Society of Professional Journalists Foundation Awards $100,000 Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship to Mid-Career Investigative Journalists Jordan and Howey

INDIANAPOLIS — In an ongoing effort to champion rigorous investigative reporting and support the vital public service mission of a free press, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Foundation has announced the recipients of its prestigious $100,000 Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Public Service Journalism.

This year, the substantial funding and dedicated research time will be shared between two accomplished mid-career journalists: Jordan (last name noted in official records as Gass-Pooré) and Brian Howey. The fellowship is designed to grant working journalists the financial runway and professional autonomy necessary to step away from daily news cycles and execute ambitious, deeply reported projects that address critical national issues.

The announcement was made by the SPJ Foundation, highlighting a tradition of empowering reporters to uncover institutional failures, hold power to account, and shed light on stories that might otherwise escape public scrutiny. Both fellows will be formally honored on Saturday, October 3, during the SPJ Foundation Reception at SPJ26, the premier annual gathering of professional journalists.

Main Facts

• The Award: The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Public Service Journalism provides a total purse of $100,000, which is shared among selected mid-career journalists to facilitate deep-dive reporting.
• The Recipients: The 2026 fellowship has been awarded jointly to journalists Jordan Gass-Pooré and Brian Howey.
• The Purpose: Funds can be utilized by the recipients for independent study, domestic or international travel, archival research, and other project-related expenses. The ultimate goal is the production of impactful published works, which can take the form of investigative series, multimedia podcasts, books, or high-impact editorials.
• The Sponsor: The fellowship is administered and funded by the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, a public charitable organization dedicated to supporting the educational and professional needs of journalists and upholding the principles of a free press.
• Recognition Event: Gass-Pooré and Howey will be celebrated publicly on Saturday, October 3, during the SPJ Foundation Reception at the upcoming SPJ26 conference.

Chronology of the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship

To understand the weight and prestige of the Pulliam Fellowship, it is necessary to examine its historical footing within American journalism. Established decades ago through a generous endowment honoring Eugene C. Pulliam—a legendary publisher and staunch advocate for First Amendment protections—the fellowship has long served as a lifeline for reporters attempting ambitious, time-consuming investigative projects.

Historically, newsrooms have faced continuous economic contraction, forcing reporters to produce higher volumes of daily content with fewer resources. Investigative desks, once standard across major metropolitan dailies and broadcast networks, have experienced severe cutbacks. Recognizing this systemic vulnerability, the SPJ Foundation structured the Pulliam Fellowship specifically to counter the "daily grind" phenomenon.

Over the years, the timeline of the fellowship has evolved from a single-recipient annual award into a dynamic vehicle capable of supporting multifaceted reporting efforts. In recent cycles, the foundation has increasingly sought out projects that leverage modern digital mediums—such as data journalism, long-form audio podcasts, and multi-platform interactive series—while maintaining the traditional rigor of print and broadcast investigative reporting.

The selection process itself is rigorous. Candidates must submit comprehensive proposals outlining their intended topics, methodologies, timelines, and publishing plans. A panel of veteran journalists, editors, and SPJ Foundation board members evaluates the proposals based on feasibility, public significance, originality, and the applicant’s journalistic track record.

Once selected, fellows enter a designated fellowship period where they conduct their research, travel to source locations, analyze complex datasets, and synthesize their findings into cohesive public-facing narratives. The culmination of this timeline is the publication or broadcast of the funded work, which frequently sparks legislative action, regulatory reforms, or widespread public debate.

Supporting Data: The Landscape of Public Service Journalism

The allocation of the $100,000 Pulliam Fellowship arrives at a critical juncture for the media industry. Empirical data gathered by organizations such as the Pew Research Center, Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Initiative, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics underscore the ongoing crisis in investigative and local-to-national public service reporting.

