How to apply

Applications will include:

  • Personal Statement and Project Proposal: Tell us about yourself and why you want to participate in the program. Provide a description of the project you’re pursuing. Consider these questions: What is your long-term goal for this project? How would you like to see the community or policy benefit from this work? What makes this reporting new or important?
  • Deliverables Statement: Number of stories you’ll be reporting, and tentative story themes or focus, including any multimedia elements you plan to incorporate (photos, video, audio, graphics, etc.)
  • Proposed Budget: Please provide a grant amount requested and a rough breakdown of how you plan to use the funds. 
  • Three samples of your most recent work
  • Editor reference letter and completed Editor Checklist form
  • Resume

Who is eligible to apply?

  • U.S.-based professional journalists. Fellows in our program include Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalists, veteran health and social welfare reporters, as well as talented journalists earlier in their careers.
  • Reporters who hold full-time staff positions in newsrooms that are both large and small
  • Freelancers who earn the majority of their income from journalism and have a confirmed assignment for their proposed projects

We give preference to: 

  • Applicants who have a minimum of three years of professional journalism experience
  • Reporters pursuing collaborative projects between mainstream and ethnic news outlets

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t see your question answered there? Reach out to us directly: chj@usc.edu.