The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the Missouri School of Journalism invites proposals from individuals and organizations who want to build practical, innovative resources for community-centered news. These fellowships are designed to empower journalists, newsrooms, and the communities they serve by providing funding, mentorship, and visibility for impactful projects.
All fellowship projects are:
- Built, tested, and launched within the fellowship period
- Free, accessible, and open-source for journalists, newsrooms, and the public
- Designed to address real challenges in journalism and media innovation
Fellowship Overview
- Applications for the 2026 Fellowships open: December 1, 2025
- Deadline to apply: February 6, 2026
- Fellowship start date: June 29, 2026
- Duration: 8 months
- Deliverables: Fellows must publish articles, webinars, and public-facing resources to share their learnings.
- Final product: A publicly available tool, guide, platform, or workshop that can be used by journalists and newsrooms worldwide.
Examples of past fellowship projects include:
- A Slack-based SEO tool for newsrooms
- A bilingual guide to misinformation
- A Quick-Start Guide to Freelancing
- Other innovative resources tailored to journalists’ needs
Types of Fellowships
1. Institutional Fellowship
- Fellow embedded within an organization to build a resource, tool, program, or product.
- Designed to address a current need or gap for that organization, while remaining applicable to the wider journalism industry.
- Fellows may be employed by the organization or collaborate through a partnership.
- Stipend: $75,000 (paid in three installments based on deliverables).
- Format: Remote, with a few visits to RJI during the fellowship.
2. Individual Fellowship
- Fellow works independently to create a resource, tool, or program addressing a challenge in journalism.
- Ideal for journalists, consultants, researchers, or freelancers pursuing innovative projects outside their main work.
- Stipend: $75,000 (paid in three installments based on deliverables).
- Format: Remote, with a few visits to RJI during the fellowship.
3. Emerging Technology Fellowship
- Fellow leverages cutting-edge technology to solve a problem in journalism.
- The solution must rely on emerging technology as a core component.
- Stipend: $100,000 (paid in three installments based on deliverables).
- Format: Remote, with a few visits to RJI during the fellowship.
Fellowship Process & Timeline
- First round applications close: February 6, 2026
- Second round applications sent: By February 20, 2026
- Applicants will have two weeks to complete the in-depth application.
- Finalist interviews: April 6–17, 2026
- Fellowship begins: June 29, 2026
Expectations for Fellows
During the fellowship, participants are expected to:
- Build, test, and refine their resource, tool, or product.
- Gather feedback internally and externally before launch.
- Share progress through articles, webinars, and other public-facing deliverables.
- Ensure the final product is free, accessible, and usable by journalists and newsrooms globally.
Why Apply?
The RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships provide:
- Funding: Substantial stipends to support project costs.
- Visibility: Opportunities to share your work with a global journalism community.
- Impact: A chance to create tools and resources that strengthen journalism and empower communities.
- Support: Guidance from RJI and collaboration with peers in the fellowship network.
Upcoming Fellowship Q&A Session
- January 8, 2026 at 2 PM CTÂ Â Register
The RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships are a unique opportunity for journalists, researchers, and organizations to create lasting impact in the media industry. By funding innovative projects, RJI ensures that journalism continues to evolve in ways that serve communities, strengthen trust, and embrace new technologies.
Whether you are an individual innovator, an organization seeking to expand its reach, or a technologist exploring new solutions, this fellowship provides the platform, resources, and support to bring your vision to life. Learn more and Apply Here.
