FOIA Fest Bootcamp

2026 applications due by February 13 at 11:59 pm CT

 
 
Apply Now

The Chicago Headline Club and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity are accepting applications for the 2026 FOIA Fest Boot Camp, a four-month training and mentorship program for Chicago-based reporters. We seek diverse, talented early career applicants committed to equity-focused journalism who want guidance in accountability reporting. 

Applicants must submit a short proposal for an early stage project they'd like help developing into a deeply reported pitch. 

We strongly encourage early career journalists who are underrepresented in newsrooms to apply, including journalists of color, and/or from indigenous, working-class, immigrant and LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

About the Fellowship

The fellowship program is designed for emerging journalists who have been published on any media platform, have the skills to tackle a reporting project on a critical racial equity issue in Chicago and the desire to deepen their use of public records and other investigative tools. 

The program is slated to begin with the daylong FOIA Fest conference on March 21, 2026, and conclude in July.

Timeline

March

  • Attend FOIA Fest Bootcamp for orientation on March 21

  • Attend a one-day investigative skills bootcamp late March or early April 

March to June  

  • Receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced journalists who can advise on using public records, testing hypotheses, structuring investigations and placing stories 

  • Check in monthly with cohort to keep progress on track

  • Independently conduct research, identify interviews and complete pre-reporting activities needed to design and pitch their investigative projects

July

  • Pitch investigative story to Chicago news editors with the potential to be commissioned for publication

What will I have to provide when I apply?

You can preview the full application here. Submit through the live application link here. The main components include: 

  • A brief description of your proposed project and how you would use public records in reporting it. It's OK if you don't have a fully developed idea, but give us a sense of a topic you'd like to (and will reasonably be able to) pursue over four months. (200 words max)

  • Name and/or description of your ideal mentor(s). We will do our best to connect you with your requested mentor. (200 words max)

  • A brief description of how a mentor and workshop could guide you through your project. (200 words max)

  • 1-2 samples of published work (any medium)

  • Your resume

FOIA Fest Bootcamp Fellows Receive:

  • $500 stipend

  • Free admission to FOIA Fest, a daylong conference sponsored by the Headline Club

  • Social events with former Bootcamp alumni and other prominent investigative journalists in Chicago

  • One-day investigative bootcamp in late March or early April

  • Four months of one-on-one professional/project coaching

  • Monthly cohort check-ins

  • The opportunity to pitch a group of Chicago editors

Decision Timeline

Completed applications are due by Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT. In February, we will review the applications and select the finalists. Selected fellows will be announced in late February. 

Apply Now

Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to contact Wendy Wei, the Investigative Project’s training coordinator, at wendy@raceandequityproject.org if you have any questions. We’re here to support you!