Capital Reporting Fellowship
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR THE 2024 FELLOWSHIP
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.
2024 Fellows
Lia Chien
DC Bureau
Lia Chien will graduate this spring from American University with a bachelor's in journalism and a minor in education studies. Originally from Vermont, she has interned at Vermont Public and VTDigger, the largest newsrooms in the state. She has also served as a press intern for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in his D.C. office and was accepted into the Dow Jones News Fund Digital Media program in 2022. When she's not reporting, you can find her hiking, reading, and spending time outside.
Lia Chien will graduate this spring from American University with a bachelor's in journalism and a minor in education studies. Originally from Vermont, she has interned at Vermont Public and VTDigger, the largest newsrooms in the state. She has also served as a press intern for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in his D.C. office and was accepted into the Dow Jones News Fund Digital Media program in 2022. When she's not reporting, you can find her hiking, reading, and spending time outside.
Jack O’Connor
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Jack O'Connor is majoring in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. He also works as an editor for his school's newspaper, The Minnesota Daily.
Jack O'Connor is majoring in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. He also works as an editor for his school's newspaper, The Minnesota Daily.
Elijah Pittman
Maryland Matters
Elijah Pittman recently transferred to Howard University from Morgan State University to complete his major in journalism. Pittman has covered state politics for the student newspaper, The Spokesman, at Morgan State University, has covered Black politics for the NABJ Monitor student paper, and has worked as a research intern for the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University. Pittman has a niche in covering politics and issues affecting Black people.
Elijah Pittman recently transferred to Howard University from Morgan State University to complete his major in journalism. Pittman has covered state politics for the student newspaper, The Spokesman, at Morgan State University, has covered Black politics for the NABJ Monitor student paper, and has worked as a research intern for the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University. Pittman has a niche in covering politics and issues affecting Black people.
Lucy Valeski
Michigan Advance
Lucy Valeski is currently pursuing her bachelor's in journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She previously covered statewide business news at Missouri Business Alert and European tech regulation at MLex in Brussels as an intern.
Lucy Valeski is currently pursuing her bachelor's in journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She previously covered statewide business news at Missouri Business Alert and European tech regulation at MLex in Brussels as an intern.
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 Summer Fellowship Program 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.
Preference will be given to applicants whose identities are underrepresented in journalism, such as women, Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), differently abled, first generation college students, and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community. The strongest candidates will be those who have experience in journalism or related communications fields at a college or university or in their 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.
