Newsroom fellow Vanessa Ochavillo dons headphones and holds out her field mic. Credit: Robin Lubbock.

Kickstart Your Journalism Career: Apply For WBUR's Yearlong News Fellowship

Launched in 2020, the WBUR Newsroom Fellowship is a yearlong program for journalists eager to pursue a career in public media. Applicants should be recent graduates or early-career journalists who are ambitious, hold a passion for public radio, are looking to build reporting and production skills, and have a demonstrated experience with and commitment to advancing issues of underrepresented voices in public radio.

The fellowship provides hands-on training in every aspect of public media journalism. Fellows develop their skills under the guidance of WBUR’s editors and producers and have opportunities to work alongside newsroom journalists. Fellows are active members of the WBUR newsroom, involved in the production of news at every level – from morning editorial meetings to field reporting, to story mixing and publishing.

With this fellowship, WBUR seeks to cultivate the talent and develop the skills of emerging journalists so that they may grow in their careers and become the next generation of reporters and newsroom leaders.

READ: An insider's look at the WBUR newsroom fellowship

Newsroom Rotation

Former Morning Edition host Bob Oakes speaks with then-producer Yasmin Amer about upcoming interviews and projects. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Fellows embed in different parts of the newsroom, rotating approximately every three months, maximizing exposure to the many aspects of public media:

Newscast. The Fellow will learn how to gather and write headline-style stories for broadcast, navigate WBUR’s newsroom content management systems, and record and edit audio.
Live Broadcast. The Fellow will join the production team of a WBUR show, will pitch ideas and learn how to produce daily segments for air, both live and pre-recorded.
Digital. The Fellow will learn how to prepare stories for WBUR’s website, write headlines, and deploy social media strategy.
Reporting. In the final months of the fellowship, the Fellow will use the skills developed in the previous rotations as a reporter in the newsroom. The Fellow will have a chance to pitch ideas and be assigned to stories, working with an editor to learn piece scripting, editing, and story production.

*****Applications for 2024 are now closed*****

Fellowship and Application Details

The fellowship will run from January through December 2024. Applications, open now, are due by Friday, September 29, 2023, and finalists will be notified by Friday, October 20, 2023.
The fellowship is open to candidates who have recently received — or are about to receive — an undergrad or graduate degree, or who have recently embarked on a career in journalism.
Fellows will receive a salary of $55,000 along with healthcare and other Boston University benefits.

Application Should Include

A cover letter explaining why you want to work in public media, what you hope to achieve in the fellowship, and your interest or experience in promoting traditionally underrepresented voices and issues in media.
Resume
Work sample, for example: news clip, audio sample, an academic paper, or piece of creative writing. (Maximum of 5 pages)

Click Here To Apply

FAQs

Is this fellowship remote or in-person?

This fellowship is in-person in our Boston newsroom, though there will be opportunities to work a hybrid schedule.

What is the interview and fellowship timeline?

We will be conducting interviews in late October and early November, and selecting a fellow later in November. The fellowship will begin on January 2, 2024 and will rotate every three months through four different departments of the newsroom: live broadcast, digital, reporting, and newscast. The fellowship will end on December 23, 2024.

Will I be able to apply for future fellowship opportunities with WBUR if I'm not accepted?

Yes!

I graduate in the Spring. Am I eligible?

The fellowship is full-time and is for people who have already graduated. We’d encourage you to consider the next fellowship round.

I didn't major in journalism. Can I still apply?

Yes! However, we are looking for curious minds who are enthusiastic about a career in public media. We look forward to reading more about your commitment to journalism in your cover letter.

Who chooses the fellowship recipient?

The fellow will be selected by a committee that includes newsroom leadership and current fellows.

Is there a stipend or salary for this role?

The fellow will receive a salary of $55,000 and a full Boston University benefits package.

Is housing provided?

Unfortunately not, but there are some resources for helping find housing in Boston, should you wish to be located close to WBUR. The BU Real Estate Office is a good place to start.

What can I expect once the fellowship is over?

Completion of the fellowship does not guarantee a full-time or permanent position at WBUR, though several fellows have gone on to join the staff following a fellowship. In either case, we want to help fellows make meaningful connections throughout the year and provide an experience that gives fellows a competitive edge when pursuing a career in journalism. We hope to be a support and a resource to all our fellows, even after the completion of the program.