The Fully Funded John S Knight Journalism Fellowship supports diverse journalists from around the world who are deeply engaged in exploring solutions to journalism’s biggest problems. We focus on accelerating change in the journalism industry to improve the access to information people need to create and sustain democratic communities.

Journalism fellowships at Stanford started in 1966 with a powerful idea: giving journalists broad access to a great university, which would pay off in superb journalism. We grew through the next decades, and in 1984 a $4 million grant from the John S and James L Knight Foundation provided a permanent endowment for the program, which we renamed for John S. Knight, who, with his brother James L. Knight, once operated a company that became the largest newspaper chain in the United States.

Fully Funded John S Knight Journalism Fellowship

John S Knight Fellowship entails fully funded fellowship with several financial benefits. It includes a stipend of $85,000. Additionally, it provides a supplement for fellows with children. It also covers the cost of Stanford tuition and Stanford health care for fellows, spouses, and children. Also, fellows receive help in finding housing.

Besides these, John S Knight Journalism Fellowship offers other benefits to the fellows which include:

• Access to some of the world’s most innovative thinkers and organizations, from technology giants to hot new startups to Stanford’s 100-plus special institutes and centers.
• Opportunities to join classes taught by top Stanford professors and instructors in a wide range of specialties.
• A rich intellectual and cultural campus life, including live theater, music, and dance performances and special lectures and events.
• Fellowship social events where everyone can get to know one another.
• Spouses and partners are eligible to take some classes and attend many fellowship seminars. Fellows’ children attend excellent Palo Alto-area schools and participate in some fellowship social activities
• Exposure to the incredible diversity of world views, experiences and cultural traditions that fellows from all over the world bring to the program.
• New friendships, professional connections, and entrepreneurial skills that will continue beyond the 10 months fellows spend at Stanford.

Eligibility for the John S Knight Journalism Fellowship

Stanford University expects the John S Knight Fellowship applicants have prior full-time professional experience. Since the fellowship is open for fellows all over the world, U.S. applicants should have at least seven years of experience. While international applicants should typically have at least five years of experience. Applicants with fewer experience may still apply for the fellowship if they have outstanding achievements. Also, applicants do not necessarily need to have a college degree.

Journalists in the following categories are eligible for the fellowship:

• Journalists employed by a news organization or freelance journalists.
• Journalism entrepreneurs and innovators.
• Journalism business and management executives.

However, the JSK fellowship is not open for applicants working in public information or public relations jobs, for trade and house newsletters or magazines, for government agencies, or in academic positions.

How to apply for the John S Knight Journalism Fellowship?

Candidates can access the application for the fully funded John S Knight Journalism Fellowship online. The applicants must register an account to begin the application process. The application form includes several questions that provide insight into the applicant’s need for the fellowship.

In addition to answering these questions, the applicants must submit a 1-minute selfie video describing their fellowship idea and why it is important. Further, the applicants should submit three recommendation letters as well as three work samples to complete the application.

Deadline

Stanford University accepts the application for the fully funded John S Knight Journalism Fellowship until 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) December 4, 2019. While the deadline for U.S. applications is 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) January 30, 2020.