Deadline: February 2, 2026
Applications for the New America Fellows Program Class of 2027 are now open. The New America’s Fellows Program invests in thinkers—journalists, scholars, filmmakers, and public policy analysts—who generate big, bold ideas that have an impact and spark new conversations about the most pressing issues of our day.
In an age where journalism is dominated by the 24-7 news cycle, and academia is becoming ever more esoteric, the fellowships provide opportunities for talented individuals who need support to pursue more ambitious endeavors. Books. Films. Photo essays. Longform storytelling. Policy projects. Work that gets to broad audiences and changes the way we think. Voices that represent the diverse backgrounds and ideologies of the American community.
New America fellows are selected on a highly competitive basis and serve—most on an adjunct basis, some full-time—for a one-year term. During that period, they aim to give them an intellectual home where they have the time, space, and resources to pursue their projects; a community where they can learn from one another; and opportunities to engage with others at New America and help shape the longer-term agenda and focus of the organization.
Benefits
- Funding: They offer unrestricted financial support (ranging between $15k and $30k) to give Fellows greater flexibility in developing their project. Whether it supplements their income, funds travel, research assistance, or multimedia production, the stipends are meant to ease some of the financial constraints that often limit ambitious storytelling. While funding alone won’t eliminate all barriers, they aim to provide breathing room to think, create, and experiment—allowing Fellows to focus on telling stories that challenge perspectives and contribute to public discourse.
- Community: They bring Fellows together to support them in building relationships with one another, former fellows, and experts. In addition to an in-person opening gathering in Washington, DC, they host virtual program gatherings designed for Fellows to get to know and support one another while learning from alumni, external experts, and their peers. They also enable connections with New America’s various policy programs, which house some of the top thinkers in their respective fields. In May, they convene either virtually or in person for a closing gathering.
- Platforms and Partners: They offer Fellows opportunities to publish with one of our media partners and in New America’s monthly newsletter, The Thread. Their fellows are regularly featured in program newsletter, The Fifth Draft. They organize skill-building sessions to facilitate additional connections in service of amplifying the voices of our Fellows. And, lastly, they help with organizing Fellows’ project launches during or after the completion of the program.
Eligibility
- Open to thinkers—journalists, scholars, filmmakers, and public policy analysts.
- They consider applications from those who may be based abroad for all or part of the year, and they accept applications from non-US citizens.
Application
The application deadline is Monday, February 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The deadline to receive reference letters is Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
For more information, visit New America Fellows Program.
