Deadline: January 7, 2026
Applications are open for the Tarbell AI Journalism Fellowship 2026. The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year program for journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence. Fellows secure a nine-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in a 10-week course covering AI and journalism fundamentals, and attend a weeklong journalism summit in the San Francisco Bay Area. Host newsrooms in 2025 included Bloomberg, the Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time Magazine, and many other leading outlets.
The program incorporates expert speakers, feedback and mentorship from experienced journalists, and networking events with leading AI reporters. Upon completion of the fellowship, they expect fellows to bring their AI knowledge to major newsrooms and publications around the globe.
Benefits
- Fellows secure a nine-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in a 10-week study group covering AI and journalism fundamentals, and attend a weeklong journalism summit in the San Francisco Bay Area in August.
- Fellows receive stipends of $60,000 to $80,000, depending on location, for the year. Stipends for senior fellows (with five or more years of relevant experience) are $90,000 to $110,000.
- Prior to placements, fellows complete a 10-week program on AI and journalism fundamentals. This remote program requires a full-time commitment and includes a custom curriculum, guest lectures, and graded assignments.
- Fellows attend a weeklong summit in the San Francisco Bay Area 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 five sections. They expect it to take about one hour to complete, provided you already have a current CV and writing samples.
- About you (CV and writing samples)
- Placement matching
- Multiple choice
- Short answers
- Quick final questions
For more information, visit Tarbell AI Journalism Fellowship.
