Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Apply for competitive National Press Foundation statehouse reporting fellowships by Feb. 27; rural journalists sought

Statehouse reporting is increasingly thin but more important right now, with almost all state legislatures involved in elections this year. To help local and regional reporters suit up for the task, the National Press Foundation will hold a week of journalism training in Austin, Texas, from March 27-31. The fellowship will be held in person, barring a new Covid-19 flare-up or other emergencies, and attendance of all sessions is mandatory.

The foundation will cover airfare, ground transportation, hotel costs, and most meals for the up to 25 fellows selected. Only U.S. journalists are eligible; the foundation particularly invites applications from from local and nonprofit news organizations; journalists covering communities that have been disproportionately hurt by the pandemic; Black, Indigenous and other journalists of color; and those attempting to do public-interest reporting about news deserts, which are increasingly rural.

From the website: "In addition to gerrymandering and voting rights, key topics will include the future of democracy, handling misinformation, copycat legislation, Covid as a public health and political issue, campaign finances, how federal stimulus money is being spent locally, and voter-motivating issues such as race and abortion. Expert instructors will help journalists with sources and nuanced background, as well as fact-checking, community engagement, accountability journalism and other skills."

The application deadline is Feb. 27. Click here for more information or to apply.

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