Capital Reporting Fellowship
APPLICATIONS DUE October 1
Generations of structural inequities, such as racism, misogyny, homophobia, and ableism, have led to discriminatory policies and practices that limited who could become journalists. Most news organizations are primarily white and male, according to a 2018 article by the Pew Research Center. Today’s early-career professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds are not only confronted with limited career prospects, they have few opportunities to cover the government decisions that affect their communities. States Newsroom wants to change that!
The Capital Reporting Fellowship is a summer program that places students and new journalists in our newsrooms across the country. Whether you are an advocacy-minded student, a journalist-to-be who needs help honing your truth-telling skills, or a strong writer who is considering reporting as a career path, your participation in state government coverage matters more now than ever before. This is an opportunity to develop a skill set to hold elected officials accountable for what happens in statehouses across the United States.
2025 Fellows
Delilah Brumer
Colorado Newsline
Delilah Brumer is a bilingual journalist and a student at Los Angeles Pierce College. She previously served as the editor-in-chief of her college’s student-run weekly newspaper, The Roundup. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CalMatters and a variety of local news outlets in her home state of California.
Delilah Brumer is a bilingual journalist and a student at Los Angeles Pierce College. She previously served as the editor-in-chief of her college’s student-run weekly newspaper, The Roundup. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CalMatters and a variety of local news outlets in her home state of California.
Morgan Leason
New Jersey Monitor
Morgan Leason will graduate this spring from the University of Maryland, with degrees in journalism and public policy. She has been awarded as a Dean’s Merit Scholar, a College Park Media Scholar and an Academic Honors award recipient. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the campus publication Stories Beneath the Shell. She also completed work for the Associated Press as a part of their Election Tabulations Team. Morgan has worked in numerous professional newsrooms, and recently served as the Election Security and Politics Reporter at the Capital News Service, based in Annapolis, Maryland.
Morgan Leason will graduate this spring from the University of Maryland, with degrees in journalism and public policy. She has been awarded as a Dean’s Merit Scholar, a College Park Media Scholar and an Academic Honors award recipient. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the campus publication Stories Beneath the Shell. She also completed work for the Associated Press as a part of their Election Tabulations Team. Morgan has worked in numerous professional newsrooms, and recently served as the Election Security and Politics Reporter at the Capital News Service, based in Annapolis, Maryland.
Andrea Tinker
Alabama Reflector
Andrea Tinker will graduate this spring from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s in news media and a minor in African American studies. Andrea is an Alabama native. During her time at The University of Alabama, she interned at Alabama Public Radio in both their news and digital coordination teams, worked at Nineteen Fifty-Six Magazine, where she served as Assistant Writing Editor, served as the Director of Success, Resources, and Wellness for the College of Communication & Information Sciences ambassadors, and worked as a social media ambassador for The College of Communication & Information Sciences. When she’s not doing journalistic or social media work, you can find Andrea creating playlists, listening to music, and talking about all things pop culture.
Andrea Tinker will graduate this spring from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s in news media and a minor in African American studies. Andrea is an Alabama native. During her time at The University of Alabama, she interned at Alabama Public Radio in both their news and digital coordination teams, worked at Nineteen Fifty-Six Magazine, where she served as Assistant Writing Editor, served as the Director of Success, Resources, and Wellness for the College of Communication & Information Sciences ambassadors, and worked as a social media ambassador for The College of Communication & Information Sciences. When she’s not doing journalistic or social media work, you can find Andrea creating playlists, listening to music, and talking about all things pop culture.
DETAILS
This fellowship may not remove the impediments that make a career in journalism seem impossible, but it is a springboard that includes financial compensation and professional development. A States Newsroom Capital Reporting Fellow can expect a full-time summer schedule covering state policy in areas such as education, health care, and criminal justice.
Compensation
States Newsroom will provide each fellow an hourly wage of $20/hour for a 40-hour week. A small stipend for housing assistance can also be negotiated. This opportunity includes career preparation benefits like one-on-one mentoring with a national editor; weekly professional development sessions; portfolio improvement; and a year of coaching beyond the fellowship.
Duration
Summer (i.e. May until August)
Eligibility
Structures, institutions, and elected officials should work for the public. That means everyone! Do you have a burning desire to make sure they do?! The States Newsroom Capital Reporting Fellowship is designed to attract candidates from a variety of backgrounds.
You should be currently enrolled as a junior or senior or a recent graduate of an accredited institution of higher education. Students majoring in journalism, broadcasting, or communications are preferred; other majors will be considered.
All are encouraged to apply, especially those who identify as women, Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), differently-abled, first-generation, and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available at this time.
How to Apply
The deadline for interested applicants to submit their materials is by October 1 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Please send a cover letter, resume/CV with references, and a portfolio highlighting your previously published work to [email protected] with “Capital Reporting Fellowship” in the subject line. Send any and all questions to [email protected].
