We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new and innovative fellowship: Fellowship for the Future of Journalism-Advancing Truth, Equity and Justice.
Beginning in May 2023, seven high school students from New York City public schools joined The Nation Fund on a great adventure of growth and learning. The Fellowship for the Future of Journalism gives students from diverse backgrounds the training and platform to create a path toward continuing education and a future career telling stories of and to their local communities and communities around the world.
Each student selected begins this paid fellowship at the end of their sophomore year and will complete 21 months of training, working through a custom curriculum with a dedicated teacher and mentor. This comprehensive program will allow students to shine, go beyond the fundamentals and produce content that will be published by the Nation Fund for Independent Journalism and by The Nation.
Giannie Arana: This Fellowship means a great deal to me because it’s teaching me that writing is a tool to work for change in the world. I’m inspired by this opportunity to grow with my peers and learn from my teacher and mentor. Being accepted into the Fellowship for the Future of Journalism puts me closer to my dream of becoming a journalist and author and poet.
Reina Copeland: I joined this fellowship to learn and grow to become a strong writer and lose my fear of public speaking. As I learn, my confidence grows and I’m excited for this journey. Journalism brings news to the world and lets the writer explore themselves and share with their community. Support from the Nation Fund makes the world a little bit brighter.
Huifen Li: I have always had a plethora of interests, so it’s hard to choose a career path. With the Fellowship for the Future of Journalism, I am exploring one of my interests, journalism. What I gain from this experience will be a deciding factor in the road I want to pave for myself.
Natalia Oseida-Banguero: When I first heard about The Nation Fund Fellowship Program, I thought I’d finally get the structure and instruction for my writing that the school system has failed to provide. The most powerful tool I can have is the ability to write. This program has already given me a glimpse of what life as a working journalist could be like. I appreciate all the guidance from the Nation Fund’s knowledgeable mentors.
Nicole Santiago: When I first heard of The Nation Fund for Independent Journalism and this fellowship, I thought, “It doesn’t hurt to try”. I worried I didn’t have all the requirements like other students might. But I took my chances, wrote my best stories and submitted. I waited a few days and got the message that The Nation Fund was interested and it’s been great ever since. We have been tackling interviews, profiles and lots of upcoming projects with the support of our amazing mentors Rick and Cliff. Not only has The Nation Fund taught me about journalism but to also try, even if you believe your chances are slim to none.
Diana Villano: As the eldest Mexican daughter in my family, I found myself an outlier in one of the most diverse cities in the country. I yearn to express my curiosity, feel a sense of interconnectedness within my city, and share writing that can ultimately influence changes. Being accepted as a fellow in this program is helping me to recognize current issues and bring social justice to an open-minded, politically active, and socially conscious generation as I continue my journey.
Sheema Zaira: At the age of eight, a brown, leather bound notebook became my most valued possession that no one was allowed to touch, let alone read. Now that I’m sixteen, I’ve filled a few more notebooks, and the improvement I’ve made over the years is clear to see. Writing has always been personal, but as I’m developing a more critical and open minded perspective, I want to share my ideas with a larger community. The Fellowship for the Future of Journalism isn’t just a program for me to develop my journaling and media skills, but an opportunity to make my writing more than a document of my experiences; it’s becoming my outlet and instrument for change.
The fellowship’s immersive multi-year structure is designed to promote not just college readiness but college persistence and career training. Our fellowship is a launch pad, giving students from diverse backgrounds the training and platform they need to add their much-needed perspectives to the national dialogue.
We believe the key to securing the future of independent journalism and raising the standards of journalism is to ensure the make-up of newsrooms matches the demographics of the communities they serve. The Fellowship for the Future of Journalism will not only deepen but widen the recruitment funnel, creating more opportunities for diverse cohorts of students to learn, train and enter the field of journalism.
We are grateful to the CUNY/Urban Assembly District, part of New York City Public Schools, for their support in recruiting seven students. We look forward to selecting a new cohort of Fellows in 2024 and scaling the program to make a difference in the lives of students and in the future and quality of independent journalism.
Fellowship updates will be posted to thenationfund.org. Please check back!
