2026 Community Journalist Fellowship
Deadline Feb. 16, 2026, 11:59 pm PT.
Join us for an informational webinar.
Bilingual session (English/Spanish)
Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
4:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM MT / 1:30 PM PT
We believe journalism can make a tangible impact on local accountability and speak directly to audiences, not just about them. Our focus is on serving communities that have been disenfranchised in the past. Local journalists who live and work in these communities have the experience to understand and serve them authentically. By strengthening their work and amplifying their voices, we can rebuild trust and ensure that these vital stories are told.
Altavoz Lab will open applications for its Community Journalist Fellowship on January 16, 2026. This seven month long program launches in April 2026 and brings together a tight-knit cohort of reporters working at the heart of their communities.
The fellowship is open to freelancers and staff reporters of all experience levels working in English or Spanish with community-based news outlets that serve historically disinvested audiences across the U.S. We’re looking for journalists deeply rooted in their communities and ready to produce reporting that centers local voices and urgent realities often overlooked by mainstream media.
We will prioritize applicants working in regions with low civic participation — in other words, places where people may not feel represented or engaged in democratic life — with a particular focus on borderland communities in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Texas, as well as areas such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Puerto Rico.
Fellows will receive up to $8,000 to produce an in-depth reporting project or series, and host newsrooms will receive up to $3,000 in additional funds to deepen and expand their audience engagement beyond social media.
We welcome proposals from journalists who represent an array of social, racial, ethnic, and underrepresented groups and economic backgrounds. Alumni of Altavoz are welcome to apply for the fellowship again but not on a consecutive basis.
Finalists will be contacted on the week of March 10, 2026, for a 30 minute interview.
The deadline to apply will be February 16, 2026, by 11:59 pm PT.
- Budget (DOC / PDF sample) for reporting work and for audience engagement plan. (Whether you are a freelance or staff journalist, please specify whether your outlet can cover any of the costs associated with your project and/or the engagement component of this fellowship).
- Contact of one professional reference
- Resume and headshot.
- Signed editor consent form (DOC / PDF sample) agreeing to support fellow and their project.
- Live in the community you’re reporting on.
- Credit Altavoz Lab in each story published or materials prepared alongside the story.
- Altavoz Lab has your publication’s permission to publish and showcase your story and accompanying visual and graphic materials on our website.
- Attendance to ALL monthly cohort meetings and one-hour training sessions. First cohort meeting to be held on April 13 (Spanish) and April 14 (English), 2026. (Editors, audience engagement coordinators and other members of your news outlet are highly encouraged to attend and participate).
- Fill out Altavoz Lab feedback and progress reports on engagement.
- Collaboration with the newsroom and optional editorial support related to your project (editing, translation, fact-checking, if needed).
- A community of mutual support with other local journalists from around the country.
- A relationship with a mentor matching your needs.
- An audience engagement coach to help community conversations shape your story and reach its audience.
- A co-learning environment and culturally sensitive training.
- Publication of your story on AltavozLab.com, pending editorial standards.
- An environment of experimentation and creativity.
🎙️ Altavoz Lab Fellowship: Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever wanted to report a story your community urgently needs — but haven’t pursued it due to a lack of resources, time, or support?
That’s exactly why we created this fellowship.
Altavoz Lab supports journalists who are rooted in and serve communities historically underrepresented in mainstream media. We provide the time, mentorship, and funding to help you do the work your community deserves.
We’re looking for local journalists — whether freelancers or newsroom-based — who:
- Serve underrepresented communities
- Work at (or with) small or emerging news outlets
- Report in English, Spanish, or both
- Are passionate about collaboration and mentorship
You may be a freelancer creating content for your own platform, or a staff reporter at a Spanish-language community paper or radio station. If you’ve got the drive and community connections, we want to hear from you.
Alumni of Altavoz are welcome to apply for the fellowship again but not on a consecutive basis.
- Fellowship runs for 7 months, beginning April 7, 2026.
- Monthly virtual cohort meetings and workshops of up to an hour long each.
- Meetings with your mentor and engagement coach at least once per month.
- Your story must be completed and published by Oct. 30, 2026.
- Fellows and their publications must participate in impact surveys and documentation.
- A form signed by your editor, committing to giving you time and support to carry out your fellowship project, and giving Altavoz Lab permission to publish your work on our site.
- Newsrooms will be encouraged to join virtual cohort gatherings and may be eligible for additional editorial support.
Absolutely. We encourage you to reach out and discuss your pitch before applying. Please reach out with your inquiries through our questions form.
We care about our fellows as whole people. That means we value not just strong reporting, but your safety, mental health, and creative agency. We’ve built this fellowship to be as collaborative and human-centered as the work that we want to see in the world.
We welcome proposals from journalists that represent an array of social, racial, ethnic, and underrepresented groups, and economic backgrounds.
