La Scam - "Brouillons d'un rêve" Grants- Journalism

Brouillon d'un rêve Journalisme grant (La Scam)

You will receive a one-off grant of 2,500 EUR gross for a single journalistic project. Depending on the project, the jury may award a higher amount, up to 6,000 euros gross. You will use these funds to finance the research phase before writing an original journalistic piece on a topic of your choice. You may work in any format: print media, radio, photojournalism, an investigative book or something new. The grant is provided by La Scam, a French association run by and for authors. You may combine it with other professional funding. In France, it is classified as taxable non-commercial income.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are a journalist and are not permanently employed by a media organisation. Freelancers and other non-permanently employed journalists are eligible.
• Individuals only: Any person of legal age may apply as a private individual. Companies, agencies, media organisations and production companies are not eligible to apply.
• Nationality and residence: Open to all nationalities, age groups, levels of experience and places of residence.
• No membership needed: You do not have to be a Scam member and you do not need a press card.
• Your project: The project must be an original piece of journalism that has not yet been completed. It must not yet have been committed to or scheduled by a media organisation. It must not yet have been funded by a publisher or producer for publication.
• How often: You may submit one project per year in any category of the ‘Brouillon d'un rêve’. A rejected project may be resubmitted once. If your project wins, you must wait three calendar years before you can apply again.

How to apply

You apply online through the Scam portal between 10 and 15 February, before midnight. Only 150 projects are accepted per session, and registration closes automatically once that limit is reached, so apply early. Your dossier and CV must be in French. A jury made up entirely of journalists reviews the projects over about five months. They judge the originality and ambition of your idea and whether you can carry it out.

How realistic are your chances?

The criteria are narrow, but the scope is broad. Only freelance journalists are eligible to apply, but applicants of any nationality and with any level of experience may apply, and each year between approximately 8 and 9 projects are selected. The jury places greater emphasis on a unique, ambitious idea than on a polished CV; therefore, a strong, clearly defined project is the most important factor. As only 150 applications are accepted per round, it is a real advantage to submit your application in the first few days of the application period.