Capital Reporting Fellowship for new capital Journalists

The States Newsroom Capital Reporting Fellowship is a privately funded journalism fellowship program designed to expand access to state government reporting opportunities for early-career journalists. States Newsroom, a nonprofit organization operating newsrooms across the United States, created this initiative to address longstanding structural inequities in journalism, including barriers related to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other underrepresented identities. The program seeks to diversify the pipeline of journalists covering public policy by providing paid, hands-on reporting experience in state capitols. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to train and support emerging journalists in covering critical state-level issues such as education, healthcare, and criminal justice. Participants are placed in States Newsroom-affiliated outlets across the country, where they contribute to real-time reporting while developing professional skills. The fellowship emphasizes accountability journalism, encouraging fellows to scrutinize government actions and inform communities about policy decisions that directly affect them. The program provides financial compensation in the form of an hourly wage of 20 dollars per hour for a full-time, 40-hour work week during the summer term, typically running from May through August. In addition to wages, fellows may receive a small housing stipend, subject to negotiation. The fellowship also includes substantial non-monetary benefits such as one-on-one mentorship with experienced editors, weekly professional development sessions, portfolio development support, and up to one year of continued coaching after the program concludes. Eligibility for the fellowship includes individuals who are currently enrolled as juniors or seniors in an accredited institution of higher education or who are recent graduates. While students pursuing journalism, communications, or broadcasting are preferred, applicants from other academic disciplines are also considered. The program actively encourages applications from individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, including women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQ+ individuals, first-generation college students, and people with disabilities. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, as visa sponsorship is not provided. To apply, candidates must submit a cover letter, a resume or curriculum vitae including references, and a portfolio of previously published work. Applications are submitted via email to the organization’s designated hiring inbox with a specified subject line. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to a separate fellowship-specific email address. The application deadline is October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s writing ability, demonstrated interest in journalism or public policy, and potential to contribute to state-level reporting. While specific evaluation criteria are not formally outlined, the emphasis on portfolio quality and prior experience suggests a competitive selection process. Selected fellows are notified ahead of the summer program start and are expected to commit to a full-time reporting schedule. The fellowship operates on a recurring annual cycle aligned with the academic calendar, with applications typically due in early October for the following summer cohort. Although the program is currently paused for 2026, the structure and historical pattern indicate that future cycles are expected. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor the official website for updates regarding the next available cohort and application timeline.