The Tarbell Fellowship 2024 for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence

Applications are invited for Tarbell Fellowship 2024 for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence. The last date of application is 1 October.

About Tarbell Fellowship

The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year programme for early-career journalists interested in covering emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

Fellows receive a 9-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in a study group covering AI governance & technical fundamentals, and attend a 2 week journalism summit in Oxford. The Tarbell Fellowship provides a stipend of up to $50,000 to support these placements.

The programme incorporates expert speakers, feedback & mentorship from experienced journalists and networking events with experts from leading AI organisations. Upon graduation, we expect fellows to bring their expertise to major newsrooms and publications around the globe.

Who do we look for?

• AI expertise. A deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will have experience working in tech journalism, machine learning research, or AI governance.
• ​Passionate about journalism. Previous newsroom experience (including at student newspapers) or comparable experience in a field such as law or research is desirable but not necessary. We seek to support early-career journalists and will prioritize potential over experience.
• ​Excellent writing skills. A creative approach to storytelling combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of a new topic. Fellows must be able to produce compelling copy under tight deadlines.​
• ​Relentless. The ability to doggedly pursue your goals and persevere in the face of adversity. Fellows must be willing to work hard and be capable of withstanding repeated rejection
• ​Open-minded. The desire to understand the truth of any given story, even when it conflicts with prior beliefs. Fellows must be open to criticism and recognize ways they can improve their writing and thinking.

​If you think you have what it takes, but don’t meet every single point above, please apply and let us know how you believe you can bring your unique skills to the world of journalism.

Offerings

• Placement. Fellows receive 9-12 placements at a major newsroom covering artificial intelligence. Placement details vary by outlet. 
• ​Stipend. Fellows receive stipends of up to $50,000, depending on circumstances, for the duration of their placement. We expect stipends to vary between $35,000 – $50,000 depending on location and personal circumstances.
• Intensive AI Training. Prior to placements, fellows undergo a 2-month program on AI technical and governance fundamentals. This program requires ~10 hours per week and is conducted remotely. Sessions include guest lectures, paired assignments, and readings.
• ​Oxford Summit. Fellows attend a two-week summit in Oxford at the beginning of the fellowship. This will be an intensive fortnight of guest speakers, workshops, and networking events in Oxford and London. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.

Application

Interested candidates can fill out the form after click on APPLY

Deadline

The 2024 Tarbell Fellowship will run from January – December 2024. Applications for the 2024 cohort will close on October 1st 2023.

FAQs

Why is it called the Tarbell Fellowship?

The Tarbell Fellowship is named in honour of Ida Tarbell. Tarbell was a pioneering investigative journalist, best known for writing The History of the Standard Oil Company. This seminal piece detailed the rise of Standard Oil and exposed its use of unfair and illegal practices, hastening the dissolution of Standard Oil as a monopoly. Tarbell’s work is a striking example of the power of dedicated journalists to effect real change.

When will the fellowship start?

The fellowship starts annually in March. The 2023 fellowship begins on March 13th 2023.

Is the fellowship remote?

The fellowship is designed to be remote-first. All fellows are expected to attend the Oxford Summit in person from March 13th-24th 2023. We’re excited to support early-career journalists from around the globe. However, we strongly encourage fellows to move to international journalism hubs for the duration of this fellowship. We expect this to accelerate fellows’ careers and will give preferential treatment to those willing to do this. We may be able to provide office space in hubs such as London and New York.

Will costs be covered for the Oxford Summit?

Yes, all travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.

Who is running the Tarbell Fellowship?

The fellowship is a project of Training for Good, an impact-focused career organization. Training for Good runs fellowships that enable talented young professionals to enter careers in policy and journalism tackling the most pressing global problems.