Rainforest Investigation Network 2026/27 - Fellowship Application

The Pulitzer Center is now accepting applications for its sixth cohort of the Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN). The deadline for application is May 22, 2026, 11:59pm EST.

RIN Fellows will pursue both individual and joint investigative projects, examining the root causes and structural drivers of deforestation across the three main tropical rainforest regions: the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia.

This is a full-time, yearlong fellowship that provides financial support, covering the reporter’s salary. Additional support will be provided to the journalist’s reporting expenses, such as travel and hiring of consultants.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking seasoned investigative journalists—whether they are on staff or working with a host outlet as a freelancer—who are from the tropical rainforest regions or focus on these regions in their reporting. We also accept collaborations with local and global media outlets.

Applicants are encouraged to propose ambitious and impactful projects that examine systemic and structural drivers of rainforest degradation. We welcome innovative, data-driven investigation approaches, including the use of technologies such as Amazon Mining Watch or other methodologies.

We are particularly interested in investigative projects that take a cross-border approach, connecting local drivers of forest destruction with global supply chains. We will work closely with selected Fellows to connect them with potential partners within the network. 

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about teamwork, willing to share the progress of their research with their peers, and, when needed, contribute to others’ projects in a supportive environment.

Please note that applications must be submitted individually and not by groups or media outlets.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

• Experienced investigative journalists with a proven track record covering the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia regions.
• Reporters based in countries outside the three main tropical rainforest regions—Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia—may also apply but will need to focus their reporting during the fellowship on stories related to these regions.
• Staff or freelance journalists working on a wide range of platforms, including print, radio, video, and multimedia. Freelance reporters will need to have the support of a local or international newsroom that agrees to host them and publish the work they produce during the fellowship.  
• Team players with the experience and/or ability to work collaboratively across newsrooms and borders. 
• Reporters with a deep understanding of the scientific, environmental, social, legal, political, and commercial forces at play in deforestation and forest degradation around the world—and why this issue matters to our global well-being.
• Reporters willing to participate in outreach activities related to their investigations, such as meetings in communities and visits to schools and universities.

TO APPLY, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

• A statement of purpose: How does this fellowship fit in your career path and why are you best positioned to be a Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow? You may also include how collaboration with journalists from other regions can benefit your investigations or how you might be able to assist them. (500 words)
• An investigative project proposal describing the most ambitious rainforest reporting you seek to pursue during your fellowship. Please do not propose general themes, but offer concrete investigative projects that aim to uncover systemic wrongdoing/abuse that is unknown or hidden. It is expected that by the time you apply you have already done pre-reporting to determine the scope, feasibility, and novelty of the project. A compelling, well-researched project proposal with a reporting plan will help you stand out among hundreds of applicants. If the investigation includes a cross-border approach, explain your collaboration plan and identify partners outside and within the network. (1,000 words)
• A plan for how your project will be published and distributed, which audiences you want to reach, and how you will engage them (500 words).
• Three examples (links) of your most impactful investigations published in the past three years. 
• A letter of support from your media employer or a newsroom that has agreed to host you as a Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow and publish your work. 
• Three professional references: These can be either contact information or letters of recommendation. 
• A copy of your résumé or curriculum vitae.

A reminder on the use of AI

Proposals submitted to the Pulitzer Center are evaluated in part on the applicant's ability to articulate their own ideas — their story concept, their editorial judgment, and their voice as a journalist. We have observed that proposals generated or substantially drafted using large language model (LLM) tools tend to produce fluent but generic prose: flattened language, lack of specificity, and factual errors. These are qualities that work against a strong application and are quickly spotted by our experienced editors. Translation assistance, light proofreading, and writing support are uses we consider compatible with the integrity of the application. LLM-generated substance is not. 

Please apply using this form before 11:59pm EST on May 22, 2026.

We accept applications in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Bahasa Indonesia. 

If you have questions, please contact the RIN team at rin@pulitzercenter.org.

We encourage proposals from journalists and newsrooms that represent a broad array of social, racial, ethnic, economic backgrounds, and underrepresented groups.