The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism is taking applications for the Tarbell Fellowship 2027-2028 until 22 November 2026. Fellows receive a stipend of US$75,000 to US$120,000, and the fellowship includes a remote training course and a hands-on placement at a partner newsroom. The page does not require a university degree, but you must have the right to work in the newsroom’s country.
At a glance
| Deadline | 22 November 2026, and the page does not state the time zone |
| Who can apply | Experience in journalism or in AI, aged 18 or older when the programme starts on 7 June 2027, and the right to work in the United States, the United Kingdom or Hong Kong |
| Stipend | US$75,000 to US$120,000 for fellows, and US$115,000 to US$135,000 for senior fellows |
| Format | A full-time remote course, then an in-person summit, then a newsroom placement from September 2027 to May 2028 |
| Application fee | The page mentions no fee |
| Official page | Tarbell Fellowship |
Who can apply
- Experience in journalism or in AI. The page notes that some applicants have no journalism experience, and it does not require a university degree.
- Aged 18 or older on the day the programme starts, 7 June 2027.
- The right to work at the partner newsrooms in the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The page says visa sponsorship is possible but “uncommon”, and that the fellowship is mainly aimed at people who already have the right to work.
- The senior fellowship is for people with more than 7 years of experience, and all applicants are considered for it automatically.
- The programme is full-time, and the page advises against combining it with a graduate degree.
The partner newsrooms are in Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC, and the FAQ adds Cambridge. The page does not say how many fellows are accepted.
What you get
- A stipend of US$75,000 to US$120,000 for fellows depending on experience and city, and US$115,000 to US$135,000 for senior fellows depending on location.
- Full coverage of travel and accommodation for the in-person summit.
- A full-time remote course, “AI Journalism Fundamentals”, from 7 June to 6 August 2027.
- A newsroom placement from September 2027 to May 2028, with the option of a one-year extension.
The page does not list other benefits such as health insurance or a relocation allowance.
How to apply
- Complete the application form and attach one to three writing samples totalling no more than 4,500 words, at least one of which must be prose. The page says not to use AI to write any part of your application.
- Complete the work test, which takes 3 to 5 hours, between December 2026 and January 2027.
- Take part in the interviews: one hour with Tarbell, and one to three hours with potential newsrooms.
The timeline as the page gives it: applicants hear by the end of December whether they have moved to the second stage, Tarbell interviews take place in January and February 2027, newsroom interviews in February and March, and fellows are announced in late March 2027. The in-person summit runs from 16 to 20 August 2027, and its date is not yet confirmed.
Advice from the al-khwarizmi team
- Check your right to work before anything else. The page treats it as a practical requirement, and visa sponsorship is rare.
- Choose your writing samples carefully, since they are the first thing assessed. Make one of them prose, and keep the total under 4,500 words.
- Write the application yourself. The page bans using AI to draft it, which stands out in a programme about AI journalism.
- Set aside 3 to 5 uninterrupted hours for the work test in December or January.
- If you come from AI rather than journalism, say so clearly, since the page accepts experience in either field.
FAQ
The page mentions no fee.
No. Experience in journalism or in AI is enough, and the page does not require a university degree.
The partner newsrooms are in those countries, and you must have the right to work there. Visa sponsorship is possible but uncommon, according to the page.
The page says applicants are notified by the end of December 2026.
