Open call for paid reporting fellowships in New Jersey
The deadline for applications is May 31, 2025
The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is now accepting applications for its 2025 reporting fellowships to support New Jersey journalists and their newsrooms in producing timely, in-depth coverage of significant local issues impacting communities.
This initiative — emphasizing collaborations for reporters and editors who are pursuing substantive reporting projects for New Jersey news organizations — is presented in partnership with NJ Spotlight News and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The fellowship will focus on sensitivity, accuracy, and ethical journalism, addressing key topics of interest to New Jersey residents in 2025, including but not limited to the following five areas:
- 2025 NJ elections (including gubernatorial and assembly races)
- Immigration
- Education
- Housing
- The economy
The application deadline is Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.
For more information, please contact Oni Advincula via email at advinculaa@montclair.edu.
The fellowship is expected to run from June 15 to October 30, 2025. All fellowship stories must be produced, posted, streamed, published, or broadcast no later than October 30, 2025. If mutually agreeable, NJ Spotlight may republish some fellowship articles.
The Center for Cooperative Media requires all reporting fellowship applicants to submit the following documents:
- A project proposal: Describe your project. If you plan to collaborate with a specific reporter from another newsroom, please mention this in your proposal. If similar proposals or related topics are received, the Center will suggest applicant pairings to encourage collaboration.
- Deliverables: Indicate the number of stories you plan to report, the language(s) you intend to use, and the platforms where you plan to post, stream, publish, or broadcast your work.
- Writing samples: Include links to samples of your most recent published work.
- Editor confirmation: Provide confirmation from the editor of your news organization stating that they intend to publish your work.
- Statement of ethics. The Center requires all fellows to adhere to a commonly accepted code of ethics, such as the one that the Center has on its website.
Selected fellows will receive:
- A reporting stipend ranging from $1,500 to $3,000.
- Access to training resources and support for effectively covering New Jersey elections and accurately interpreting immigration, education, economic, housing, and other related data.
- Opportunities to connect with other fellows through cohort meetings and at least one in-person meetup.
The Center for Cooperative Media and NJ Spotlight News will review all applications thoroughly and notify applicants of their status within three (3) weeks of the submission deadline.
Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the submission, the scope and feasibility of the proposal, and the applicant’s experience. The Center for Cooperative Media and NJ Spotlight News reserve the right to approve or reject applications at their discretion.
Only journalists who cover or work for New Jersey news organizations are eligible to apply. The Center may request credentials if it cannot immediately verify that an applicant is a working journalist.
Selected fellows are solely responsible for all reporting and editing of content. The Center does not retain any editorial oversight or authority over the content produced by fellows or their affiliates.
⭐ Click here or click the button below to apply.
Oni Advincula is the ethnic media coordinator at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Contact him at advinculaa@montclair.edu.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism, and in doing so serve New Jersey residents. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Local News Lab (a partnership of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, and Community Foundation of New Jersey), and the Abrams Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
