$7,500 SJN/MIT Climate Journalism Fellowship

Organization: Solutions Journalism Network and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Type: Fellowship

Location: United States

Deadline: October 26, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

The Solutions Journalism Network and MIT are choosing 10 freelance and staff journalists based in the United States to spend eight months, January to August 2027, reporting a local climate change project for a local or regional outlet. Fellows get a $7,500 stipend, climate science and policy training from MIT and SJN, coaching, and a paid trip to the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Halifax, Canada. You do not need to be a climate reporter already, and journalists from places where climate change is underreported or polarizing are strongly encouraged to apply. **What you get:** - A $7,500 stipend to support your reporting, paid as $5,000 in advance and $2,500 once your project is published and your final report is in - Registration, travel and hotel covered for an in-person fellowship gathering at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Halifax, Canada, April 15 to 17, 2027 - Virtual workshops with SJN, MIT and partner specialists on climate science, climate and energy policy and economics, and climate communication - One-on-one consultations with a solutions coach and a science journalism specialist - Access to MIT's library databases and socioeconomic climate analyses on request - SJN's Train the Trainer programme, which makes you eligible for SJN training accreditation - Audio versions of your stories made and distributed by Public News Service, and republication through MIT **What you'll do:** - Report and publish at least four related stories on climate impacts and solutions in your newsroom's home county or state by August 2027, at least two of them full solutions journalism - Join monthly virtual cohort meetings and about 10 hours of climate workshops in January and 15 hours of Train the Trainer sessions in February and March - Attend the two-day in-person gathering in Halifax in April 2027 - Share what you learn with other journalists and take part in a follow-up interview six to eight months after the fellowship **Key dates:** - Applications close October 26, 2026, at midnight - Fellows selected by November 30, 2026 - Kick-off meeting the week of December 14, 2026 - Fellowship runs January to August 2027 - In-person gathering in Halifax, Canada, April 15 to 17, 2027 - All stories published by August 2027 **More information:** - Programme FAQ: https://sjn-static.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/SJN_MIT+Climate+Journalism+Fellowship_FAQs.pdf - Questions and project ideas: climate@solutionsjournalism.org

Solutions Journalism Network and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Fellowship

$7,500 SJN/MIT Climate Journalism Fellowship

Oct 26, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Oct 26, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

What you get:

A $7,500 stipend to support your reporting, paid as $5,000 in advance and $2,500 once your project is published and your final report is in
Registration, travel and hotel covered for an in-person fellowship gathering at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Halifax, Canada, April 15 to 17, 2027
Virtual workshops with SJN, MIT and partner specialists on climate science, climate and energy policy and economics, and climate communication
One-on-one consultations with a solutions coach and a science journalism specialist
Access to MIT's library databases and socioeconomic climate analyses on request
SJN's Train the Trainer programme, which makes you eligible for SJN training accreditation
Audio versions of your stories made and distributed by Public News Service, and republication through MIT

What you'll do:

Report and publish at least four related stories on climate impacts and solutions in your newsroom's home county or state by August 2027, at least two of them full solutions journalism
Join monthly virtual cohort meetings and about 10 hours of climate workshops in January and 15 hours of Train the Trainer sessions in February and March
Attend the two-day in-person gathering in Halifax in April 2027
Share what you learn with other journalists and take part in a follow-up interview six to eight months after the fellowship

Key dates:

Applications close October 26, 2026, at midnight
Fellows selected by November 30, 2026
Kick-off meeting the week of December 14, 2026
Fellowship runs January to August 2027
In-person gathering in Halifax, Canada, April 15 to 17, 2027
All stories published by August 2027

More information:

Programme FAQ: https://sjn-static.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/SJN_MIT+Climate+Journalism+Fellowship_FAQs.pdf
Questions and project ideas: climate@solutionsjournalism.org

Who can apply

You must be a US-based journalist, freelance or staff, working with a US-based local or regional newsroom
US citizens, permanent residents and people with work authorization can apply, as long as the authorization is not limited to employment with the organization sponsoring them
Writers employed by or writing for think tanks, lobbying groups or advocacy groups are not eligible
Journalists at national publications will not generally be considered; write to climate@solutionsjournalism.org if your outlet has a defined place-based audience across more than one state
Your editor at the supporting newsroom must email climate@solutionsjournalism.org confirming they have read the requirements and will send a letter of support if you are shortlisted
Apply with two story samples with links and a project pitch on the climate impacts and solutions you plan to cover
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed and must provide the editor's letter of support on letterhead

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Good to know

+Run by the Solutions Journalism Network with MIT
+Freelancers can apply, and you do not need a climate background
+Travel, hotel and registration for the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Halifax are covered

Worth checking yourself

!Only for journalists based in the US who work with a US local or regional newsroom
!An editor at your newsroom must email SJN before you apply
!The deadline is midnight on 26 October with no timezone: apply by 25 October
!$2,500 of the stipend is paid only after your stories are published
!Expect at least four deeply reported stories over eight months, plus about 40 hours of workshops
!The form has no payment step, though the pages do not say in words that applying is free

Sources checked

SOsolutionsjournalism.orgApplySOsolutionsjournalism.orgApplySOsolu.newsOfficialTFtfaforms.comOfficialSJsjn-static.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.comOfficial

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