National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowships

The Association of Health Care Journalists, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and the Society of Environmental Journalists together offer this development opportunity for early-career journalists. (Meet last year’s class.)

The fellowships are designed to support early-career journalists who are pursuing — or have a strong interest in pursuing — careers in science, health or environmental reporting (or all three). Curriculum will include basic science, interpreting medical studies, analyzing data, explaining evidence-based decisions, understanding climate science and more. The program aspires to provide essential on-the-job training that might otherwise take years to accumulate.

Over the course of a year, selected fellows will: 

• Participate in workshops and other events held at the annual Environmental Journalism (April 3-7, 2024), Health Journalism (June 7-10, 2024) and ScienceWriters (early November 2024) conferences. 
• Learn from custom webinars scheduled throughout the year for additional opportunities to gain skills, connections and resources to inform their reporting. 
• Be matched with a professional mentor.
• Receive prepaid memberships in the National Association of Science Writers, SEJ and AHCJ.
• Participate in peer-to-peer networking platforms. 
• Receive project support stipends if they are an independent journalist.

Applications are closed.

Questions? Contact Andrea Waner at andrea@healthjournalism.org. 

Expectations

• Candidates should be early-career, U.S.-based working journalists — either staff or freelance — with at least two years of professional experience.
• Fellows must agree to attend all training events during the program year. Program leaders will decide whether events will take place in person or virtually based on the latest public health considerations, with fellows’ safety always top of mind.
• Each employer (or, for a freelancer, a news outlet that is a regular client) will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation for the applicant. Employers are also asked to pledge their support for the fellows’ participation in all training events.
• Board members and staffers of the partner organizations are not eligible to apply.
• CASW, AHCJ, and SEJ are fully committed to diversity and inclusion in their memberships, training programs, and the larger journalism field. We welcome applicants who support that commitment.

What’s covered

The fellowship provides:

• Customized seminars and workshops offered in conjunction with the annual conferences produced by AHCJ, SEJ, and CASW/NASW, including support for conference attendance, food, lodging, and travel within the United States;
• A series of virtual events providing skill-building opportunities and updates on stories, resources and new developments across science, health, medicine, and environment, including private breakout discussions with experts and trainers;
• Two years’ membership (new or extended) in AHCJ, SEJ and NASW, assuming membership qualifications are met;
• Registration to any virtual events held during the program year by AHCJ, SEJ or CASW;
• Mentoring opportunities with a senior journalist in a topic area of choice;
• Private online site for fellows to refer to training materials, share reporting efforts and network with one another;
• For freelancers, a reporting project support stipend of $2,000 after successfully completing the program.

Anticipated schedule

Tentative dates and sites (including whether in-person or virtual), depending upon public health recommendations. Fellows must agree to attend all programming:

• Kick-off seminar, March 12 (via Zoom)
• SEJ2024, Philadelphia, April 3-7
• Health Journalism 2024, NYC, June 7-10
• ScienceWriters2024, TBD, November 2024
• Custom webinar briefings held periodically through the year

Application checklist 

• Cover letter introducing yourself, your journalism background, efforts at career development, and explaining why you are seeking the fellowship.
• A current resume or CV.
• A letter of recommendation from your current employer that addresses the benefits of the fellowship to you and the news organization’s audience as well as the employer’s commitment to support your full participation in the fellowship. Freelance applicants should submit a letter of recommendation from a regular client or assigning editor who can speak to your abilities and the value you would derive from participating.
• Two sample news or feature stories published or aired during the past 12 months.

Applications are closed.

Interested? Have questions? Join us for an informational meeting on Feb. 7, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. CT, 10 a.m. PT. There will be a fellowship overview, Q&A and the opportunity to hear from SHERF alumni. Register here >>

For further questions, contact Andrea Waner at andrea@healthjournalism.org. 

Current Fellows

Meet the 2024 National Science-Health-Environment Reporting fellows

Past Fellows

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