New Fellowship offers £15,000 for public interest investigative journalism

Oxford Brookes University is launching a new Fellowship to support journalists pursuing in-depth, public interest investigations.

The David McClure Public Interest Journalism Fellowship is offering £15,000 annually to support one non-fiction writer per year for the next five years to work on a timely, independent piece of long-form journalism that holds significant relevance within today’s society. 
The Fellowship, to be launched in 2026, is the legacy of the late David McClure, a highly respected news producer, author and investigative journalist whose work revealed hidden aspects of institutional privilege.

Alexandra Shakespeare, Programme Director of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing & Journalism (OICPJ) said:  “It’s very difficult for journalists to fund the public interest, investigative journalism that is so vital to society. This Fellowship will provide the resources for that investigative journalism. As they research their work, the journalists awarded this funding will share their methods and good practice with our media students. They will be helping a new generation learn how to carry out investigative journalism effectively.”

The Fellowship is being offered by the Oxford International Centre for Publishing & Journalism (OICPJ), a leading institute for media education. 

David McClure’s decade-long investigation into the Royal Family’s private estates and finances resulted in two landmark books, ‘Royal Legacy: How the royal family have made, spent and passed on their wealth’ (2014) and ‘The Queen's True Worth: Unravelling the public & private finances of Queen Elizabeth II’ (2020). Both were widely covered by the UK and international media and hailed as “bombshell revelations” for their transparency and insight.

Alexandra said: “Throughout the decade in which David worked on his royal investigations, funding for investigative journalism was in decline. This was highlighted in the 2019 Cairncross Review which examined the sustainability of high quality journalism in the UK. Today, ensuring that journalism continues to operate in the public interest remains a pressing concern. I am delighted that this Fellowship seeks to address this by supporting those committed to uncovering the truth.”

McClure, represented by the Andrew Lownie Literary Agency, passed away from cancer in June 2022. His legacy continues through this fellowship, which honours his dedication to fearless, evidence-based reporting.

Mary Kearns, Head of Engagement and Partnerships at the Journalists’ Charity, which provides financial support to those in need who are working in media, said: “Oxford Brookes is impressively proactive in providing support to diversify opportunities in journalism and ultimately make newsrooms more representative. The David McClure Fellowship is a brilliant example of this.” 

For further information about the fellowship visit the David McClure Fellowship webpages.