Center for Health Journalism awards more than $50,000 in reporting grants for the 2026 California Health Equity Fellowship

The USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism is pleased to announce the selection of 14 talented journalists who will participate in its annual California Health Equity Fellowship, reporting on important health issues across the Golden State.

This year’s Fellowship class is a diverse group of California print, digital and broadcast journalists who work for a range of media outlets, including City Pride Magazine, Coachella Valley Independent, Daylight San Diego, EdSource, KPFA, Los Angeles Public Press, Los Angeles Times, Open Vallejo, Shasta Scout, Southern California News Group, The Mercury News/Bay Area News Group, The Sacramento Observer and The Tribune.

In collaboration with the Center for Health Journalism, the 2026 California Health Equity Fellows will report in-depth projects on a range of health and social welfare topics important to Californians, such as health care access in rural communities, racial disparities in maternal health, and environmental health threats from invisible pollutants. Other stories will focus on homelessness among seniors, the unmet needs of special education students, and health care for incarcerated individuals.

The program includes a multi-day learning institute at the USC Annenberg School in Los Angeles, five months of expert mentoring, and more than $50,000 in reporting grants to support the ambitious reporting projects. Fellows also have the opportunity to receive five months of community engagement mentoring and engagement grants. 

We’re honored to have the opportunity to nurture exemplary and essential journalism on the health of California at a time when communities are experiencing unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts.

The program is made possible thanks to the generous support of Blue Shield of California Foundation, The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation.

"Original reporting about health equity, from and for California communities, is more important than ever," said Jenna Lane, Communications Officer at Blue Shield of California Foundation. "We are proud to support these fellows as they track the problems and solutions facing the millions of Californians who deserve a fair shot at a healthy life.”

“These fellows shine a light on the conditions that shape health in our communities and the challenges that too often remain invisible,” said Mary Lou Fulton, Director of Communications at The California Wellness Foundation. “We’re proud to support the vital role journalism plays in advancing health and racial equity across California.”

We are pleased to announce our 2026 California Health Equity Fellows:

Marion Apio, City Pride Magazine

Kathryn Baron, EdSource

Genoa Barrow, The Sacramento Observer

Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times

Matthew Brown, Open Vallejo

Melissa Daniels, Coachella Valley Independent

Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News/Bay Area News Group

Aneta Felix, KPFA

Nevin Kallepalli, Shasta Scout

Lauren J. Mapp, Daylight San Diego

Ryanne Mena, Southern California News Group

Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Los Angeles Times

Dan Ross, Los Angeles Public Press

Chloe Shrager, The Tribune