JSK names U.S. journalism fellows for 2023-2024
The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships today named nine U.S. Fellows to join the seven international fellows previously announced for the class of 2023-2024.
The U.S. fellows are veteran and emerging journalism leaders from big and small newsrooms; they are entrepreneurs and investigative data journalists, documentarians, nonprofit innovators and public media journalists. They will come to Stanford University for 10 months to explore and test practical solutions to urgent and systemic problems facing journalism.
“We’re eagerly announcing this diverse group of change agents for whom the status quo in our industry is not good enough – and they want to do something about it,” said JSK Director Dawn Garcia.
Before coming to Stanford, these journalists have taken the initiative to begin efforts to address news and information gaps in underserved communities, the promise and perils for journalism of generative AI and the creator economy, systemic racism in news coverage, and the deterioration of legacy local news outlets. Journalists in this year’s fellowship cohort include leaders from The Arizona Republic, Consumer Reports, El Tímpano in Oakland, Lede New Orleans, OpenNews, The TRiiBE and WBEZ public radio in Chicago and WURD Radio in Philadelphia.
“We look forward to building on the talents and enhancing the leadership skills of these fellows as they join a cohort of U.S. and international journalism leaders.” — Dawn Garcia, JSK Director
The fellowship runs from September 2023 to June 2024. The fellows will document their work publicly throughout the year, highlighting key strategies and lessons learned.
“We can’t wait to see all they will learn from each other, from JSK workshops and the many resources and experiences on the stimulating Stanford campus.” Garcia said.
The U.S. fellows will join seven international fellows already selected for the 2023-2024 academic year. The international fellows are journalists from Afghanistan, Austria, Czechia, Georgia, Mexico, the Netherlands and Nigeria. These international JSK Fellows will work on ideas that respond to threats to independent reporting, some from countries where it is dangerous to be a journalist. These threats run the gamut from imprisonment and physical danger, to intimidation, financial pressure and government censorship.
JSK provides fellows with several benefits, including a stipend of $95,000, a housing supplement and an additional supplement for fellows with children. JSK also covers Stanford health insurance for fellows, spouses and children. As part of this cohort of innovative journalism leaders, fellows receive individual coaching from the program directors, participate in leadership workshops and can sit in on Stanford classes. They also have access to the world-class faculty and other resources of the university.
The Class of 2023-2024 joins a thriving JSK community. More than 1,000 people from over 80 countries have participated in journalism fellowships at Stanford since the program first began in 1966.
The U.S. Fellows were selected by the JSK Selection Committee, a group of Stanford faculty, staff and journalists, with review by JSK alumni and the fellowship directors. The Program Committee members are: Adam Banks, professor, faculty director, Program in Writing and Rhetoric and the Institute for Diversity in the Arts, Stanford University; Sara Catania, vice president of network strategy, Solutions Journalism Network; Dawn Garcia, JSK director, Stanford University; Tonya Mosley, co-host, Fresh Air; Marcia Parker, vice president, philanthropic partnerships, The New York Times; Cheryl Phillips, Hearst Professional in Residence, director, Big Local News, Stanford University and Ricardo Sandoval-Palos, public editor, Public Broadcasting Service.
U.S. fellows, JSK Class of 2023-2024
