International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)Fellowship

IWMF Journalist Safety Ambassador Fellowship

Oct 19, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Oct 19, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

The International Women's Media Foundation is recruiting its second cohort of Safety Ambassadors, US-based journalists trained to become the go-to safety resource for local newsrooms. Over six months of mentored modules, fellows learn risk assessment and the physical, digital and psychological threats local reporters face, then deliver four training sessions to their own journalism community. The fellowship is part of IWMF's Newsroom Safety Across America initiative, supported by Press Forward, and is open to journalists of all genders.

What you get:

Individual mentoring and advice from leading journalism safety experts
A small stipend to support your participation (amount not published)
Potential paid opportunities with IWMF and its partners after you complete the programme
Recognition as an IWMF Safety Ambassador at journalism conferences, trainings and industry events

What you'll do:

Commit about 10 hours a month to training modules scheduled every two weeks, with accompanying exercises
Study modules including risk management, secure communications, source protection, covering protests, gun violence and active shooters, natural disasters and psychological wellbeing
Deliver four training sessions, virtual or in person, within a three month window after completing the programme
Support peers and future cohorts of Safety Ambassadors

Key dates:

Applications close October 19, 2026 (the application form closes at midnight Eastern time going into October 20)

More information:

Full FAQ: https://www.iwmf.org/faqs-safety-ambassador-fellowship/
Questions and accessibility needs: programs@iwmf.org
Meet the first cohort: https://www.iwmf.org/safety-ambassador-fellows/

Who can apply

Must be working in journalism (laid-off journalists and those now in non-journalism paid work remain eligible, per the FAQ)
Must be based in the United States
Open to journalists of all genders
Passionate about supporting the safety of journalists, especially in local newsrooms
A desire to teach, train and learn; formal trainer experience is not required
Able to commit about 10 hours a month over a 6-month programme
Must commit to delivering 4 training sessions after completing the programme
Application asks for a biography, a resume and a personal statement answering set questions, including whether your newsroom or organisation supports your participation
IWMF seeks diversity of lived experience and geography; two applicants from the same newsroom are unlikely both to be selected

AI Verification

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Good to know

+Mentoring from leading journalism safety experts, and a stipend for taking part
+A marketable skill in journalist safety, with possible paid training work for IWMF and its partners afterwards
+Largely remote, about 10 hours a month, and no trainer experience needed
+Run by the International Women's Media Foundation, whose first cohort of 30 fellows ran in 2026, and free to apply
+Open to journalists of all genders, including those laid off or now working outside journalism

Worth checking yourself

!US-based working journalists only. IWMF's page says apply before 19 October, so aim for the 18th to be safe
!The stipend is described only as small; no amount is published
!You must deliver four training sessions within three months of finishing
!IWMF's own pages give both six and nine months as the programme length
!The form asks whether your newsroom supports you, which may be harder for freelancers

Sources checked

IWiwmf.orgApplyIWiwmf.orgApplyIWiwmf.orgApplyIWiwmf.submittable.comOfficialIWiwmf.orgApplyIWiwmf.orgApplyIWiwmf.orgApply

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.