California Local News Fellowship 2026-2028

The California Local News Fellowship is a multi-year, state-funded initiative to strengthen local reporting across California. It places early-career journalists in newsrooms in California for two-year reporting fellowships, with an additional one-year editing fellowship pilot in partnership with the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Two fellowship tracks are available: reporting fellows and editing fellows, each hosted by participating newsrooms.

Fellows will participate in two-year (reporting) or one-year (editing) fellowships in California newsrooms; the program is state-funded and aims to support professional development in local journalism.

Newsrooms across California with a track record of original local news coverage and a clear plan for the fellow’s role; emphasis on ethics, diversity, and audience needs.

Newsrooms apply during the stated period (November 18 – December 15, 2025); selected newsrooms host fellows and the fellowship contenders apply in subsequent cycles.