Deadline: 20-Apr-2026
The Nova’s Media Fellowship Program supports journalists and nonprofit newsrooms in the United States reporting on the interconnected drivers of health and well-being. For the 2026–27 cycle, three Media Fellows will be selected, each receiving $60,000 over 12 months, plus additional travel and conference stipends, to pursue ambitious, evidence-based, and solutions-focused reporting projects.
About the Fellowship
The Nova’s Media Fellowship Program is designed to support outstanding journalists and nonprofit newsrooms working on reporting projects that examine the complex systems shaping health and well-being.
The fellowship encourages journalism that goes beyond surface-level health coverage and instead explores the broader social, environmental, legal, technological, and structural conditions that influence how individuals and communities thrive.
Fellows are expected to produce ambitious, evidence-based, and solution-focused reporting that can inform and engage audiences such as:
- Policymakers
- Scientists
- General public
Importantly, fellows retain full editorial independence throughout the program.
Priority Reporting Themes
The fellowship prioritizes projects that investigate upstream and interconnected factors affecting health and well-being, including:
- Children’s health and well-being, including:
- Mental health, well-being, and justice, including:
- Legal systems
- Compassionate and restorative approaches
- Planetary health and collective flourishing, including:
- Ecological solutions
- Integrated systems thinking
- Artificial intelligence and technology, including:
- Impacts on healthcare
- Effects on broader societal well-being
- Emerging models of primary healthcare, especially:
- Systems addressing inequities
- Innovative community-centered care models
- Regenerative agriculture and conscious food systems, including:
- Transformative food practices
- Sustainable and equitable health-linked agriculture
Fellowship Benefits
For the 2026–27 cycle, Nova will select:
- 3 Media Fellows
Each fellow will receive:
- $60,000 in funding
- Distributed over 12 months
- Additional travel stipend
- Additional conference stipend
This support is intended to help fellows pursue substantial reporting projects with depth, rigor, and public impact.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Working journalists with a proven publication record in:
- Local outlets
- Regional outlets
- National outlets
- Nonprofit newsrooms
- Student-led newsrooms
Residency Requirement
Although reporting projects may have a global focus, applicants must:
- Reside in the United States
- Remain in the United States throughout the fellowship period
Ineligible Submissions
The program does not accept the following types of submissions:
The fellowship is specifically intended for journalistic reporting projects.
Why This Fellowship Matters
This is a valuable opportunity for journalists because it supports reporting that treats health not as an isolated topic, but as something deeply connected to:
- Childhood conditions
- Justice systems
- Ecological change
- Food systems
- Healthcare inequities
- Technology and AI
It is especially strong for reporters interested in systems journalism, solutions journalism, and cross-disciplinary public interest reporting.
Quick Facts
- Program: Nova’s Media Fellowship Program
- Cycle: 2026–27
- Number of Fellows: 3
- Funding Amount: $60,000 per fellow
- Duration: 12 months
- Extra Support: Travel and conference stipends
- Eligible Applicants: Working journalists, nonprofit newsrooms, student-led newsrooms
- Location Requirement: Must reside in the United States during the fellowship
- Project Focus: Reporting on health and well-being through systemic and interdisciplinary lenses
FAQ
1. How much funding does the fellowship provide?
Each selected Media Fellow receives $60,000 over 12 months, plus travel and conference stipends.
2. How many fellows will be selected?
Nova will select three Media Fellows for the 2026–27 cycle.
3. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Working journalists
- Nonprofit newsrooms
- Student-led newsrooms
Applicants should have a proven publication track record if applying as individual journalists.
4. Can projects focus on issues outside the United States?
Yes. Projects may have a global scope, but applicants must reside in the United States during the fellowship period.
5. What types of projects are not eligible?
The fellowship does not accept:
- Books
- Poetry
- Songwriting
- Artwork
- Academic research projects
6. Do fellows keep editorial independence?
Yes. Selected fellows maintain full editorial independence.
Conclusion
The Nova’s Media Fellowship Program 2026–27 is a strong funding opportunity for U.S.-based journalists and nonprofit newsrooms seeking to report on the deep structural drivers of health and well-being.
With $60,000 in support, editorial freedom, and a strong emphasis on evidence-based, solutions-oriented journalism, the fellowship is especially well suited for ambitious reporting projects that connect health, justice, ecology, technology, food systems, and social equity.
For more information, visit Nova Institute for Health.