2025 Community Journalist Fellowship
ALTAVOZ LAB COMMUNITY JOURNALIST FELLOWSHIP
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 lived 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 is now accepting applications for its 2025 fellowship program, launching on August 18, 2025. This opportunity is open to freelancers and staff reporters working in English or Spanish with community-based news outlets that serve historically disinvested communities. We’re looking for journalists who are deeply rooted in their communities and ready to report stories that center local voices and urgent realities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This year, we are prioritizing applicants working in regions with low civic health scores, particularly borderland communities in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as areas such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. Fellows will receive grants ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 to produce an in-depth reporting project or series in 7 months, along with up to $3,000 in additional funds for an audience engagement project in collaboration with their newsroom or a local partner.
We welcome proposals from journalists that represent an array of social, racial, ethnic, and underrepresented groups, and economic backgrounds.
Join us for a final virtual orientation to ask questions on July 7 at 1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET.
The deadline to apply is July 20, 2025 by 11:59 pm PT.
🎙️ Altavoz Lab Fellowship: Frequently Asked Questions
✨ What is this fellowship about?
Have you ever wanted to report a story your community urgently needs — but haven’t pursued it due to 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.
🧑💻 Who should apply?
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. If you’ve got the drive and community connection, we want to hear from you.
🛠️ What kind of support does the fellowship offer?
— Grants range between $3,000 to $8,000 to produce an in-depth reporting project or series
— Up to $3,000 for an audience engagement project, to be shared with your newsroom or community partner
— A dedicated mentor to support your reporting
— An audience engagement coach to help your story reach the community
— Optional editorial support for your newsroom (editing, translation, fact-checking)
— Publication of your story on AltavozLab.com, pending editorial standards
📅 What’s the timeline and commitment?
— Fellowship runs for 7 months, beginning August 18th, 2025
— Monthly virtual cohort meetings and workshops
— Meet with your mentor and engagement coach at least once per month
— Your story must be completed and published by February 28, 2026
— Fellows and their publications must participate in impact surveys and documentation
💬 What’s expected from my newsroom or editor?
If you’re selected, we’ll ask for:
— A commitment to publish your story by February 28, 2026
— A signed form or letter from your editor confirming that commitment (Highly recommended).
Newsrooms are encouraged to join virtual cohort gatherings and may be eligible for additional editorial support.
💡 Anything else I should know?
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 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.
📞 Can I talk to someone before applying?
Absolutely. We encourage you to reach out and discuss your pitch before applying.
Send us an email at info@altavozlab.com and we’ll set up a time to talk.
🧰 Resources
