$85,000 Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship

Columbia Journalism School in New York runs the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship, a year of paid time and resources for journalists and educators to research and produce one ambitious long-form project about education: a book, a magazine feature, a documentary or a podcast. Fellows work with a Journalism School faculty mentor and a content expert from elsewhere in the university. You can apply for a residential place in New York City or a non-residential place from anywhere in the United States.

What you get:

• Residential fellows: an $85,000 scholarship for living expenses, paid in four quarters
• Non-residential fellows: a $43,000 stipend, plus airfare and hotel for several required trips to New York City
• $7,500 for travel, research and project expenses
• Tuition and student fees covered, plus basic student health insurance for residential fellows
• A faculty mentor from the Journalism School and an outside content advisor from another department
• Access to Columbia University Libraries and, for residential fellows, a workspace at the Journalism School and the chance to sit in on courses
• Support for a one-on-one research partner, for applicants who make a compelling case for one

What you'll do:

• Research and report a long-form education journalism project over one academic year
• Take the Journalism School's Evidence and Inference methods course in the fall, in person or remotely
• Meet regularly with the director and the other fellows, and attend dinners and talks with visiting scholars

Key dates:

• Applications close February 4, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST
• Selection board meets in March or April 2027; candidates are notified in the spring
• Orientation meeting at Columbia in May 2027
• Fellowship begins at the end of August 2027 and runs for the academic year

More information:

• Three fellows will be selected, according to the How to Apply page (the About page says four)
• Questions go to director Sarah Carr (sec2002@columbia.edu) or recruiter Benjamin Herold (benjaminbherold@gmail.com)

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) only
• Open to working journalists, freelancers and education professionals
• No academic prerequisite; a college degree is not required
• Residential fellows must live in or near New York City for the fellowship year and should not take outside work without the director's approval
• Non-residential fellows may live anywhere in the U.S. and may keep working part-time; judges prioritise applicants with a hardship in moving to New York, such as caregiving, job security or financial concerns
• Apply online with a resume or CV, a short narrative autobiography, up to four work samples, a project proposal, a research plan, a statement on residential or non-residential, and three professional recommendation letters
• Judges prioritise applicants with a documented path to publish or broadcast, such as a book contract or a letter of interest from a news organisation