AI Accountability Fellowships 2026/2027
Pulitzer Center
Quick Facts
A word from Eli, founder of Rise Africa Scholars
MSc Information Security — Unicaf Scholar
While you wait for a fully funded opportunity, don’t put your education on hold. I completed my MSc through Unicaf — studying online from Nairobi while working full-time. The tuition discount made it genuinely affordable, and the degree is from an accredited UK university.
If you’re serious about advancing your career now, I’d encourage you to explore it. I only recommend what I’ve used myself.
About This Scholarship
The AI Accountability Fellowships support journalists working on in-depth stories examining governments’ and corporations’ uses of predictive, generative, and surveillance technologies. The 10-month fellowship provides up to $25,000 in funding (up to $20,000 for reporting and $5,000 for engagement activities) along with mentorship, specialized training, and legal support.
What This Scholarship Covers
- Up to $25,000 in financial support divided into three payments
- Up to $20,000 for reporting costs (records requests, travel, data analysis)
- Up to $5,000 for engagement activities (venue rentals, event refreshments, printing, social media ads)
- Stipend allowable up to ⅓ of total budget for freelancers
- Access to mentors and specialized training opportunities
- Pro bono legal and public records access support
- Community of colleagues and networking opportunities
Who Can Apply
- 1 Must be a staff or freelance journalist working on a wide range of platforms (print, radio, video, multimedia)
- 2 Must be a team player with experience and/or ability to work collaboratively across newsrooms and borders
- 3 Must have a deep interest in how AI impacts the world
- 4 Must be willing to participate in outreach and engagement activities related to investigations
- 5 Must be able to communicate in English for fellowship meetings and training
- 6 Can be based anywhere in the world
- 7 Must propose a concrete, pre-researched reporting project on AI accountability issues