Fellowship
The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year program for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence.
Fellows secure a 9-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in an 10-week study group covering AI governance & technical fundamentals, and attend a week-long journalism summit in San Francisco. The Tarbell Fellowship provides a stipend of up to $50,000 to support these placements.
The program incorporates expert speakers, feedback & mentorship from experienced journalists and networking events with experts from leading AI organizations. Upon graduation, we expect fellows to bring their impact-focused perspective to major newsrooms and publications around the globe.
The 2025 Tarbell Fellowship will run from June 2025 - May 2026. Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in January 2025.
Potential 2025 placements include:
Why
Artificial intelligence is one of the key challenges facing humanity this century.
As AI systems progress, they could pose a catastrophic risk to humanity. Researchers could lose control over advanced AI systems, malicious actors could weaponize this technology, and a deluge of persuasive misinformation could undermine democracy. Relative to their importance, these issues receive much less attention than they deserve.
The Tarbell Fellowship seeks to change that. We’re creating a community of expert journalists to lead the public debate on AI and hold major AI labs accountable to society.
Applications open
6 Jan 2025 - 28 Feb 2025
Fellows selected
9 May 2025
AI Journalism Fundamentals
10 hr/wk, part-time
Jun - Aug 2025
San Francisco
Summit
18-23 Aug 2025
Placement
Sep 2025 - May 2026
How it works
Newsroom placement: Fellows are fully embedded within a newsroom for 9 months. Past and present partnerships include MIT Tech Review, TIME, The Information, The Verge, and many others.
Challenging. Fellows will spend the year building skills and a strong portfolio to accelerate their journalism career.
Full-time. The fellowship is a full time commitment. Journalism is a highly competitive industry, and we expect fellows to be completely focused on succeeding.
International. The fellowship is open to rising journalism talent from around the globe. Some placements may require relocating to the US or the UK. We endeavour to support fellows in acquiring visas to facilitate this.
What we offer
Placement. Fellows secure a 9 month placement at a major newsroom covering artificial intelligence. Placement details vary by outlet.
Stipend. Fellows receive stipends of up to $50,000, depending on circumstances, for the duration of their placement. We expect stipends to vary slightly depending on location and personal circumstances.
Intensive AI Journalism Training. Prior to placements, fellows undergo a 10-week program on AI technical, governance, and journalism fundamentals. This program requires 10-40 hours per week and is conducted remotely. Sessions include guest lectures, paired assignments, and readings.
San Francisco Summit. Fellows attend a week-long summit in San Francisco before starting their placements. This will be an intensive week of guest speakers, workshops and networking events. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.
Cultivating the next generation of journalists telling stories that matter.
Where you'll work
Tarbell Fellows join a leading newsroom as an AI reporter for 9 months, with an opportunity for extension up to 24 months.
2025 host organisations include:
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Los Angeles Times: Relocation to Los Angeles is required.
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South China Morning Post: Relocation to Hong Kong and fluency in Mandarin Chinese is required.
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Euractiv: Relocation to Brussels is required.
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ChinaTalk: HSK6 or native level fluency in Mandarin Chinese is required.
AI expertise. A deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will have experience working in tech journalism, machine learning research, or AI governance.
Passionate about journalism. Previous newsroom experience (including at student newspapers) or comparable experience in a field such as law or research is desirable but not necessary. We seek to support early-career journalists and will prioritize potential over experience.
Excellent writing skills. A creative approach to storytelling combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of a new topic. Fellows must be able to produce compelling copy under tight deadlines.
Relentless. The ability to doggedly pursue your goals and persevere in the face of adversity. Fellows must be willing to work hard, and be capable of withstanding repeated rejection.
Open-minded. The desire to understand the truth of any given story, even when it conflicts with prior beliefs. Fellows must be open to criticism and recognising ways they can improve their writing and thinking.
If you think you have what it takes, but don't meet every single point above, please apply and let us know how you believe you can bring your unique skills to the world of journalism.
Who we look for
Past Speakers & Guest Editors
Kelsey Piper
Senior Writer, Vox Future Perfect
How to apply
Our application process comprises multiple stages. The further you get, the more time we’ll ask you to invest.
01
Application & Writing Samples
(<60 minutes)
Jan. 6 - Feb. 28 2025
Complete our application form. Include your CV, answer some short questions and provide 1-3 writing samples.
Applications for the 2025 Tarbell Fellowship close on February 28th 2025.
02
Work Task & Automated Interview
(2-4 hours)
Mar. 12 - Mar. 23 2025
Complete a 2-3 hour work task designed to test your ability to excel in a newsroom covering AI.
Answer general and situational questions relevant to journalism in a recorded interview.
03
Interviews
(2-4 hours)
Apr. 16 - Apr. 30 2025
Complete a 1-hour interview with a member of the Tarbell Fellowship team and 1-3 interviews with potential placement organisations.