Fully Funded Local Business Journalism Fellowship 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Apply by March 23)

The National Press Foundation (NPF) is now accepting applications for its Local Business Journalism Fellowship, a prestigious, expenses-paid, four-day professional training program designed to strengthen business reporting across the United States.

Scheduled for April 26–29, 2026, this intensive fellowship will bring 35 selected journalists to Washington, D.C. for in-depth briefings with economists, small business owners, policy leaders, and industry experts. The program is tuition-free, with airfare, hotel accommodations, and some meals fully covered.

This fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while NPF retains full editorial control over the program’s content.

Why This Fellowship Matters

Small businesses employ nearly half of the U.S. workforce, yet they face mounting challenges in 2026, including economic uncertainty, labor shortages, housing pressures, artificial intelligence disruption, and the growing caregiver economy. This fellowship equips journalists with the knowledge, sources, and context needed to report accurately and impactfully on these issues in their communities.

What Fellows Will Gain

Participants will engage in exclusive, off-the-record briefings and discussions covering:

• Small business and economic trends

• Housing and labor market challenges

• The impact of artificial intelligence on businesses

• The caregiver economy

• Investigating businesses and nonprofit organizations

• Policies and practices that drive stability, innovation, and sustainable growth

Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, ensuring a fully immersive learning experience.

Program Details

• Location: Washington, D.C.

• Dates: April 26–29, 2026

• Cost: Free (airfare, hotel, and some meals covered)

• Participants: 35 journalists

Editors and supervisors must provide a letter confirming that selected reporters will be released from newsroom duties for the duration of the fellowship. Freelancers must submit a letter from an editor expressing interest in publishing work informed by the training.

Commitment to Diversity

The National Press Foundation strongly values diversity and encourages applications from journalists of color, reporters working in news deserts, and those from local and nonprofit news organizations. Journalists from all media formats are welcome.

Application Deadline

March 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered, and applications cannot be saved once started—applicants are advised to prepare all required materials in advance.

APPLY HERE

For more information about this apportunity, click here. 

Discover more fellowship opportunities here.

For technical questions, applicants may contact Celia Milch at celia@nationalpress.org