information within two weeks. If the application is more urgent, please let us know by emailing Pattrick Smellie (pattrick.smellie@nzme.co.nz | 021 588203), Nikki Mandow (nikki.mandow@auckland.ac.nz | 021 174 3142) or Geoff Senescall (senescall@senescallakers.co.nz | 021 481 234).
Professional development:
Opening date: 1 February 2026
Closing date: 30 November 2026
How to apply:
Check your eligibility.
Please use this link to access the Terms and Conditions for this award.
Applying for the award is an online application process. A link to the application website is available here.