Apply Now: Nova Media Fellowship 2026–2027 ($60K for Journalists and Newsrooms)

The Nova Media Fellowship 2026–2027 is a prestigious, fully funded program designed to support exceptional journalists and nonprofit newsrooms reporting on the complex, interconnected factors that shape health and well-being. This fellowship empowers storytellers to produce impactful, evidence-based, and solution-focused journalism that advances public understanding and inspires meaningful change.

Each year, Nova selects a small cohort of Media Fellows whose work explores pressing global issues related to human flourishing. Past fellows have published in leading outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Science, Bloomberg, NPR, and Grist, among others—demonstrating the fellowship’s strong reputation and reach.

About the Nova Media Fellowship

The Nova Media Fellowship provides selected journalists with the time, funding, and editorial freedom needed to pursue ambitious reporting projects. Fellows maintain full editorial independence, allowing them to define their storytelling approach, angles, and dissemination strategies.

The program emphasizes:

• Evidence-based journalism
• Solution-oriented storytelling
• Broad audience engagement across sectors (science, policy, communities, and the public)

For the 2026–2027 cohort, Nova will select three outstanding fellows.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected Media Fellows will receive:

• $60,000 grant distributed over 12 months
• Additional travel and conference stipends
• Flexible support to explore in-depth and evolving storylines
• Opportunities to reach global audiences and decision-makers

Fellowship Duration:
September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027

Why Apply?

The Nova Media Fellowship is more than just funding—it’s an opportunity to:

• Produce high-impact journalism that influences global conversations
• Explore complex health challenges through innovative lenses
• Contribute to a future where all people can thrive and flourish

If you are a journalist passionate about uncovering solutions and telling stories that matter, this fellowship offers the platform, resources, and freedom to bring your ideas to life.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Nova Media Fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Who Can Apply

• Professional journalists with a proven track record of publication (local, regional, or national)
• Nonprofit newsrooms
• Student-led newsrooms affiliated with educational institutions

Key Requirements

• Applicants must reside in the United States throughout the fellowship period
• Projects may include international or global reporting

Not Eligible

• Book proposals
• Poetry, songwriting, or artwork
• Academic research projects

Nova strongly encourages applications from individuals and communities historically underrepresented in media, including:

• Women
• People of color
• LGBTQ+ individuals
• Indigenous and Native communities

Fellowship Focus Areas (2026–2027)

Nova is particularly interested in proposals addressing innovative and emerging themes, including:

1. Children’s Health and Development

• Nutrition, education, and early childhood experiences
• Upstream factors shaping lifelong well-being

2. Mental Health and Justice

• Legal systems and the “legalome”
• Compassionate and equitable justice frameworks

3. Planetary Health and Collective Well-Being

• Climate, ecology, and interconnected global systems
• Practices that foster connection with the natural world

4. AI, Technology, and Society

• Impacts of artificial intelligence on healthcare and mental health
• Broader societal implications of emerging technologies

5. Health System Innovation

• New models of primary healthcare
• Addressing systemic inequities

6. Food Systems and Regenerative Agriculture

• Sustainable agriculture practices
• Transformative food systems

Note: These themes are not exhaustive. Nova welcomes creative, interdisciplinary proposals that explore new ways of understanding health and human flourishing.

What Makes a Strong Application?

Successful proposals should:

• Go beyond identifying problems to highlight innovative solutions
• Demonstrate a clear reporting plan and timeline
• Include a strategy for reaching broad audiences
• Provide a publication and dissemination roadmap, including:
  • Target outlets
  • Social media strategies
  • Newsletters (e.g., Substack)
  • Speaking engagements

Applicants are also encouraged to include:

• A travel budget
• Existing editorial partnerships or contacts
• A realistic set of deliverables for a one-year project

Application Requirements

For Freelance Journalists:

• Written project proposal
• Résumé
• Relevant work samples

For Newsrooms:

• Application completed by a senior representative (e.g., managing editor)
• Organizational details including:
  • Structure
  • Editorial focus
  • Available resources

Finalists:

• Must submit two professional letters of recommendation
• Participate in virtual panel interviews

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Application Timeline

• Applications Open: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Info Session (Zoom): Thursday, April 2, 2026 (4:00 PM ET)
• Application Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
• Semi-finalist Interviews: Mid-May 2026
• Finalist Interviews: Mid-June 2026
• Fellowship Awards Announced: Early July 2026
• Program Start Date: September 1, 2026

Note: Dates (except the deadline) may be subject to change.

Additional Requirements and Expectations

• Fellows must credit Nova’s support in all published work related to the fellowship
• Nova affiliation should be included in bios and bylines, even for unrelated work during the fellowship term
• Fellows are encouraged to embrace curiosity-driven exploration, following new leads and evolving narratives

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