Pulitzer Center Update February 10, 2026
Special Call for Journalism Proposals on Climate and Labor
The Pulitzer Center is launching a special call for journalism grants focusing on climate and labor. Journalists, editors, and media organizations are invited to submit proposals by March 6, 2026.
The climate crisis is having a profound effect on labor issues around the world. Critical issues at the intersection of climate and labor—including gender discrimination, loss of traditional livelihoods, and a just transition to clean energy—are all in urgent need of reporting.
We are seeking ambitious climate and labor reporting proposals from around the world. Journalists, editors, and media organizations are invited to submit proposals by March 6, 2026. (We especially welcome proposals from the Global South.)
The climate crisis is reshaping economies and labor globally, and some workers are highly exposed to climate change-related risks, with no guarantee of rights or proper working conditions. You can read more about the climate crisis in our Climate Change and Labor Media Landscape Report, or you can explore in more depth with our coverage of the 2023 Climate and Labor Conference.
Our focus is on three key areas:
- Business accountability: We want to focus on trade flows and consumer supply chains, hold decision-makers to account, and learn more about how the business sector is adapting to climate change.
- Gender: Women are experiencing climate risk the most, and they are at a disadvantage in almost every labor market, with lower wages and worse working conditions. Women also tend to be in unorganized labor groups, enhancing their vulnerability.
- Adaptation: We are looking for stories that showcase community resilience, highlighting the impact of solutions of local communities and amplifying their stories and voices.
What we are looking for
We want journalism proposals that focus on transformative reporting, challenges the status quo, and inspires action. Consider the following:
- Why is the issue you are proposing in the public interest?
- Are you centering the voices and experiences of workers and vulnerable communities in your storytelling pitch?
- Who is being held to account?
- How will your reporting reach multiple audiences?
- What impact will your reporting generate?
We are looking for projects with strong audience engagement and distribution plans, and a commitment from credible local, regional, or international news outlets (print, online, broadcast, visual, radio, podcasts, or a combination). Journalists, staff and freelancers, and independent media organizations can apply.
We are especially, though not exclusively, interested in pitches from Global South countries. Learn more about our Climate and Environment focus area.
Your application should include:
- A description of the proposed project in no more than 250 words
- A thorough reporting and publication plan, with details of final outputs
- A letter or letters of interest (or commitment) from editors and news outlets. Reports are expected to be published by September 2026 or earlier.
- A preliminary budget estimate, including a basic breakdown of costs. Travel grants cover hard costs associated with the reporting; please do not include stipends for the applicants. Local reporting partner/translator/driver fees are acceptable.
- Three contemporaneous samples of published work, either print or broadcast
- Two professional references. These can be either contact information or letters of recommendation. The latter is encouraged when letters from interested producers or editors are available.
- A copy of your curriculum vitae
See tips for writing a successful grant application.
Here are examples of outstanding Pulitzer Center-supported projects and stories focusing on climate and labor:
- Chocolates Melting Away
- “As Rising Sea Levels Swallow Bangladesh’s Land, Its Climate Refugees Are Forced To Adapt”
- “Sasi and Indigenous Wisdom in Protecting Wondama Bay: Guardians of the Sea”
- The Human Cost of Sugar
- The Impact on Labor in the Coastal Zones of Uruguay, From East To West
- “In Pictures: Making a Living on the World's Largest Desert Lake”
Eligibility
Grants are open to journalists, writers, photographers, radio and podcast producers, and filmmakers. Staff journalists and freelancers of any nationality are eligible to apply. Newsrooms or teams may also apply. The team lead should be the main applicant.
Budget
The budget range is between USD$5,000 and USD$15,000, depending on project specifics. Budgets can include:
- Costs for field work, like travel, lodging, and meals
- Compensation for local journalist partners or translator
- Data analysis and visualization supports
A more detailed description of the project may be added as an attachment. Applications can be submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or bahasa Indonesia.
Submission deadline: March 6, 2026
Successful applicants will be notified by March 30, 2026. For approved projects, half of the grant amount is generally paid after the contract is signed, and the remaining will be paid upon submission of the principal material for publication or broadcast.
Contact
For questions about pitches, contact Rozina Breen, Pulitzer Center’s director of editorial programs, at [email protected].