Deadline: December 2, 2026
Applications are open for the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships 2027-2028. At the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, they believe the people closest to journalism’s hardest problems are the ones best placed to help solve them. And they believe that strengthening journalism helps deepen trust within our communities and build more resilient democracies.
They are looking for journalists and people who work in service of journalism (editors, producers, photogs, audience and community builders, publishers, just to name a few) who are intellectually and creatively restless. People who are hungry to dig in and poke holes in their own thinking. People who want to spend real time chasing their question wherever it leads.
For nine months, from September through May, you step away from the daily grind and into Stanford University. You’ll explore the question you bring with you, test new approaches and grow as a more effective, purposeful and resilient leader.
Benefits
As a JSK Fellow, you receive:
- A $135,000 stipend for the nine months
- Stanford tuition and health insurance, plus a health supplement for dependents enrolled in Stanford coverage
- Advice on finding rental housing and settling into the Stanford area, for you and your family
- Individual coaching, customized workshops and access to the global JSK alumni network
- Time to explore Stanford’s academic and creative offerings
In return, they ask that you:
- Be in residence at Stanford from September through May, and treat the fellowship as a full-time commitment
- Join weekly cohort meetings and biweekly one-on-one coaching sessions
- Attend occasional JSK and Stanford events
- Share your insights and reflections publicly along the way
- Collaborate respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
Eligibility
Applicants need at least five years of professional experience. A college degree or experience inside a traditional newsroom isn’t required. And while student work and internships are valuable, they don’t count toward the five-year requirement.
They welcome applications from people who are:
- directly involved in producing journalistic content, in any capacity.
- working in operations or strategy roles in news organizations.
- working with an organization that supports or collaborates directly with journalists.
Application
The deadline is December 2 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. They don’t offer extensions or accept late applications, no exceptions.
For more information, visit John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships.
