The Association of Health Care Journalists is thrilled to announce this year’s class of fellows selected for the 2026 AHCJ Firearm Violence Reporting Fellowship.
This program, supported by The Joyce Foundation, creates a cohort of journalists producing in-depth, data-informed storiesthat illuminate the public health crisis of firearm violence. From prevention strategies to community trauma, fellows explore the far-reaching impacts of gun violence through a health equity lens while producing stories or a series of stories for their news outlets. This is the second year of the fellowship.
Over the course of the fellowship, fellows receive training, mentorship and financial support as they deepen their reporting and work to bring greater clarity and accountability to this urgent issue.
2026 fellows and their projects:
- Briana Rice of Outlier Media: Examining the effectiveness of tracking systems and resources available to support youth who have been victims of gun violence in Detroit.
- Jonathan Torres of the Investigative Project on Race and Equity: Illuminating how neighborhood features like vacant lots may play a part in gun violence unfolding in communities, and investigate whether initiatives to revitalize these spaces mitigate firearm violence.
- Lakeidra Chavis of WBEZ Chicago: Investigating the sharp rise in firearm suicides among Black Chicagoans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Cierra Johnson of WCMH NBC4: Exploring the intersection of gun violence and mental health, with a focus on whether Columbus’s declaration of gun violence as a public health crisis has helped break the cycle of violence.
The fellowship covers the cost of attending the annual Health Journalism conference and an in-person seminar in Chicago, as well as a $2,500 project allowance to defray the cost of field reporting, health data analysis and other project-related research. Fellows receive a $5,000 award upon the successful completion of their projects.
Learn more about the Firearm Violence Reporting Fellowship.
Learn more about other health journalism fellowships.
The Association of Health Care Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues. With about 1,500 members across the U.S. and around the globe, its mission is to improve the quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting, writing and editing. The association and its sister organization, the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, provide training, resources and support for journalists, including health journalism fellowships, webinars, networking and conferences.
The Joyce Foundation is a private, nonpartisan philanthropy that invests in public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region. They carry out their mission by supporting policy research, development, and advocacy in six program areas: culture, democracy, education & economic mobility, environment, gun violence prevention & justice reform, and journalism. The Joyce Foundation is based in Chicago, Ill.
