By Peter Griffin

Watching Obama’s second inauguration from the Mall in Washington D.C., sitting in on editorial meetings with the team at the Center for Public integrity, or visiting the fusion reactor at MIT in Boston.

It’s hard to pick a highlight from my brief time in the US as a Fulbright-Harkness Fellow during the frigid winter of 2013. There were so many unforgettable moments collected during a fellowship that saw me roam all over the US.

These travels gave me a firsthand look at the world’s most innovative journalism organisations, which inspired me to reimagine what was possible for public interest journalism at home, particularly in important science-related areas like climate change, and environmental reporting. As I reflect on that experience—and my 12 years since as a trustee of the Harkness Fellowships Trust—it’s clear how profoundly those moments shaped my work and perspective.

Transformative Lessons in the US

During my time in the US, I visited centres of excellence like Propublica in New York, the Center for Public Integrity in Washington D.C., and the Center for Health Reporting in California. Seeing how Propublica broke major national stories in partnership with outlets like The New York Times and NPR made me realise the power of collaboration over competition among news organisations. At the Center for Public Integrity, I was struck by their dedication to tracking public money and exposing political influence, especially as new challenges like superPACs emerged to change the political landscape. The Center for Health Reporting further showed me how focused, well-resourced journalism could have tangible impacts on communities.

All these organisations worked differently, but they shared a commitment to tackling stories that truly mattered—often winning Pulitzer Prizes for their efforts. The experience highlighted for me how much more resourced investigative journalism was in the US and how partnerships between independent outfits and mainstream media could amplify the reach and impact of deep reporting.

Bringing Ideas Home

Returning to New Zealand, I wanted to apply the best lessons from my US trip. In my paper, “Big News in a Small Country,” published in Pacific Journalism Review, I looked closely at whether a similar centre for independent public interest journalism could work here. I understood our market was much smaller, with fewer major philanthropists willing to underwrite journalism on the scale I saw in the US.

Instead, I argued for a more grassroots approach. Rather than expecting large, anonymous donations, we’d need to build trust and engage the public directly on the issues they cared about. The idea for PublicEyes came from this belief—a not-for-profit initiative designed to be community-driven and transparent, tackling investigations that mattered most to New Zealanders. From environmental concerns to government transparency, I saw the importance of selecting projects that captured public imagination and buy-in.

After a year’s work on PublicEyes, we abandoned that effort, but my fellowship experiences allowed me to assist Rebecca Priestley in developing the charter for the Aotearoa Science Journalism Fund, which for several years funded high-quality public interest journalism projects in New Zealand.

Stewarding the Future

My fellowship also shaped my role as Director of the Science Media Centre, informing my approach to governance and maintaining high editorial standards. I didn’t leave the Science Media Centr euntil 2018, but it was the experience meeting dozens of working journalists that spurred my eventual return to journalism which I now pursue in outlets such as BusinessDesk and New Zealand Listener.

As a trustee of the Harkness Fellowships Trust, I’ve worked to support new fellows, encouraging them to pursue cross-border learning and to bring fresh thinking back to New Zealand. It’s been rewarding to help others build on the insights I gained from the US, and to see our emerging public sector leaders have incredible experiences and return from the US with actionable insights.

Shaping New Zealand Journalism

Today, public interest journalism faces existential threats, both in the US and New Zealand. My experience in the US and my ongoing work with the Harkness Trust have convinced me that even small countries can nurture ambitious journalism despite the challenges facing the industry—if we mobilise public engagement, creative funding, and learn from the world’s best.

Reflecting back, I see my fellowship as a catalyst: it gave me the vision, tools, and connections to push for meaningful change and to recommit to the profession I trained in.