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The Fellowship Application for the 2025 - 2027 cohort 

 

The application process is open for early-career journalists to apply to the California Local News Fellowship, a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local reporting, with a focus on underserved communities. This full-time, paid fellowship will place early-career journalists (with up to five years of experience) in California newsrooms for two years, starting in September 2025.   

The application period for the 2025–2027 fellowship cohort opens on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 and closes at 6 p.m. PST on Friday, February 21, 2025

The program is open to digital, print, video, audio, photo, and multimedia journalists. We’re looking for candidates with relevant experience as much as formal education. Successful applicants will demonstrate core reporting skills, a commitment to a career in journalism and an interest in reporting in underserved communities.

Key dates to note:

  • January 22: Application opens
  • February 21: Application closes
  • Late March: Finalists announced
  • April: Fellow/newsroom interviews 
  • May: Matching offers begin
  • Early September: Orientation and fellowship begins

 

The Application Process:

 

Please note: The fellowship application is a two-step process:

Step 1: Complete and submit the employment application on the University of California’s AP Recruit portal.

Step 2: Complete and submit the Submittable application.

 

Fellowship Q&A Sessions:

 

If you have any questions about the program or the application, we offer two optional informational sessions with fellowship program staff during the application period. 

Registration is required for these sessions:

Wednesday 1/29 at 10 am PST: closed

Thursday 2/13 at 12 pm PST: https://berkeley.zoom.us/meeting/register/IwFG1DwTT-2-p6XpnHpxXA

 

If you have any questions, we encourage you to review the Fellow FAQ, which offers more details about how the program operates. Additionally, watch the video showcasing this year’s cohort and, for the latest program announcements and updates, visit our Pressroom.