Nearly 90% of U.S. state legislative chambers will hold elections later this year. To help statehouse and regional reporters prepare for the contentious campaigning and bruising battles over redistricting that could affect U.S. politics for decades, the National Press Foundation will hold a week of journalism training in Austin, Texas, March 27-31.
In addition to gerrymandering and voting rights, key topics will include the future of democracy, handling misinformation, copycat legislation, COVID as a public health and political issue, campaign finances, how federal stimulus money is being spent locally, and voter-motivating issues such as race and abortion. Expert instructors will help journalists with sources and nuanced background, as well as fact-checking, community engagement, accountability journalism and other skills.
This fellowship will be held in person in Austin, Texas, (barring COVID flares or other emergencies) from Sunday, March 27 to Thursday, March 31. Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, and editors must commit to freeing their reporters from daily news duty during program sessions. This is a competitive program for up to 25 fellows, open to U.S. journalists only.
NPF offers this professional development opportunity for journalists to enhance skills, increase knowledge and recharge their reporting on one of today’s most critical issues. The foundation will cover airfare, ground transportation, hotel costs and most meals.
We greatly value diversity in all our programs and particularly seek applications from local and nonprofit news organizations, journalists covering communities that have been disproportionately hurt by the pandemic; Black, Indigenous and other journalists of color; and those attempting to do public-interest reporting about news deserts.
See last year’s Statehouse Reporting Fellows and additional resources.
This program is funded by Arnold Ventures. NPF is solely responsible for the content.