LaunchPad Fellowship for NextGen Journalists in the United States 2024

Their nine-month fellowship program is designed for early-career journalists from all media platforms who have the skills, expertise and desire to tackle an ambitious in-depth reporting/storytelling project on a critical social justice issue facing the U.S.

Fellows will work independently to conduct research, interviews and other reporting/producing activities needed to complete their proposed project. They will be challenged to delve deeply into their selected issue; to explore its real and human impact on our nation’s historically marginalized communities; to expose the systemic drivers that contribute to the problem; and to explore possible remedies and solutions.

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Eligibility Criteria

Specifically, the ideal applicant will:

Have at least three and no more than six years of professional journalism experience, either sequentially or cumulatively, in any medium (e.g., digital, print, video, audio, photo, multimedia).
Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to covering social justice and equity issues and to reporting in underserved local communities.
Have a publication plan. (You are required to provide a letter of support from your employer or, if a freelancer, a “letter of interest to publish” from a news outlet, before being accepted into the program.)
Be committed to and practice ethical and principled journalism, which is accurate, fair and thorough.
Demonstrate a serious intention to pursue a career in journalism.
Apply as an individual—not as a team or on behalf of a news organization.
Reside in the United States.

Benefits

A $5,000 grant to offset living expenses while conducting their research and reporting.
An intensive, three-day in-person learning/training experience.
Skills-building webinars throughout the fellowship year.
Nine months of professional/project mentorship and coaching.

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During the nine-month fellowship period, fellows will:

Attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day, in-person training, to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Attend mandatory monthly cohort meet-ups via Zoom. These meetings will be facilitated by the mentors and/or Renaissance Journalism staff. At these meetings fellows will have the opportunity to network, to report on their progress, and to troubleshoot problems.
Attend webinars designed to help fellows hone their career development and journalism skills.
Meet one-to-one (via phone, Zoom, email) with their mentors.
Be expected to complete their proposed reporting projects at the conclusion of the nine-month fellowship term.

Application

A brief description of your proposed project.
A letter of interest and/or a commitment to publish from an editor of a news outlet (e.g., your current employer or, if you’re an independent journalist, from a news outlet).
A reporting/production plan and, if you have it, a budget.
Three samples of published work (any medium).
Two professional references.
Your résumé.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK