Rainforest Investigations Network Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded Opportunity for Investigative Journalists Worldwide

The Pulitzer Center is now accepting applications for the sixth cohort of its prestigious Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) Fellowship 2026. This highly competitive, fully funded, yearlong program supports experienced investigative journalists working on critical environmental stories tied to deforestation, climate change, corruption, and governance across the world’s three major tropical rainforest regions:

• The Amazon
• The Congo Basin
• Southeast Asia

Application Deadline: May 22, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

About the Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN)

The Rainforest Investigations Network is a global initiative designed to strengthen cross-border investigative journalism focused on uncovering the root causes of rainforest destruction. The fellowship enables journalists to explore:

• Financial incentives behind deforestation
• Illegal activities and environmental crimes
• Global supply chains contributing to forest degradation
• Governance failures and corruption

RIN Fellows collaborate across countries and newsrooms, producing impactful stories that reveal hidden systems driving environmental harm.

What the Fellowship Offers

Selected fellows will receive comprehensive support, including:

Financial Support

• Coverage of salary (full or partial) depending on experience and location
• Funding for reporting expenses, including:
  • Travel
  • Research
  • Hiring consultants

Training & Mentorship

• Editorial guidance from a multidisciplinary team
• Training in:
  • Investigative techniques
  • Data analysis
  • Satellite imagery tools
  • Corporate and financial investigations

 Global Collaboration

• Work alongside a network of international investigative journalists
• Opportunities to collaborate on cross-border investigations
• Access to data, documents, and exclusive reporting resources

 Outreach & Engagement

• Support from engagement teams to:
  • Share findings with communities
  • Present work in schools and universities
  • Reach global audiences

 What the Program is Looking For

The RIN Fellowship seeks seasoned investigative journalists who:

• Have a strong track record in investigative reporting
• Focus on or are based in rainforest regions
• Can propose ambitious, original, and impactful investigations
• Are open to collaboration and teamwork
• Use innovative, data-driven approaches

Priority Areas

Special emphasis is placed on projects that:

• Take a cross-border investigative approach
• Examine systemic drivers of deforestation
• Investigate financial systems and global supply chains

Transparency & Governance Track

Two fellowship slots are reserved for projects focusing on:

• Financial institutions enabling environmental destruction
• Corporate accountability
• Legal loopholes and governance failures
• Corruption linked to deforestation

 Examples of Past Investigations

Previous fellows have worked on impactful stories such as:

• Mining linked to electric vehicle supply chains
• Corporate pollution in the Amazon
• Financial flows into agribusiness driving deforestation
• Carbon offset projects with questionable claims
• Government-backed illegal deforestation initiatives

 Fellowship Commitment

Fellows are expected to:

• Work full-time for one year on their investigation
• Publish their stories during the fellowship period
• Participate in:
  • Regular meetings
  • Training sessions
  • Peer collaboration

They must also maintain transparency and actively contribute to the network’s collaborative environment.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be experienced investigative journalists
• Work as staff reporters or freelancers (with a hosting newsroom)
• Have a strong understanding of environmental, political, and economic issues
• Be able to collaborate across borders and teams
• Commit to outreach and public engagement activities

Journalists outside rainforest regions can apply but must focus their reporting on those regions.

 Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

1. Statement of Purpose (500 words)
   • Career goals and fit for the fellowship
   • Collaboration potential
2. Investigative Project Proposal (1,000 words)
   • A detailed, original, and well-researched story idea
   • Must demonstrate feasibility and impact
3. Publication & Audience Plan (500 words)
   • Distribution strategy
   • Target audience and engagement approach
4. Three Published Investigations (from the past 3 years)
5. Letter of Support from a newsroom
6. Three Professional References
7. Resume/CV

 Application Languages

Applications are accepted in:

• English
• Portuguese
• Spanish
• French
• Bahasa Indonesia

 Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions

Applicants can join live sessions with editors in multiple languages:

• English: April 28, 2026
• Bahasa Indonesia: April 29, 2026
• Spanish: April 30, 2026
• Portuguese: May 5, 2026
• French: May 7, 2026

 How to Apply

Submit your application via the official form before the deadline:

Deadline: May 22, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

For inquiries: rin@pulitzercenter.org

 Why This Fellowship Matters

The destruction of tropical rainforests is one of the most urgent global challenges. This fellowship empowers journalists to uncover hidden truths, expose powerful systems, and drive accountability on a global scale.

For more information about this opportunity visit here.

Discover more fellowship programs here.