Welsh newsletter editor launches fund for emerging investigative journalists

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Will Hayward, editor of The Will Hayward Newsletter, has launched an Investigative Journalism Fund designed to support emerging journalists in Wales to develop their investigative reporting skills.

The initiative comes just over nine months after Hayward left WalesOnline to establish his newsletter focusing on Welsh politics and issues. According to his announcement, the response to his publication has "exceeded his wildest dreams."

The fund addresses what Hayward identifies as a key challenge facing Welsh journalism: whilst the existing journalists in Wales are skilled, there simply aren't enough of them. He points to particular difficulties faced by young and newly qualified journalists who often lack the contacts, experience, and time needed for in-depth reporting.

Targeting misinformation ahead of Welsh Parliament elections

With Welsh Parliament elections scheduled for 10 months' time, Hayward expects misinformation to increase significantly. He notes that young people and those in deprived areas are already primary targets for such misinformation, making quality public interest journalism more crucial than ever.

The fund will pay successful applicants between £150-£500, depending on the scope of investigation required. Hayward will work with selected journalists to plan and structure their investigations, providing contacts where access might prove challenging for newcomers to the field.

Completed work will be published on The Will Hayward Newsletter with full bylines and promoted across Hayward's social media channels with proper attribution. This approach aims to provide participants with portfolio pieces for future pitches whilst building their profile, confidence, and contact base.

Application criteria and focus areas

To be eligible, applicants must be Welsh or based in Wales, with some level of journalism training or experience. The fund specifically targets those who are young or early in their careers, though Hayward indicated he'd consider pitches from more experienced journalists outside the fund's remit.

Investigations must focus on one of four broad topic areas:

• Climate change and biodiversity loss
• Poverty
• The rise of the far right and political extremism
• Exposing misinformation or fact-checking

Interested journalists can submit their pitches through this Google form.