Become a fellow
Is there a question or challenge about journalism you can't stop turning over in your head? Maybe it comes from something you keep encountering in your work: a problem, a gap, a need that nags at you but you never have the time to focus on it. If this sounds like you, keep reading.
Who are we looking for?
At the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, we believe the people closest to journalism's hardest problems are the ones best placed to help solve them. And we believe that strengthening journalism helps deepen trust within our communities and build more resilient democracies.
We're 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.
Don't worry if you don't have all the answers yet. We're not asking you to come with a project already in mind. Instead, we're looking for people with a question they can't let go of, the drive to pursue it and the openness to have their thinking challenged.
How it works
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.
Here's what makes this time distinctive:
- A small cohort. You'll learn alongside a close group of fellow Fellows from around the world. The connections you make are a big part of the experience.
- Programming that's personal. You get individual coaching and customized workshops from our directors, program partners and advisers, all focused on helping you lead through change.
- The run of Stanford. Take classes, attend talks and explore one of the world's leading universities.
- A lifelong network. Hundreds of alumni around the world keep collaborating, sharing what they know and showing up for each other long after the fellowship ends.
- Your family is welcome. We enthusiastically include spouses, partners and family in fellowship life.
One more thing about how we work: The fellowship is shaped by what you bring to it and by what you discover with others. Fellows need to show they can collaborate respectfully with people from different ideological backgrounds. It's central to how the cohort works.
What you get, and what we ask
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, we 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
Who can apply
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.
We 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.
It does not matter whether you are doing the work as an employee or as an independent contractor. But if you are an independent contractor or freelancer, the majority of your work needs to be within the journalism sector.
International candidates note: If you’re a citizen of a country where the United States has suspended issuance of nonimmigrant visas (specifically J visas), unfortunately we would be unable to offer you a fellowship. We recommend that you wait to apply until these restrictions are lifted. If you hold citizenship and a passport from an additional country that doesn’t have a visa restriction, then you could apply with that citizenship.
What the fellowship isn't
JSK isn’t the right fit if you…
- are seeking a degree.
- work in public information or public relations.
- produce in-house or industry communications.
- are a government employee.
- are a full-time academic.
We don't support book or reporting projects, and we're not a startup accelerator. And we do not consider applicants who are working for or with organizations that are not editorially independent (such as government operated media).
How to apply
Applications for the 2027-28 fellowships open on Oct. 14 at 1:00 p.m Pacific time. The deadline is Dec. 2 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. We don't offer extensions or accept late applications, no exceptions.
Get started:
- Create an account on SurveyMonkey Apply, our application platform.
- Answer a few profile questions to see whether you qualify for the U.S. or international fellowship.
- Complete the online form.
What happens next: We evaluate applications in a multi-layered process, and it takes a few months to narrow the pool to a small number invited to a Zoom interview. The selection team includes JSK directors, several fellowship alumni and, for U.S. fellowships, the JSK Selection Committee of journalism and Stanford leaders.
Start your application
jsk.smapply.org
Questions? Join a webinar.
Our directors host live webinars to answer questions about the fellowship and the application process. These sessions are a great way to learn what we look for in candidates and how to best prepare your materials.
This year’s webinars:
Still have questions? If you don't find the answer in our FAQ, send us an email to jskfellowships@stanford.edu.
The JSK Fellowships experience is more than time away from the newsroom and daily deadlines. It’s a chance to rediscover why journalism matters and how you can help shape its future. Come and find the space, community and courage to think boldly, act with purpose, and return to the world renewed.
Your next leap begins here.