Tarbell Fellowship for Early-Career Journalists 2027 [$75,000–$120,000 Stipend]

Applications are now open for the Tarbell Fellowship for journalists, a full-time programme designed to train and support journalists interested in reporting on artificial intelligence and its impact on society.

The fellowship combines intensive AI journalism training with a nine-month newsroom placement. Fellows receive professional training, access to leading AI researchers and journalism experts, a fully funded in-person summit and a stipend of up to $120,000, depending on experience and placement location.

SUMMARY:

• Fellowship Sponsor: Tarbell Center for AI Journalism
• Program Type: Journalism Fellowship
• Program Duration: June 2027 – May 2028
• Newsroom Placement: 9 Months
• Fellow Stipend: $75,000–$120,000
• Senior Fellow Stipend: $115,000–$135,000
• Eligible Applicants: Journalists & AI Professionals
• Nationality: All nationalities

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See Also: Anzisha Fellowship for Young African Entrepreneurs 2027 [$40,000 Funding Available]

Tarbell Fellowship 2027/28 | Program Overview

The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year programme for journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence. It aims to develop journalists capable of reporting clearly and rigorously on the development, deployment and societal impact of AI.

The fellowship consists of three major components:

• AI Journalism Fundamentals: Fellows complete an intensive full-time remote training programme covering AI and journalism fundamentals.
• Fellowship Summit: Fellows attend a week-long in-person summit featuring workshops, guest speakers and networking opportunities. Travel and accommodation expenses are fully covered.
• Newsroom Placement: Fellows are embedded as reporters at leading news organisations for nine months, reporting on artificial intelligence under the editorial direction of their host newsroom.

Previous fellows have been placed at major news organisations including Bloomberg, The Guardian, NBC, TIME, MIT Technology Review, CBS News and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Newsroom placements may be based in locations including London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., although available locations may change.

Eligibility Criteria

The Tarbell Fellowship is particularly suited to early- and mid-career journalists as well as professionals with relevant AI expertise who want to pursue journalism.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience or expertise in journalism or artificial intelligence.
• Strong interest in AI, its impact on society and the role of journalism in helping the public understand emerging technologies.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills.
• Ability to quickly understand complex topics and communicate them clearly.
• Persistence and willingness to pursue difficult stories.
• Curiosity, open-mindedness and commitment to truth-seeking.
• Ability to commit to the fellowship on a full-time basis.

Applicants do not need to pursue the fellowship alongside a graduate degree or another training programme, as the programme requires a full-time commitment.

Candidates should generally have the right to work in the country of their prospective newsroom placement. Visa sponsorship may sometimes be available, but it is uncommon and depends on the individual partner newsroom.

There is also a Senior Fellowship for candidates with at least seven years of professional experience and a strong record of achievement in journalism or AI.

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Fellowship Benefits

Successful Tarbell Fellows receive:

• $75,000–$120,000 stipend for standard Fellows, depending on professional experience and the cost of living at the placement location.
• $115,000–$135,000 stipend for Senior Fellows, depending on location.
• Nine-month placement at a participating newsroom.
• Intensive AI and journalism training.
• Access to leading AI researchers, journalists and subject-matter experts.
• Professional mentorship and feedback.
• Participation in a week-long in-person Fellowship Summit.
• Fully covered travel and accommodation costs for the summit.
• Networking opportunities with journalists and AI experts.
• Opportunity to build a strong portfolio of published AI journalism.

Newsroom placements may also be extended for an additional year in some cases.

Application Procedures

How to Apply: Interested applicants should complete the online Tarbell Fellowship application before the deadline. The selection process begins with the application and writing samples. Shortlisted candidates subsequently complete a work test designed to assess their ability to succeed in a newsroom covering artificial intelligence.

Candidates progressing further participate in an interview with the Tarbell team and may also complete interviews with potential newsroom placement organisations.

Application Documents

Applicants are required to provide:

• An updated CV or résumé.
• Responses to short application questions.
• One to three writing samples demonstrating their journalism and writing ability.

Applicants should select their strongest journalistic work. Writing samples do not necessarily have to focus on artificial intelligence.

The combined word count of submitted writing samples should not exceed 4,500 words.

Application Deadline

November 22, 2026.

The 2027/28 Tarbell Fellowship will run from June 2027 to May 2028, with newsroom placements beginning in September 2027.

Visit the Official Website for Further Details