U.S. journalism has an ongoing diversity crisis. There simply are not enough reporters and editors of color to inform, engage and accurately reflect our society.

To combat this, the National Press Foundation’s Widening the Pipeline Fellowship will provide virtual workshops and an in-person training in Washington, D.C., to support journalists of color staying in – and leading – the newsrooms of tomorrow.

NPF welcomes U.S.-based journalists from any medium with seven years or less of professional newsroom experience to participate in this career-defining cohort.

In Widening the Pipeline’s first three years, 65 journalists from across America received skills training, mentoring and peer support to help them navigate America’s newsrooms, where people of color comprise less than a quarter of positions. And too often, early career journalists of color leave the industry due to lack of support and mentorship – before they can build the strategies and skills that could help them make much-needed contributions to communities across the country.

Our fellows have learned from journalism veterans – including Ron Nixon, VP of News and Investigations with the Associated Press; Catalina Camia, Deputy Director at Bloomberg Law; Sudeep Reddy, Washington Bureau Chief at MSNBC; and The Atlantic columnist and author Jemele Hill – and been paired with mentors, such as Delano Massey, managing editor of Axios Local, Kat Stafford, global race and justice editor with Reuters and Gary Lee, executive Editor, Tulsa Flyer and the Oklahoma Eagle.

This support has helped nearly half of Widening the Pipeline fellows land new jobs or receive pay raises. All of the fellows say the program renewed their commitment to an industry that urgently needs their diverse lived experiences shaping coverage.

No one can describe the value of the training better than the fellows themselves:

This competitive fellowship is open to U.S.-based reporters and editors working in print, television, radio or online media. We greatly value diversity in all our programs and applicants from across the nation are encouraged to apply. Through its John C. and Ethel C. Eklund Scholarship Fund, the foundation will cover airfare and hotel for one in-person training in Washington, D.C., held in March 2026. A virtual training day will be held roughly every month, with the following schedule:

2026 session dates:

Jan. 5 (virtual)
Feb. 9 (virtual)
March 11-13 (Washington, D.C.)
April 13 (virtual)
May 11 (virtual)
June 8 (virtual)
Sept. 14 (virtual)
Oct. 12 (virtual)
Nov. 9 (virtual)
Dec. 14 (virtual)

Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from their supervisors including confirmation that they will be permitted to attend all sessions. The application deadline is Dec. 14, 2025.

This fellowship is partially funded by the John C. and Ethel C. Eklund Scholarship Fund. To support the 2026 program, contact Rachel Jones rjones@nationalpress.org. The National Press Foundation is solely responsible for its content.