The Nation Fund for Independent Journalism is accepting applications for twelve Student Writing Fellows for a nine-month fellowship program. This program offers college students the opportunity to write for The Nation and TheNation.com and to work with Nation editors and writers to develop skills and relationships critical for a meaningful career in journalism.
Fellows will receive editorial, research and fact-checking training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and support in publishing their writing. Over the course of the summer and fall of 2026, students will publish a minimum of two reported articles and one breaking news story.
The scope of this project is to show what matters most to young people at this highly fraught historical moment through deeply-reported enterprise journalism. Broad areas of reporting will include labor, abortion access, Gaza protest, housing, healthcare, technology, affordability and climate change, among other topics. Training sessions and seminars will focus on reporting on movements, how to get beyond sensationalized coverage and profiles and how to cover elections beyond the horse-race coverage of politics. This project will tap into the lived experiences of young people and will focus on helping each fellow develop a distinctive narrative voice.
Requirements
The Fellowship will run from April 1 to December 21, 2026. Fellows will participate in biweekly online editorial sessions and conversations with Nation editorial staff and special guests as well as one-on-one editorial meetings. Fellows work remotely (but are strongly encouraged to attend The Nation’s student conference in New York City.) Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend plus compensation for articles upon publication. All matriculating freshmen, sophomores and juniors eligible. (Students need to be enrolled in college through the fall of 2026 to be eligible.)
Application
Applicants must submit the following:
1. A cover letter of not-more-than 250 words telling us why you want to become a Writing Fellow.
2. One published piece of journalism (a link to the piece is fine).
3. A resume.
4. One person willing to speak on your behalf as a reference. (We don’t need a letter.)
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until midnight EST, March 21, 2026. Application materials should be in Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) format and should be emailed to studentfellow@thenationfund.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be informed of their status by March 31.
Eligibility
Any undergraduate students at two and four-year schools in the United States matriculating through December, 2026. International students are ineligible though we encourage all international students to pitch articles. Graduate students are, unfortunately, ineligible. Email studentfellow@thenationfund.org with questions.
The Nation Fund for Independent Journalism welcomes all applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.
Deep thanks to the Puffin Foundation for its great generosity in making this program possible.