The 2024 Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Grant, administered by the Alaska Community Foundation, aims to support in-depth and high-impact journalism in Alaska. This grant is designed to encourage ethical coverage of complex and underreported issues, with a focus on journalism that inspires action, improves lives, and protects democratic values. The Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism (ACEJ) provides professional training and grants for individual projects as well as collaborative efforts across various media platforms in the state.
The primary purpose of this grant is to inspire and support quality journalism that engages, informs, and empowers citizens of Alaska. The ACEJ has established two specific initiatives under this grant: the Alaska Impact Reporting Initiative and the Alaska Arts Reporting Initiative. The Impact Reporting Initiative seeks stories that enhance public understanding of complex issues, while the Arts Reporting Initiative focuses on expanding coverage of arts and culture stories in Alaska.
The funding scope includes a total funding pool of $40,000 for the Alaska Impact Reporting Initiative, with a maximum grant award of $10,000. However, the selection committee may opt to distribute the funds among multiple projects at lower amounts. For the Alaska Arts Reporting Initiative, the total funding pool is $15,000, with a similar maximum grant award of $10,000, although most awards are expected to be around $5,000, depending on the committee's discretion.
Eligibility for this grant is open to state governments and other organizations involved in journalism. The ACEJ prioritizes projects that demonstrate a commitment to ethical journalism and address underreported issues relevant to Alaskan communities. While specific categories of organizations are not explicitly mentioned, the focus on journalism suggests that media organizations, nonprofits, and collaborative projects may be well-suited to apply.
Submission requirements for the grant include a completed application form, which can be found on the Alaska Community Foundation's website. Applicants should be prepared to answer questions related to their proposed projects, including the significance of the issues being addressed and the expected impact of their journalism.
Evaluation criteria for the grant will likely include the quality of the proposed project, its relevance to Alaskan communities, and the potential for the journalism to inspire action or improve lives. The selection committee will assess applications based on these factors to determine which projects will receive funding.
The application period for the 2024 Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Grant is currently open, with a deadline for submissions set for October 15, 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the grant details and prepare their proposals in advance of this deadline. For further information, applicants can contact the grantor, Kortnie Horazdovsky, via email at info@akjournalism.org.
