Why you should apply for the Poynter-Koch Media & Journalist Fellowship program

In 2020, I got an email from a friend at the Poynter Institute asking if I wanted to be an advisor and mentor for the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship, a year-long journalism fellowship run in partnership by the Poynter Institute and Stand Together Fellowships. I was immediately intrigued because of the program's goal of targeting young journalists, a constituency that rarely gets these opportunities so early in their careers.??

I decided to sign up to be an advisor and mentor for the program. Fast forward to August 2022, when I was hired by Stand Together Fellowships and named co-director of the fellowship program.?

Early career journalists play a key role in shaping what our industry will look like in the future. New journalists don't have the time to take classes to learn new things and ramp up their leadership skills. Why? They are too busy trying to establish their careers.?

That is why this fellowship is integral for early-career journalists to gain the skills and knowledge needed to grow and thrive in the journalism industry. Participants — up to 60 per fellowship class — come from all over the United States. They work at news organizations that range from metropolitan dailies to local market television stations to digital enterprises to radio/podcast operations. This diverse group contributes their unique perspectives to the ongoing dialogue over the future of journalism and are expected to lead from wherever they are.?

The press is the only occupation mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, under the First Amendment. A journalist’s job is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. They do this by being curious and skeptical, looking for stories that shine a light on issues and inform the public. By focusing on writing accurate stories that explain, provoke and expose issues to the communities they cover, journalists help build trust with the public.?

The Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship prides itself on offering a curriculum that not only teaches the fundamentals of reporting and storytelling, but also learn from the best and brightest in the industry. Fellows are committed to practicing a commitment to the ideals and values of journalism and the foundations of a free press.??

Part of the curriculum is real-world job experience, either through their current newsroom or one they find through the program. Fellows not only learn on the job but they are taught by the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship’s group of respected professional journalists.?

With support from their employers, fellows meet once a week online and participate in workshops and discussions about issues on the state of the journalism industry. We also hold three in-person meetings in August, February and May where fellows can learn in hands-on workshops and learn from guest speakers.?

An important part of the fellowship is a required Innovation Project, where fellows can propose and create a newsroom improvement, a coverage plan, a strategy to improve the journalism community or any other project that will create positive change in their work. The goal is to have fellows stretch beyond their everyday assignments and innovate. Previous projects include a fellow who built a video graphic interface for her employer, another who launched a podcast for her TV news station aimed at millennial audiences and one who created a style guide for covering homelessness.?

If you are an early career journalist -- or know someone who would be a fit for this program -- now is the time to apply for the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship. Click here to read an interview Kristen Hare of the Poynter Institute did with fellowship lead advisor Omar Gallaga and me. For questions, check out this FAQ. If you want to speak with me about the program, please make an appointment. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 10; go here to apply.?