The Human Rights & Religious Freedom (HRRF) Journalism Awards is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the 2025 HRRF Journalism Grant Program. The program offers grants to independent journalists pursuing in-depth stories that highlight urgent human rights and religious freedom issues in India and across its global diaspora.
The HRRF Journalism Awards and Grant Program is a project of the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization dedicated to defending democracy and pluralism in India and the US..
“Now more than ever, independent journalism plays a vital role in exposing human rights abuses and amplifying the voices of those too often silenced, particularly amid escalating crackdowns by those in power,” said IAMC President Mohammad Jawad. “Through this grant, we aim to empower journalists to pursue courageous and impactful stories that inform the public and inspire change.”
The HRRF Journalism Grant supports early and mid-career journalists undertaking reporting projects that focus on threats to democracy and press freedom, the challenges confronting religious minorities, especially Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Dalits in India, and the issues affecting the Indian diaspora in the United States. Proposed topics must be timely, original, and of clear significance to Indian or Indian diaspora audiences. Past grantees have published groundbreaking investigations on religious persecution and the resilience of marginalized communities.
Both freelance and full-time reporters are eligible to apply. Reports must be published in reputable national or international print, online, or broadcast outlets with wide circulation, and all stories must be written in English. Journalists can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,400 (₹40,000 – ₹120,000 INR) to cover reporting expenses.
Applicants are required to provide a letter of intent for publication from an editor, either on official letterhead or as a PDF/email confirmation. Proposals from journalists belonging to minority and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged.
Timeline
- Application deadline: Monday, October 6, 2025
- Grant decisions announced: Within 3-4 weeks of submission
How to Apply
- Program details: https://hrrfjawards.com/journalism-grant/
- Submission form: https://hrrfjawards.com/submission-journalism-grant/
- Inquiries: contact@hrrfjawards.com