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Applications now open for the next class of John S. Knight Journalism Fellows

The nine-month JSK Fellowship at Stanford University is open to journalists from around the globe.
View of the Stanford main quad with "applications are open" headline

The JSK Fellowship is seeking journalists who are ready to be challenged to reimagine themselves and the news industry.

The deadlines for applying for the 2025-26 JSK Fellowships have passed.

Each year JSK invites up to 20 journalists of diverse backgrounds dedicated to the mission of journalism to hit pause on their professional responsibilities and experience the world-class resources Stanford University offers. Tailored mentoring, specialized programming, and group gatherings support fellows in developing the leadership resilience needed to thrive in today’s complex information landscape.

The nine-month residential program is designed for journalism professionals with at least five years experience who demonstrate an eagerness to grow as leaders and work collaboratively to address the most crucial issues facing journalism and democracy.

“We believe that the future of journalism depends on building a network of resilient, creative and inclusive leadership,” said JSK Director Dawn Garcia. “Fellows get a transformative experience, testing new ideas with personalized coaching and a unique cohort experience on the stimulating Stanford campus.”

Learn what JSK seeks in candidates

The program puts a priority on applicants who demonstrate an openness to learn new mindsets and perspectives as well as a desire to collaborate respectfully with people from varied professional and personal backgrounds. 

Potential candidates have the opportunity to ask questions about the fellowship experience and application specifics during a series of live webinars JSK leaders are hosting in the next few months. The first webinar is 9 a.m. Pacific time on Nov. 4. The list of webinar dates and links to register are on the Become a fellow page of the JSK website. These webinars help applicants learn more about how to convey the expertise and attributes they will bring to the program. 

“The best way to learn what we’re seeking and how to do a winning application is to join one of our webinars to get your questions answered – or watch it later if you can’t join live,” said Garcia. “If you have a passion for reimagining journalism and are eligible, we want to help you be the best candidate possible.”

Becoming change agents

The JSK Fellowships program provides a framework for participants to pursue individual goals within a collective experience designed to spark and nurture meaningful, enduring bonds among the cohort. Fellows learn from one another as well as pursue opportunities to engage with Stanford’s rich and multidisciplinary intellectual community. They attend Stanford classes, campus lectures, and weekly fellowship meetings that include custom-designed workshops, skills training, and conversations with experts from Stanford, Silicon Valley and beyond. They also can tap into JSK’s vast alumni network.


“Their fellowship is the first year of our investment in their success as journalists and people. Journalism gets the change agents and innovative leaders the industry needs and democracy deserves.” — Dawn Garcia, JSK director  


Applicants chosen to be fellows will be on campus from September 2025 through May 2026 and are expected to forgo their professional obligations to devote their energy to the fellowship experience. A stipend of $125,000 is provided. The fellowship also covers the cost of Stanford tuition for fellows and Stanford health insurance for fellows, spouses and children.

After an initial review process, the program will invite selected applicants to Zoom interviews with the JSK directors in late winter and early spring. Final selections will be made in the spring of 2025.

Learn more

More information about eligibility is available on the JSK Become a fellow page. Follow @JSKstanford on X or LinkedIn for updates and future webinars.

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