In your community, poor or otherwise marginalized populations probably face some unique health issues or challenges -- and news coverage can help spur awareness, engagement and solutions. The Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism is accepting applications for grants of up to $10,000 for reporting on critical health issues facing underserved communities.

Apply now. Deadline is April 1.

These grants are only for professional journalists employed by or freelancing for news organizations, so community foundations and local nonprofits or organizers engaged in local health issues are not eligible. However, it might be a good idea to let your local health reporters or news organizations know that these grants exist. Most news organizations operate on tight budget, and extra funding from a respected neutral party can often make the difference in which stories get covered, and to what depth.

Priority in these grants is given to applicants who propose joint projects between mainstream and ethnic media. Grantees must attend all sessions of the all-expenses-paid National Health Journalism Fellowships, Los Angeles, July 13-17.