Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowships 2026–2027

📖 About Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowships

The Knight-Wallace Fellowships offer accomplished journalists two rare commodities: time and resources. Journalists eager for growth and deeply committed to the future of journalism spend an academic year at the University of Michigan, accessing the resources of a world-class university and diving into a journalism project.

Areas of focus include:

• Sharpening professional skills
• Addressing challenges facing your newsroom
• Digging into data and research for long-term reporting projects
• Developing a journalism venture

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: October 02, 2025
• Application Deadline: February 01, 2026
• Category: Fellowship
• Opportunity Location: United States
• School: The University of Michigan

🎁 Benefits of Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowships

• Eight-month program from late August through April of immersive study away from daily deadlines.
• Individual journalism projects designed to develop topical depth, gain new skills, address newsroom challenges, or explore journalism ventures.
• Specialized resources and access to faculty at the University of Michigan.
• Private seminars with newsroom leaders, change agents, and world-renowned experts for candid, off-the-record conversations.
• Workshops to sharpen professional skills and leadership abilities.
• International travel to bring context to political, economic, and social forces shaping news coverage.
• $85,000 stipend plus $5,000 for relocation expenses distributed monthly from August through April for living expenses. Costs for health insurance, auditing courses, and participating in required workshops and fellowship activities are covered by Wallace House.
• Individual relocation support and assistance with finding and securing housing tailored to each Fellow’s needs.
• Spouses and partners are invited to participate in fellowship activities and audit university courses.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have at least five years of experience in journalism and be presently employed in some capacity for a news organization or as a freelance journalist.
  Eligible roles include:

  • Reporters
  • Editors
  • Data experts
  • Visual journalists
  • Audio producers
  • Interaction specialists
  • Designers
  • Developers
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Organizational change agents

• If you are not a full-time journalist, the majority of your job should involve journalism.
  Exclusions:

  • Full-time academics
  • Public relations writers
  • Internal trade writers
  • Lobbyists
  • Public advocates
  • Individuals pursuing a degree

• Citizenship Requirements:

  • Apply as a U.S. applicant if you are a U.S. citizen, even if you work in another country or for a non-U.S. journalistic business.
  • Apply as an international applicant if you are not a U.S. citizen, even if you work in the United States or for an American journalism business.
  • Note: A Green Card is not equivalent to citizenship.

📝 Application Date and Process

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: February 01, 2026

Steps to Apply:

1. Review the application and fellowship FAQ.
2. Review guidelines for preparing your international application or preparing your U.S. application.
3. Fill out and submit the application form. Application forms are hosted on the OpenWater platform.

🌐 Application Portal

• View details of the Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowships.
• Apply directly via the Knight-Wallace Fellowship Application Portal.

This fellowship is a unique opportunity for journalists to grow professionally, develop impactful projects, and gain access to world-class resources. Don't miss the chance to apply!

• Eight-month program from late August through April of immersive study away from daily deadlines.
• Individual journalism projects designed to develop topical depth, gain new skills, address a newsroom challenge, or explore a journalism venture.
• Specialized resources and access to faculty at the University of Michigan.
• Private seminars with newsroom leaders, change agents, and world-renowned experts for candid, off-the-record conversations.
• Workshops to sharpen professional skills and leadership ability.
• International travel to bring context to the political, economic, and social forces shaping news coverage.
• $85,000 stipend plus $5,000 for relocation expenses distributed monthly from August through April for living expenses (costs for health insurance, auditing courses, and participating in required workshops and fellowship activities paid for by Wallace House).
• Individual relocation support and assistance with finding and securing housing to meet each Fellow’s housing needs.
• Spouses and partners are invited to participate in fellowship activities and audit university courses as well.