Become a fellow

John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships offer journalists an opportunity to step back from demands of daily work and spend an academic year at Stanford University reimagining the future of journalism. 

For nine months, fellows focus on becoming more effective, purposeful and resilient leaders in a rapidly changing field. They use this time to explore ideas, experiment with new approaches and develop practices that strengthen journalism’s essential role in building informed democratic communities. 

Each fellow pursues a focus that they've chosen. It might be improving specific professional skills, addressing a challenge in their news organization or community, exploring ideas for a new venture or deepening expertise in a specific coverage area. 

As a JSK Fellow, you receive financial support, full access to Stanford’s intellectual and creative ecosystem and a program designed specifically to meet the needs of your class. You’ll learn alongside a small global cohort of journalists, guided by our directors and supported by the resources of one of the world’s leading universities.  

You also join a lifelong alumni network, which includes hundreds of journalists around the world who continue to collaborate, share knowledge and support one another long after their time at Stanford.

If you’re a journalist who believes your best work is still ahead of you, and you’re ready to be a catalyst for change, we invite you to apply. Together, we can strengthen journalism, deepen trust, and help build a more resilient democracy.

Read on to learn about the criteria, benefits, expectations and application process.

Fellowship criteria

Applicants must have at least five years of professional work experience. We do not require applicants to have a college degree or experience in traditional newsrooms. (Student or internship experience is valuable but does not count toward the five-year threshold.) If you are not a full-time journalist, the majority of your work needs to be in journalism. 

We welcome applications from journalists currently working in news organizations, independent journalists, journalism entrepreneurs, strategists and innovators.  

Our program is not open to:

• Individuals seeking a degree.
• Those working in public information or public relations.
• Professionals producing in-house or industry communications.
• Employees of government agencies.
• Full-time academics.

Our fellowship does not support book or reporting projects, and we are not a start-up accelerator.

Application webinars

Each year, our JSK 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. 

Register for our upcoming webinar at 9 a.m. Pacific time, November 12,  2025 and view the recording of our October 30 webinar.

Benefits

As a JSK Fellow, you'll receive: 

• Individual coaching and customized workshops to strengthen leadership, resilience and the ability to navigate change.
• A purposefully designed cohort experience that fosters genuine connection, collaboration and peer learning.
• Time and freedom to explore Stanford’s extraordinary academic and creative offerings.
• Access to the global JSK alumni network, a lifelong source of support and inspiration.
• A stipend of $130,000 for the nine-month fellowship.
• Stanford tuition and health insurance for fellows, plus a health supplement for dependents enrolled in Stanford coverage.
• Advice on finding rental housing and practical tips about settling in to the Stanford area for you and your family. 

Expectations

Being a JSK Fellow is a full-time commitment and requires full participation in the program. You’ll receive a monthly stipend and health coverage through Stanford, allowing you to focus entirely on your fellowship experience.

Fellows are expected to:

• Be in residence at Stanford from September through May.
• Dedicate themselves full-time to the fellowship.
• Participate in weekly cohort meetings and biweekly individual coaching sessions.
• Attend other occasional JSK events and Stanford gatherings.
• Share insights and reflections publicly throughout the year.
• Collaborate respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Application process

The application process is straightforward. It’s designed to help us understand who you are, what drives you and how you hope to grow during the fellowship.

To apply:

• Register for an account on SurveyMonkey Apply, our application platform.
• Answer a few profile questions to determine whether you qualify for the U.S. or international fellowship.
• Complete the online application form, which includes questions about your career journey, what you hope to contribute to a JSK cohort and how the fellowship aligns with your professional goals.
• Submit supporting materials:

1. A one-minute selfie video describing what you want to be doing in journalism three to five years from now.
2. Your resume.
3. One work sample.
4. Contact information for three professional references.

• Disclose any use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing your application. A dedicated section in the form will ask about this.

All applications are reviewed. We use a multi-layered process and it takes us a few months to narrow the pool of applicants to a small number who will be invited to a Zoom interview with the JSK directors. In addition to the fellowship directors, the JSK selection team includes several fellowship alumni and, for U.S. fellowships, the JSK Selection Committee of journalism and Stanford leaders. 

The JSK Fellowships 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. With JSK, you’ll find the space, community and courage to think boldly, act with purpose, and return to the world renewed.

Your next leap begins here.

Start your application
jsk.smapply.org