• Newsroom Employment Trends: Since 2008, U.S. newsroom employment across newspapers, radio, broadcast television, and digital publishers has declined by more than 26%. Traditional newspapers have been hit the hardest, experiencing workforce reductions exceeding 50% over the same timeframe.
• The "News Desert" Phenomenon: More than 2,90ounded U.S. communities have lost their local newspapers entirely or have been reduced to ghost newspapers that no longer produce original reporting on local governance, courts, or public health.
• The Economic Value of Investigative Grants: Studies on philanthropic and foundation-funded journalism indicate that independent grants are now the primary funding mechanism keeping complex, multi-year investigative projects alive. Without targeted fellowships like the Pulliam, investigative pieces requiring months of travel and document collection are largely financially unviable for freelance reporters and underfunded news organizations.
• Return on Investment for Public Accountability: Historically, recipient projects of major public service fellowships have yielded measurable civic outcomes, including federal policy revisions, corporate accountability measures, and increased government transparency. The $100,000 investment distributed by the SPJ Foundation acts as seed capital that multiplies its value by generating national conversations around ignored systemic issues.

Official Responses and Leadership Perspectives

Leadership from the Society of Professional Journalists and its Foundation emphasized the urgent necessity of backing reporters who are willing to tackle complex, high-stakes stories.

Hagit Limor, President of the SPJ Foundation, underscored the organization’s unwavering commitment to watchdog journalism during the announcement:

"The SPJ Foundation is committed to quality investigations that bring to light national issues that might otherwise go uncovered," Limor stated. "We are honored to support Jordan and Brian as they research and publish compelling journalism that holds power to account. These projects exemplify the impactful, in-depth public service reporting that the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship supports."

Limor’s remarks point to a core philosophy shared by the SPJ: that a functioning democracy relies entirely on an informed citizenry, and an informed citizenry relies on reporters who have the institutional backing to ask difficult questions of powerful entities.

Fellowship administrators also noted that both Jordan Gass-Pooré and Brian Howey embody the tenacity and intellectual curiosity required to pull off large-scale investigative feats. Their respective backgrounds reflect a deep commitment to uncovering truths that corporate or governmental bodies might prefer to keep obscured.

Implications for the Future of Investigative Media

The awarding of the 2026 Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship carries broad implications for the wider journalism ecosystem. As the industry grapples with the rise of artificial intelligence, misinformation, and the erosion of public trust in institutional media, the output of fellows like Gass-Pooré and Howey serves as a vital proof-of-concept for the enduring value of human-driven, verified investigative reporting.

1. Re-establishing Public Trust

Trust in media is at historic lows, often fueled by partisan attacks and low-quality, sensationalized content. Deep-dive public service journalism—characterized by months of document reviews, on-the-ground interviews, and transparent methodologies—acts as an antidote to media skepticism. When readers see tangible proof of institutional wrongdoing or systemic neglect uncovered through exhaustive research, confidence in the Fourth Estate is slowly restored.

2. Empowering Mid-Career Professionals

Many journalism grants target either fresh college graduates or legendary, late-career veterans. However, mid-career journalists—those who have spent a decade or more mastering their craft, building source networks, and understanding the nuances of policy and law—often face the highest financial pressures, balancing mortgages, families, and demanding daily workloads. By specifically targeting mid-career reporters, the Pulliam Fellowship bridges a crucial gap, ensuring that seasoned professionals are not forced to abandon the field due to burnout or economic stagnation.

3. Diversifying Storytelling Mediums

With the flexibility to produce investigative series, long-form audio podcasts, books, or multimedia specials, the fellowship encourages modern storytelling innovation. Traditional investigative reporting is no longer confined to the printed page; it must meet audiences where they are—whether that is through immersive digital storytelling, serialized audio investigations, or community-driven town halls.

About the SPJ Foundation

The Society of Professional Journalists Foundation operates as a public, tax-exempt foundation dedicated to ensuring that the individuals who carry forward the tradition of a free press are fully prepared for the ethical, legal, and operational challenges of the modern media environment.

Beyond fellowships like the Eugene C. Pulliam award, the foundation actively supports:

• Educational programming and professional development seminars for working journalists.
• Scholarships and mentorship opportunities for university-level journalism students.
• Legal defense funds and advocacy initiatives designed to protect journalists’ rights to gather news, access public records, and protect confidential sources.

As the media landscape continues to undergo structural shifts, the foundation’s work remains essential to safeguarding the First Amendment. Supporters of press freedom and high-standards journalism are encouraged to contribute to the foundation’s ongoing initiatives.

To support excellent journalism, defend the right to know, and contribute to the future of public service reporting, visit the SPJ Foundation Donation Portal.