California Local News Fellowship Application - Newsroom Cohort 2026

The California Local News Fellowship is a multi-year, state-funded initiative to strengthen local reporting across California. Since 2023, the program has placed more than 100 early-career journalists in newsrooms throughout the state for two-year reporting fellowships.

This application is for:

• New applicants: Newsrooms that have not yet hosted a California Local News Fellow and are applying for a reporter to cover a beat identified by your newsroom.
• Returning applicants: Newsrooms that have hosted a California Local News Fellow in the 2023-2025 or 2024-2026 cohorts. (Newsrooms currently hosting a 2025-2027 fellow are not eligible.)
• Editing Fellows: We will offer a new one-year editing fellowship to train the next generation of editors, in partnership with the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Any newsroom, new or returning, is eligible for this fellowship. Five editing fellowships will be awarded. Newsrooms are eligible to host both a reporting fellow and an editing fellow at once.

California Local News Fellows will begin working in their newsrooms in early September 2026 and complete the program in August 2028. Editing fellows will begin working in their newsrooms in early September 2026 and complete the program in August 2027.

Review our Newsroom FAQ and to learn more about the fellowship and whether it is a good match for your newsroom.

This application is your chance to describe your newsroom, the fellow’s role, how they will serve your community and your plans for supporting their professional development. Responses do not need to be formal, but should give a clear sense of your editorial mission and newsroom environment, which is important for a strong match.

Returning newsrooms may copy and update, as needed, using their previous application. Email cafellows@berkeley.edu for a copy.

Saving a draft of this application: Select "Save Draft" at the bottom of the page to continue using later with your email and password. A reminder will be emailed 48 hours before the deadline to anyone with an unfinished application.

Note: When you answer some questions below, the form will unlock more required questions. We mention this so you can allow adequate time to complete the application.