RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships 2026

The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) on the Missouri School of Journalism invites proposals from people and organizations who need to construct sensible, modern assets for community-centered information. These fellowships are designed to empower journalists, newsrooms, and the communities they serve by offering funding, mentorship, and visibility for impactful tasks.

All fellowship tasks are:

• Built, examined, and launched throughout the fellowship interval
• Free, accessible, and open-source for journalists, newsrooms, and the general public
• Designed to deal with actual challenges in journalism and media innovation

Fellowship Overview

• Applications for the 2026 Fellowships open: December 1, 2025
• Deadline to apply: February 6, 2026
• Fellowship begin date: June 29, 2026
• Duration: 8 months
• Deliverables: Fellows should publish articles, webinars, and public-facing assets to share their learnings.
• Final product: A publicly accessible device, information, platform, or workshop that can be utilized by journalists and newsrooms worldwide.

Examples of previous fellowship tasks embody:

• A Slack-based search engine optimization device for newsrooms
• A bilingual information to misinformation
• A Quick-Start Guide to Freelancing
• Other modern assets tailor-made to journalists’ wants

Types of Fellowships

1. Institutional Fellowship

• Fellow embedded inside a company to construct a useful resource, device, program, or product.
• Designed to deal with a present want or hole for that group, whereas remaining relevant to the broader journalism business.
• Fellows could also be employed by the group or collaborate via a partnership.
• Stipend: $75,000 (paid in three installments based mostly on deliverables).
• Format: Remote, with just a few visits to RJI through the fellowship.

2. Individual Fellowship

• Fellow works independently to create a useful resource, device, or program addressing a problem in journalism.
• Ideal for journalists, consultants, researchers, or freelancers pursuing modern tasks outdoors their fundamental work.
• Stipend: $75,000 (paid in three installments based mostly on deliverables).
• Format: Remote, with just a few visits to RJI through the fellowship.

3. Emerging Technology Fellowship

• Fellow leverages cutting-edge expertise to resolve an issue in journalism.
• The resolution should depend on rising expertise as a core part.
• Stipend: $100,000 (paid in three installments based mostly on deliverables).
• Format: Remote, with just a few visits to RJI through the fellowship.

Fellowship Process & Timeline

• First spherical purposes shut: February 6, 2026
• Second spherical purposes despatched: By February 20, 2026
  • Applicants can have two weeks to finish the in-depth application.
• Finalist interviews: April 6–17, 2026
• Fellowship begins: June 29, 2026

Expectations for Fellows

During the fellowship, individuals are anticipated to:

• Build, take a look at, and refine their useful resource, device, or product.
• Gather suggestions internally and externally earlier than launch.
• Share progress via articles, webinars, and different public-facing deliverables.
• Ensure the ultimate product is free, accessible, and usable by journalists and newsrooms globally.

Why Apply?

The RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships present:

• Funding: Substantial stipends to assist mission prices.
• Visibility: Opportunities to share your work with a world journalism group.
• Impact: An opportunity to create instruments and assets that strengthen journalism and empower communities.
• Support: Guidance from RJI and collaboration with friends within the fellowship community.

Upcoming Fellowship Q&A Session

The RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships are a novel alternative for journalists, researchers, and organizations to create lasting affect within the media business. By funding modern tasks, RJI ensures that journalism continues to evolve in ways in which serve communities, strengthen belief, and embrace new applied sciences.

Whether you’re a person innovator, a company in search of to increase its attain, or a technologist exploring new options, this fellowship supplies the platform, assets, and assist to deliver your imaginative and prescient to life. Learn extra and  Apply Here.

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