The Future of Work Reporting Fellowship 2026–2027 supports early- and mid-career journalists producing in-depth reporting on education, workforce development, emerging technologies and the innovation economy. The fellowship is jointly administered by New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and Work Shift. Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend plus a $1,500 reporting expense budget, with the programme running from September 2026 through August 2027. The application deadline is September 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Future of Work Reporting Fellowship
Category: Journalism Fellowship
Organisers: New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and Work Shift
Eligible Applicants: U.S.-based journalists
Fellowship Period: September 2026–August 2027
Stipend: $5,000
Reporting Expense Budget: $1,500
Application Deadline: September 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
About the Future of Work Reporting Fellowship
The fellowship supports journalists investigating how education, workforce development and technology-driven economic development affect communities and people’s economic opportunities.
Each Fellow must complete a place-based reporting project. The project may take the form of an in-depth article, series or multimedia project.
Reporting should examine how education, workforce development and the innovation economy intersect within a specific community or region. Projects should connect these developments to their effects on people’s lives and livelihoods.
Fellowship Support
Selected Fellows receive financial, editorial and professional support throughout the programme.
Confirmed benefits include:
✓ $5,000 stipend for completing the reporting project
✓ $1,500 expense budget for travel, research and other reporting expenses
✓ Professional development and editorial support
✓ Coaching and editing from Work Shift editors and New America leaders
✓ Peer-learning opportunities
✓ A virtual workshop organised by New America
✓ Access to expert sources and data resources
✓ Support with story development and source identification
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Who Can Apply?
The Future of Work Reporting Fellowship is open to U.S.-based journalists whose work includes reporting related to:
• K-12 or postsecondary education
• Workforce development
• Economic development
• Technology
• Industrial policy
• Related social and public policy issues
The programme particularly encourages applications from local and regional reporters covering the education and workforce effects of advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, next-generation energy and other technology investments in their communities.
National reporters may also apply when their proposed projects focus on place-based stories and impacts within specific communities or regions.
Career Stage and Eligible Media Professionals
Potential Fellows are expected to be early- or mid-career journalists with approximately 1–15 years of professional reporting experience.
Eligible applicants include:
• Print reporters and editors
• Online journalists
• Radio journalists
• Television journalists
• Multimedia reporters and editors
• Journalists from local and national publications
• Journalists working for digital-only news platforms
• Independent news podcasters
• Newsletter writers
• Freelance journalists targeting nonpartisan media outlets
A working journalist is defined by the programme as someone whose principal vocation is journalism and who works full-time, part-time or freelance in an editorial reporting role.
People employed solely in managerial or administrative positions do not fall within this definition.
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Reporting Project Requirements
Fellows must develop a reporting project connected to education and the innovation economy.
Projects may use different journalistic formats, including:
• Prose
• Audio
• Video
• Photography
• Multimedia
The final work must be published by the end of the fellowship period in August 2027.
Projects should be place-based rather than purely national in scope. They should investigate how developments in areas such as emerging technologies, workforce initiatives and innovation-economy investments affect specific communities or regions.
Projects may examine connections among educational institutions, workforce development, economic development and industrial policy.
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Publication and Intended Outlet
Applicants should identify the outlet where they intend to publish their fellowship project and explain the outlet’s commitment to running the work.
Work Shift may also serve as a primary or secondary publisher for some projects. Applicants who want Work Shift to co-publish or primarily publish their work can indicate this in the application.
Required Application Materials
A complete application includes several required components.
Applicants must provide:
• Basic personal and professional information
• A statement of interest and project proposal of 500–750 words
• One letter of recommendation or a statement of qualifications
• Résumé
• Links to three work samples
The three work samples should have been published within the previous five years and should represent the applicant’s strongest recent work.
Application Process
Work Shift and New America use an online application portal for the fellowship.
Applicants must create an account before completing the application. They can return to the portal and make changes before final submission.
All required application components must be received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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Fellowship Timeline
The Future of Work Reporting Fellowship runs for approximately one year.
Key confirmed dates are:
• Applications opened: April 7, 2026
• Application deadline: September 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
• Fellowship begins: September 2026
• Fellows announced: Fall 2026
• Fellowship concludes: August 2027
• Reporting projects must be published by the end of August 2027
Application Deadline
All components of the application must be submitted by:
September 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
Applicants are strongly encouraged by the organisers to submit all components at least one day before the deadline to ensure that their materials have been received.
Applications missing required components at the deadline will be considered incomplete.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official New America application portal below.
