Deadline: February 28, 2025
Applications are open for the Tarbell AI Journalism Fellowship 2025. The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year program for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence. Fellows secure a 9-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in an 10-week study group covering AI governance & technical fundamentals, and attend a week-long journalism summit in San Francisco.
The program incorporates expert speakers, feedback & mentorship from experienced journalists and networking events with experts from leading AI organizations. Upon graduation, they expect fellows to bring their impact-focused perspective to major newsrooms and publications around the globe. The 2025 Tarbell Fellowship will run from June 2025 – May 2026.
Benefits
- Fellows secure a 9-month placement at a major newsroom covering artificial intelligence. Placement details vary by outlet.
- Fellows receive stipends of up to $50,000, depending on circumstances, for the duration of their placement. They expect stipends to vary slightly depending on location and personal circumstances.
- Prior to placements, fellows undergo a 10-week program on AI technical, governance, and journalism fundamentals. This program requires 10-40 hours per week and is conducted remotely. Sessions include guest lectures, paired assignments, and readings.
- Fellows attend a week-long summit in San Francisco before starting their placements. This will be an intensive week of guest speakers, workshops and networking events. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.
Eligibility
- Applicant should have a deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will have experience working in tech journalism, machine learning research, or AI governance.
- Previous newsroom experience (including at student newspapers) or comparable experience in a field such as law or research is desirable but not necessary. They seek to support early-career journalists and will prioritize potential over experience.
- Have a creative approach to storytelling combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of a new topic. Fellows must be able to produce compelling copy under tight deadlines.
- The ability to doggedly pursue your goals and persevere in the face of adversity. Fellows must be willing to work hard and be capable of withstanding repeated rejection.
- Have the desire to understand the truth of any given story, even when it conflicts with prior beliefs. Fellows must be open to criticism and recognising ways they can improve their writing and thinking.
Application
This application form includes three sections. They expect it to take ~1 hour to complete provided you already have a current CV and writing samples.
- About you, including your CV.
- Location preference questions so that they can plan for the logistical aspects of the fellowship.
- Multiple choice questions to understand your motivation and thinking style.
- Short essay questions about your suitability for the Tarbell Fellowship.
- 1-3 writing sample(s) (500-2000 words) to assess your writing skills.
For more information, visit Tarbell AI Journalism Fellowship.
