Application Deadline: December 1, 2026.
LOCATION: USA
The Knight-Wallace Fellowships offer accomplished journalists two rare commodities: time and resources. Journalists eager for growth and deeply committed to the future of journalism spend an academic year at the University of Michigan to access the resources of a world-class university and dive into a journalism project. Areas of focus can include but are not limited to sharpening professional skills, addressing a challenge facing your newsroom, digging into data and research for a long-term reporting project, or developing a journalism venture.
ELIGIBILITY:
Qualified applicants must have a minimum of five years of experience and be currently working in some aspect of journalism for a news organization or as an independent journalist. We are looking for a diverse range of journalists, including reporters, editors, data experts, visual journalists, audio producers, engagement specialists, designers, developers, entrepreneurs and organizational change agents.
If you are not a full-time journalist, the majority of your work should be in journalism. We do not consider public relations writers, internal trade writers, lobbyists, public advocates, or those seeking a degree.
If you are a U.S. citizen, apply as a U.S. applicant, even if you work in another country or for a non–U.S. journalism entity. If you are not a U.S. citizen, apply as an international applicant, even if you work in the United States or for an American journalism entity. A Green Card is not the same as citizenship.
Terms: All Fellows awarded our in-person fellowship must maintain residency in Ann Arbor for the duration of the fellowship, attend all program seminars and events, and make the fellowship their primary professional focus. Applicants working in a newsroom are encouraged to obtain employer consent granting a leave of absence with the understanding that, upon completion of the fellowship and where applicable, the Fellow will return to their place of employment.
Timeline: Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year open in October 2026.
Deadline for international journalists to apply for the 2027-2028 academic year is December 1, 2026. International applications uploaded under the U.S application portal will not be considered.
Deadline for U.S. journalists to apply for the 2027-2028 academic year is February 1, 2027.
Offers for international Knight-Wallace Fellows will be extended by mid-February 2027. Offers for Knight-Wallace Fellows with U.S. citizenship will be extended by early May 2027.
The 2027-2028 academic year begins in late August 2027. Fellows are expected to arrive in Ann Arbor by mid-August.
Selection: Great care goes into assembling classes of Fellows that represent a diversity of experience, journalism specialty, geographic region and type and size of news organizations. Typically, up to six international colleagues join ten to twelve U.S. journalists. International finalists are interviewed in January and February to allow time for visa processing after selections are made. U.S. finalists are interviewed in April.
U.S. Applicants:
We award fellowships to U.S. journalists for immersive study projects touching on various areas including education, public policy, sports, health and medicine, technology and news innovation, transportation and environment, and international reporting. We also offer a specialized fellowship—the Great Lakes Local News Fellowship—for U.S. journalists. Applicants for this fellowship will apply using our general application with essays that address the specialty focus and requirements as outlined on our About page.
BENEFIT:
$85,000 stipend plus $5,000 for relocation expenses distributed monthly from August through April for living expenses (costs for health insurance, auditing courses, and participating in required workshops and fellowship activities paid for by Wallace House)
Individual relocation support and assistance with finding and securing housing to meet each Fellow’s housing needs
Spouses and partners are invited to participate in fellowship activities and audit university courses as well
