The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism, a non-profit organisation supporting journalism about Artificial Intelligence (AI), has opened applications for its year-long programme designed to equip journalists with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence reporting.
The fellowship emphasises the key role of journalism in shaping public understanding of advanced AI technologies. As concerns grow about AI’s potential misuse, from enabling cyberattacks to empowering authoritarian surveillance, Tarbell aims to train journalists who can hold tech companies accountable and lead thoughtful public discourse on these emerging issues.
The programme places fellows in major news outlets for nine months, with 2025 host organisations including Bloomberg, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time Magazine, NBC News, and The Verge. These placements are full-time reporting roles designed to help fellows build strong portfolios and accelerate their careers in the highly competitive journalism industry.
Fellows also participate in a 10-week intensive course on AI and journalism fundamentals before their newsroom assignments. The training includes a custom curriculum, guest lectures from industry experts, and graded assignments. A fully funded week-long summit in the San Francisco Bay Area brings fellows together for workshops, networking, and mentorship sessions.
To support fellows during their placements, the programme offers stipends ranging from $60,000 to $80,000, depending on location. Senior Fellows, with at least five years of experience in journalism or AI, will receive $90,000 to $110,000 and contribute additional time towards mentorship and workshop support.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong writing skills, a deep interest in artificial intelligence, and the persistence needed to navigate demanding reporting environments. While previous newsroom experience is an advantage, it is not a strict requirement. The programme remains open to global applicants, though some newsroom placements may require work authorisation in the U.S. or U.K.
The Tarbell Fellowship encourages aspiring AI journalists from diverse backgrounds to apply, even those who may not meet every listed criterion, highlighting its commitment to building a broad, informed community of reporters ready to cover one of the world’s most influential technologies.
The fellowship, which runs from June 8, 2026, to May 31, 2027, provides early-career and mid-career journalists with the opportunity to work with leading global newsrooms while receiving intensive training on AI and its societal impacts. Applications close on January 7, 2026.
For more information, please visit: https://airtable.com/appkDZo2RDymAdHLa/pagn1ycIuKYPwXUkM/form.
