Request for Applications: Tarbell Fellowship Program

Fellows secure a 9-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in an 10-week study group covering AI governance & technical fundamentals, and attend a week-long journalism summit in San Francisco.

The program incorporates expert speakers, feedback & mentorship from experienced journalists and networking events with experts from leading AI organizations. Upon graduation, they expect fellows to bring their impact-focused perspective to major newsrooms and publications around the globe.

Benefits

• Placement: Fellows secure a 9 month placement at a major newsroom covering artificial intelligence.
• Intensive AI Journalism Training: Prior to placements, fellows undergo a 10-week program on AI technical, governance, and journalism fundamentals. This program requires 10-40 hours per week and is conducted remotely. Sessions include guest lectures, paired assignments, and readings.
• San Francisco Summit: Fellows attend a week-long summit in San Francisco before starting their placements. This will be an intensive week of guest speakers, workshops and networking events. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.

Funding Information 

• The Tarbell Fellowship provides a stipend of $50,000 to support these placements.
• Duration: The fellowship is a 12 month programme.

Eligibility Criteria

• The fellowship is open to rising journalism talent from around the globe. Some placements may require relocating to the US or the UK. They endeavour to support fellows in acquiring visas to facilitate this.
• AI expertise: A deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will have experience working in tech journalism, machine learning research, or AI governance.
• Passionate about journalism: Previous newsroom experience (including at student newspapers) or comparable experience in a field such as law or research is desirable but not necessary. They seek to support early-career journalists and will prioritize potential over experience.
• Excellent writing skills: A creative approach to storytelling combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of a new topic. Fellows must be able to produce compelling copy under tight deadlines.​
• Relentless: The ability to doggedly pursue your goals and persevere in the face of adversity. Fellows must be willing to work hard, and be capable of withstanding repeated rejection.
• Open-minded: The desire to understand the truth of any given story, even when it conflicts with prior beliefs. Fellows must be open to criticism and recognising ways they can improve their writing and thinking.

For more information, visit Tarbell.