Fellowship News and Updates
Veteran journalist Monica Campbell selected to lead the California Local News Fellowship Program
UC Berkeley Journalism announced today the selection of journalist Monica Campbell as the new permanent director of its state-funded California Local News Fellowship — the largest publicly funded journalism initiative in the country — following a national search. Campbell has more than two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, covering local, national and…
Read MoreNew California Local News Fellows selected to cover California communities
As part of California’s pioneering investment in local journalism through the UC Berkeley-based California Local News Fellowship, 38 new early-career journalists have been selected for two-year fellowships in California newsrooms. Find the selected fellows and newsrooms here. “Robust local journalism is essential for transparency, accountability and coverage of underrepresented communities,” said Christa Scharfenberg, who has…
Read MoreCalifornia expands historic commitment to the California Local News Fellowship
California is expanding its historic commitment to local journalism with a $15 million budget allocation for fellowships to early-career reporters and editors and training to strengthen the economic viability of news outlets. This commitment will fund another infusion of California Local News Fellows — the nation’s largest publicly funded journalism initiative based at UC Berkeley…
Read MoreStories by California Local News Fellows will be accessible in publications statewide, thanks to new collaboration with Distributed Media Lab
A new collaboration between the California Local News Fellowship and Distributed Media Lab will broaden distribution for stories reported by fellows who are currently reporting in more than 75 local news organizations throughout California. The project is funded by the Google News Initiative. Using the Distributed Media Lab platform, a story written by a fellow…
Read More2024 In Review: Celebrating Collaboration and Impact Across California
By Christa Scharfenberg As 2024 comes to a close, it’s easy to be consumed by a sense of foreboding about the state — and future — of journalism. From attacks on journalists around the world to newsroom layoffs to political polarization caused by disinformation to direct threats against journalists made by the incoming presidential administration,…
Read MoreNew California Local News Fellows Connect, Prepare and Launch
The culmination of an intensive four-day orientation at UC Berkeley Journalism for 37 new California Local News Fellows poised to begin local reporting jobs in newsrooms across the state buzzed with community spirit and anticipation. “The end just feels like camp right now,” said Emma Garcia, a 2024 Berkeley Journalism alum who is working at…
Read MoreAnother boost to local news in California: state-funded fellows to report from Shasta to Orange counties
A second cohort of California Local News Fellows and newsrooms announced today will work in newsrooms statewide starting this fall as part of a state-funded initiative to invigorate local journalism, with a focus on underserved communities. The program will now support 75 early-career journalists working at small and large newspapers, public radio stations and community…
Read MoreFellowship Releases Inaugural Report on Program Impact
The state-funded California Local News Fellowship launched in 2023 to foster informed and engaged communities throughout the state. The program, which places early career journalists in newsrooms for two year reporting fellowships, is designed to strengthen local news and help launch journalism careers. In order to measure the impact and growth of the program, an…
Read MoreIncarcerated journalist Steve Brooks selected as California Local News Fellow
Steve Brooks, former editor-in-chief of the award-winning San Quentin News, was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the California Local News Fellowship. The program is a state-funded initiative based at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to strengthen local, public affairs reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities. Brooks, currently…
Read MoreThe California Local News Fellowship prepares its inaugural cohort of fellows for their journey into newsrooms across the state
In early September, the California Local News Fellowship welcomed its 39 inaugural fellows to Berkeley Journalism to connect, learn, and prepare for their launch into local newsrooms across the state. Our goals for orientation week were twofold: to build community among the fellows and prepare them to enter the communities and newsrooms where they will…
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