Are you an experienced journalist with a big question about the future of news? The John S. Knight (JSK) Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University are now open for 2027–2028. Selected fellows spend nine months at Stanford with a $135,000 stipend, free tuition and health insurance. Both U.S. and international journalists can apply. The deadline is December 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and there are no extensions.
About the JSK Journalism Fellowships
The JSK Fellowships help journalism professionals become more effective, purposeful and resilient leaders. Fellows step away from their daily work for nine months, from September to May. During that time, they explore a question they care about, test new ideas and learn alongside a small cohort of peers from around the world.
You do not need a finished project. Instead, JSK looks for curious people who will question their own assumptions and work openly with others, including people with different views.
Benefits of the JSK Fellowship
- A $135,000 stipend for the nine months
- Stanford tuition covered
- Stanford health insurance for you, plus a supplement for spouses and children enrolled in Stanford coverage
- Help finding rental housing and settling in near Stanford
- Individual coaching and customised workshops
- Freedom to explore Stanford classes and creative programmes (informally, without a degree)
- Lifelong access to the global JSK alumni network
- Families are welcome: spouses and partners can join many events and sit in on some classes, and children can attend local public schools
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements
- At least five years of professional experience (student work and internships do not count)
- Directly involved in producing journalism in any role, or working in operations or strategy at a news organisation, or working with an organisation that supports journalists
- Employees and freelancers can both apply; freelancers must do most of their work in journalism
- Proficient in written and spoken English (no TOEFL needed)
A college degree is not required, and you do not need newsroom experience.
Who Should Not Apply
- People seeking a degree
- Public relations or public information staff, and in-house or corporate communicators
- Government employees
- Full-time academics
- People working for media that is not editorially independent, such as government-run media
JSK also does not fund book or reporting projects, and it is not a startup accelerator.
Important Note for International Applicants
Fellows come to Stanford on a J-1 visa, and eligible dependants on J-2 visas. JSK says it cannot offer a fellowship to citizens of countries where the U.S. has suspended J visas. If you hold a second citizenship and passport from a country without restrictions, you may apply with that one.
U.S. visa rules can change, so check the current status for your country before you apply. You do not need a visa to submit an application.
Time Commitment
- Live at Stanford from September to May and treat the fellowship as full-time
- Attend weekly cohort meetings and one-on-one coaching every two weeks
- Join occasional JSK and Stanford events
- Share your insights and reflections publicly along the way
Selection Timeline
- December 2, 2026: Application deadline (1:00 p.m. Pacific Time)
- Early March 2027: First-round results
- March 2027: Zoom interviews
- April 2027: International fellowship offers
- May 2027: U.S. offers; international fellows announced
- August 2027: Fellows move to Stanford
- Early September 2027: Orientation
How to Apply for the JSK Journalism Fellowships 2027–2028
- Read the details on the official JSK Become a Fellow page and the application FAQ.
- Create an account on the JSK application portal (SurveyMonkey Apply).
- Answer the profile questions. They decide whether you apply for the U.S. or international fellowship, based on where the community you serve is.
- Complete the online form in English. Work samples in other languages are fine with a short English summary.
- Give the names and contacts of three professional references. Letters are not needed.
- Submit well before December 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
JSK also runs free webinars with fellowship alumni this fall. Details and recordings are on the Become a Fellow page.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Lead with a clear, honest question about journalism that you face in your own work.
- Show how your answer could help others in the industry, not just you.
- Give examples of working well with people who think differently from you.
- Talk to a JSK alum if you can. Many are happy to share advice.
Key Details at a Glance
- Host: Stanford University, California, USA
- Duration: Nine months (September 2027 – May 2028)
- Stipend: $135,000, plus tuition and health insurance
- Who: Journalists and journalism professionals with 5+ years’ experience
- Open to: U.S. and international applicants
- Deadline: December 2, 2026, 1:00 p.m. PT (no extensions)
