Deadline: October 4, 2024
Applications are open for the AHCJ U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship 2025. Through the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a significant reporting project related to the U.S. health care system at the local, regional and/or national level. This fellowship allows mid-career journalists to maintain their regular employment while working on a major project over a 12-month calendar year. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work.
They believe that issues of health equity impact every facet of the health care system, which is why they are specifically interested in projects focused on health equity. This might include racial disparities within a community, gaps in public health inclusion, unstable housing, insurance access, food insecurity, violence as a health issue, how health care institutions or systems are applying a racial equity lens to their policies and practices or otherwise addressing inequities or disparities, or other examinations of systemic problems that have become so apparent over the last few years.
Benefits
The fellowship provides:
- Seminar trips, including food, lodging and travel within the United States.
- A project allowance of up to $2,500 that can be tapped for field reporting trips, data purchases and other approved research expenses.
- Attendance at the AHCJ annual conference, including travel, lodging and registration.
- Attendance at your choice of a one-day AHCJ regional workshop, including travel, lodging and registration.
- One year’s professional membership in AHCJ.
- A $5,000 fellowship award for the successful completion of the project before the end of the year.
Eligibility
- Candidates should be U.S.-based, working journalists who qualify for AHCJ professional membership and have several years’ experience in health reporting.
- They value and celebrate diversity and the building of a more inclusive journalism landscape and encourage journalists of all backgrounds and identities to apply.
Expectations
Each employer (or freelancer’s intended outlet) will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation pledging to support the fellow to:
- Participate in the fellowship, including attendance at seminars, a conference and workshop.
- Travel as needed to complete the project.
- Provide adequate time for the fellow to report and write the project.
- Provide any editorial and technical support required to publish or air the work by Dec. 31, 2025.
- Allow AHCJ and The Commonwealth Fund to republish or otherwise make available the completed project as an educational tool, with appropriate credit given to the original outlet.
- Include mention of the reporter’s fellowship support in the package or series.
Application
The following are required for application:
- A two-page project proposal outlining your topic, why it’s a good story for your audience, reporting locations, potential sources and how the topic is revelatory as a subject (or novel in its approach). They need to see some evidence of your prior reporting or research on the topic.
- Complete the application form, which will include:
- One sentence overview of your proposal.
- A paragraph on why you are applying for the fellowship and how it will help your professional development.
- A paragraph on the impact reporting on this project will have (quantitative and qualitative)
- A paragraph on the primary audience/demographic for the project (who you’re serving).
- A current resume.
- A letter of recommendation from your current employer that addresses:
- The benefits of the fellowship to you and the news organization’s audience, as well as the employer’s commitment to support the project, including scheduling sufficient time for you to pursue the project. Freelance applicants should submit a letter from an assigning editor that they will provide an outlet for the final project.
- Your best work sample published or aired during the past 12 months.
For more information, visit AHCJ U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship.
