Early-Career Fellowship Program for Science Journalists

Deadline: 31-Oct-2026

The Open Notebook’s Early-Career Fellowship Program is a paid, one-year, part-time opportunity for emerging science journalists worldwide. Fellows receive a $6,600 stipend, work remotely for approximately 5–7 hours per week, receive individual mentorship, and produce four feature-length articles for publication.

About the Early-Career Fellowship Program

The Open Notebook launched its Early-Career Fellowship Program in 2013 with support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The program helps emerging science journalists strengthen their reporting, pitching, interviewing, writing, and revision skills in a structured editorial environment. Each fellow works closely with an experienced science journalist mentor while developing articles for publication at The Open Notebook. Purpose of the Program

The program aims to:

- Support the next generation of science journalists. - Strengthen reporting and feature-writing skills. - Provide practical editorial experience. - Help journalists develop stronger story ideas and pitches. - Improve interviewing and research techniques. - Provide regular professional feedback. - Build confidence through guided publication. - Expand professional networks. - Connect emerging journalists with an international community. - Increase access to mentorship within science journalism. Program Duration and Format

The fellowship is:

- Duration: 12 months.

- Format: Remote.

- Schedule: Part-time.

- Weekly commitment: Approximately 5–7 hours.

- Geographic eligibility: Worldwide.

- Working language: English.

The required time may vary depending on whether the fellow is pitching, reporting, writing, or revising an article. Applicants should ensure they can maintain a consistent commitment throughout the full year. Funding Information

Each fellow receives:

- Total stipend: $6,600.

- Program period: 12 months.

- Expected commitment: Approximately 5–7 hours per week.

The stipend compensates fellows for their participation and editorial work during the program. Applicants should consult the official guidelines for information about the payment schedule, tax responsibilities, contracts, and payment methods for international recipients. What Fellows Will Do

Selected fellows will:

- Develop science journalism story ideas. - Prepare and refine pitches. - Conduct background research. - Identify and interview relevant sources. - Report feature-length articles. - Write and revise four articles. - Respond to editorial feedback. - Participate in weekly mentor meetings. - Engage with editors and other fellows. - Join an online Slack discussion group. - Contribute articles for publication at The Open Notebook. The program emphasizes learning through practical assignments rather than classroom-based instruction alone. Publication Requirements Each fellow will pitch, report, and write four feature-length articles for The Open Notebook.

These articles will include:

- “Story behind the story” interviews. - Reported features. The work should contribute to The Open Notebook’s focus on the craft, practice, challenges, and professional development of science journalism. Story Behind the Story Interviews A “story behind the story” article examines how a science journalist developed and reported a particular piece of work.

These interviews may explore:

- How the original story idea emerged. - How the journalist found and evaluated sources. - Reporting obstacles. - Ethical questions. - Structural and narrative decisions. - Fact-checking challenges. - Editorial revisions. - Lessons learned during publication. These articles help other journalists understand the practical decisions behind effective science reporting. Reported Features Reported features explore important questions about science journalism through original research and interviews.

Potential topics may involve:

- Reporting on complex or uncertain science. - Finding and evaluating expert sources. - Covering marginalized communities. - Communicating risk. - Investigative science journalism. - Data reporting. - Journalism ethics. - Diversity and inclusion. - Freelance reporting. - Multimedia storytelling. - Audience engagement. - Reporting during public health or environmental crises. Proposals should align with The Open Notebook’s editorial mission and provide clear value to science journalists. Mentorship Each fellow works with an experienced science journalist mentor.

Mentorship may involve:

- Weekly meetings. - Discussion of story ideas. - Pitch development. - Reporting strategies. - Source selection. - Interview preparation. - Story organization. - Draft review. - Revision guidance. - Career-development advice. Applicants should be prepared to receive constructive feedback and revise their work through multiple editorial stages. Editorial Experience The program gives fellows direct experience with a professional editorial process.

This includes:

- Generating viable ideas. - Writing concise pitches. - Responding to an editor. - Planning reporting. - Conducting interviews. - Organizing evidence. - Writing for a general audience. - Revising for structure and clarity. - Fact-checking. - Preparing work for publication. This hands-on process helps fellows understand how professional science journalism develops from an initial idea into a published feature. Community and Professional Networking Fellows join a Slack discussion group that includes: - Current fellows. - Former fellows. - The Open Notebook editors. - Other members of the fellowship community.

The group provides space to:

- Ask reporting questions. - Share resources. - Discuss professional challenges. - Exchange feedback. - Learn about opportunities. - Build international connections. - Receive peer support. This network can remain valuable beyond the formal fellowship period. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must be early-career science journalists with: - Fewer than three years of regular professional science-writing experience. - Some training or experience writing f