Deadline: July 12, 2024.

Their nine-month fellowship program is designed for early-career journalists from all media platforms who have the skills, expertise and desire to tackle an ambitious in-depth reporting/storytelling project on a critical social justice issue facing the U.S.

Fellows will work independently to conduct research, interviews and other reporting/producing activities needed to complete their proposed project. They will be challenged to delve deeply into their selected issue; to explore its real and human impact on our nation’s historically marginalized communities; to expose the systemic drivers that contribute to the problem; and to explore possible remedies and solutions.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Specifically, the ideal applicant will:

• Have at least three and no more than six years of professional journalism experience, either sequentially or cumulatively, in any medium (e.g., digital, print, video, audio, photo, multimedia).
• Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to covering social justice and equity issues and to reporting in underserved local communities.
• Have a publication plan. (You are required to provide a letter of support from your employer or, if a freelancer, a “letter of interest to publish” from a news outlet, before being accepted into the program.)
• Be committed to and practice ethical and principled journalism, which is accurate, fair and thorough.
• Demonstrate a serious intention to pursue a career in journalism.
• Apply as an individual—not as a team or on behalf of a news organization.
• Reside in the United States.

BENEFITS

• A $5,000 grant to offset living expenses while conducting their research and reporting.
• An intensive, three-day in-person learning/training experience.
• Skills-building webinars throughout the fellowship year.
• Nine months of professional/project mentorship and coaching.

During the nine-month fellowship period, fellows will:

• Attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day, in-person training, to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Attend mandatory monthly cohort meet-ups via Zoom. These meetings will be facilitated by the mentors and/or Renaissance Journalism staff. At these meetings fellows will have the opportunity to network, to report on their progress, and to troubleshoot problems.
• Attend webinars designed to help fellows hone their career development and journalism skills.
• Meet one-to-one (via phone, Zoom, email) with their mentors.
• Be expected to complete their proposed reporting projects at the conclusion of the nine-month fellowship term.

APPLICATION

• A brief description of your proposed project.
• A letter of interest and/or a commitment to publish from an editor of a news outlet (e.g., your current employer or, if you’re an independent journalist, from a news outlet).
• A reporting/production plan and, if you have it, a budget.
• Three samples of published work (any medium).
• Two professional references.
• Your résumé.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK