Supporting Investigative Journalism in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Program Objectives:

Few media outlets or freelance journalists in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have the resources to conduct investigative journalism, the practice of which is important to bringing more transparency to governance, the economy, and society, indirectly improving good governance indicators, and creating opportunities for public and government discussion which may ultimately help resolve social, economic, or political issues in the region. The goal of this program is to increase the overall number of non-partisan investigative journalism articles or stories published in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, bolstering the ability of Iraqi Kurdish media to inform the public about issues of import that may not already be covered by mainstream media. 

The program would entail a jury of highly experienced Kurdish journalists providing financial awards to journalists or media outlets in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (and Kirkuk governorate) based on a clear and transparent application process, with specific, measurable criteria used to evaluate those applications. Such criteria might include (not an exhaustive list), for example, whether the application is realistic, able to be carried out in a non-partisan fashion, on an issue likely to be of interest to either the general public or specific, specialist audiences, or other factors to be determined in consultation with the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil. 

Participants and Audiences:

Target audiences receiving sub-awards should have at least two years of full-time experience as working journalists. The minimum amount of sub-awards shall be two.