Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is seeking talented and motivated reporters and storytellers for its six-month Al-Bustan News Journalism Fellowship. Fellows will produce original reporting, written features, and multimedia content covering news, arts, culture, and civic life within SWANA communities in the Philadelphia region.
This fellowship is ideal for journalists committed to community-centered, hyperlocal reporting and storytelling.
Organization: Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture
Location: Remote within the Philadelphia metropolitan area
Duration: Six months
Application Deadline: 15 January 2026
Responsibilities
Fellows will be expected to:
- Produce 2–3 polished stories per month in written, audio, video, or other multimedia formats
- Conduct in-person reporting in the Philadelphia area, including interviews, photography, and video capture as needed
- Meet weekly with an editor via Zoom
- Monitor local, national, and international news to generate hyperlocal story ideas
- Pitch stories regularly and meet agreed-upon deadlines
- Adhere to Al-Bustan editorial standards and the AP Stylebook
About Al-Bustan News
Al-Bustan News is an independent, nonprofit news and storytelling platform founded in 2022 by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to advancing Arab arts, culture, and education. The outlet produces hyperlocal journalism focused on Arab American and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) communities in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
Al-Bustan News aims to:
- Challenge stereotypes by highlighting the diversity and richness of local SWANA communities
- Provide accurate, authentic, and relevant coverage rooted in community experience
- Elevate stories that are often overlooked by mainstream media
Duration and Compensation
- Fellowship length: Six months
- Compensation: $450 per submission
- Maximum monthly compensation: $1,350
- Maximum total compensation: $8,100 over the fellowship period
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- At least one year of journalistic writing and/or multimedia production experience
- A portfolio with at least three bylined work samples
- Excellent writing and storytelling skills
- Strong familiarity with and interest in SWANA cultures and communities in the Philadelphia region
- Full-time residency in the Philadelphia area and ability to report in person
- Commitment to hyperlocal journalism and ethical reporting standards
- Strong editorial judgment, interviewing, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to work under deadline and incorporate editorial feedback
- Valid U.S. work authorization and residency in the Philadelphia region
Desirable Qualifications
- Fluency in Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, or another SWANA language
- Experience using AP Style
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in journalism, communications, creative writing, or a related field
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A cover letter
- A resume
- A portfolio of work samples
Applications must be sent to: News@albustanseeds.org
Applications will be accepted until 15 January 2026.
Please note: Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Late applications may be kept on file for future fellowship rounds.
For more information, click here.
The Al-Bustan News Journalism Fellowship is a six-month, paid opportunity for early- to mid-career journalists based in the Philadelphia area to produce original, community-centered reporting on Arab American and SWANA communities. Fellows receive editorial mentorship, competitive per-piece compensation, and the chance to contribute meaningful, hyperlocal journalism that challenges stereotypes and amplifies underrepresented voices.
For more opportunities, click here.
