Application for a working grant

Application for a working grant

• Both beginning (starters) and experienced journalist (seniors) can submit a project that cannot be realised through the normal channels of journalism, that has major news value and depth and that is also original, innovative and time-consuming.
   
• The applicant must be a journalist (written or audio-visual press), or be able to prove that he/she is aspiring to a career in journalism. Personal references and/or references to earlier work are essential in that respect.
   
• Only natural persons can apply for a Working Grant.
   
• Projects with regard to investigative and special journalism must deal with topics that are relevant for Flanders. (Project need to be publish in Flemish media.)
   
• The Pascal Decroos Fund gives four types of Working Grants:
  • INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. A working grant for investigative journalism allows the applicant to concentrate on one particular topic for a longer period of time.
  • SPECIAL JOURNALISM.
  • PRELIMINARY RESEARCH. When it is not clear whether the inquiries will yield the expected results, it is possible to apply for a grant to cover the expenses of the preliminary research.
  • STARTERS' GRANT. In some cases, beginning journalists can receive a starters' grant.
     
• The applicant must be able to demonstrate that his project is realistic and practical. Seniors need to have an agreement in principle that they can dispose of a medium to make their journalistic product; for starters this is considered a plus.
   
• All journalistic end products qualify for a grant: newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television documentaries and series, photo-reportages and books, and journalistic non-fiction books.
   
• An independent jury will decide on the allocation of the Grants, on the basis of objective criteria.
   
• The jury is made up of journalists that have an extensive track record within the profession.
   
• The Grants are void of any commercial interest.