The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships (JSK) at Stanford University invite up to 20 journalists from around the world to spend nine months on campus, from September through May, with a $135,000 stipend, Stanford tuition and health insurance covered, and a deadline of 2 December 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. Applications for the 2027-28 fellowships are open. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the official JSK pages and set out what the fellowship gives, what it asks in return and how to apply. For a primer on the format, see our guide to what a fellowship is.
What the JSK Fellowship Is
Based at Stanford University, the fellowship empowers diverse journalism leaders to succeed as effective change agents, sustain democratic communities and defend press freedom around the world. Each year up to 20 journalists join the programme for nine months and work collaboratively on journalism's most urgent challenges.
🏛️ Host: Stanford University, Stanford area, USA
👥 Cohort: up to 20 journalists from around the world each year
🗓️ Duration: nine months, from September through May
🧠 Approach: no project is required in advance; the programme looks for people with a question they cannot let go of, the drive to pursue it and the openness to have their thinking challenged
What a JSK Fellow Receives
💵 Stipend: $135,000 for the nine months
🎓 Tuition: Stanford tuition is covered
🩺 Health insurance: Stanford health insurance, plus a health supplement for dependents enrolled in Stanford coverage
🏠 Housing help: advice on finding rental housing and settling into the Stanford area, for you and your family
🧭 Coaching and workshops: individual coaching and customised workshops from the programme directors, partners and advisers
🌐 Network: access to the global JSK alumni network
📚 Time at Stanford: time to explore Stanford's academic and creative offerings, including classes and talks
What the Fellowship Experience Is Like
For nine months you step away from the daily grind and into Stanford. The programme describes a small cohort, personal programming and the run of the university.
👫 A small cohort: fellows work and learn together
🎯 Programming that is personal: individual coaching and customised workshops
🏫 The run of Stanford: take classes and attend talks; fellows sit in on many classes informally, without grades or academic credit
🤝 A lifelong network: the global JSK alumni community
👪 Family: spouses or partners and children are welcome
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🌍 All opportunities in the United States →
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What JSK Asks of Fellows
🏠 Residence: be in residence at Stanford from September through May and treat the fellowship as a full-time commitment
📅 Meetings: join weekly cohort meetings and biweekly one-on-one coaching sessions
🎪 Events: attend occasional JSK and Stanford events
📣 Sharing: share your insights and reflections publicly along the way
🤲 Collaboration: work respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
Who Can Apply
Applicants need at least five years of professional experience. A college degree or experience inside a traditional newsroom is not required. Student work and internships are valuable but do not count toward the five years.
📰 Directly producing journalism: people involved in producing journalistic content in any capacity
🗂️ Operations or strategy roles: people working in operations or strategy roles in news organisations
🤝 Supporting organisations: people working with an organisation that supports or collaborates directly with journalists
💼 Employee or independent: it does not matter whether you work as an employee or an independent contractor, but freelancers need the majority of their work (at minimum over 50 percent) to be within the journalism sector
🗣️ English: fellows are expected to be proficient in written and spoken English, and no TOEFL scores are needed
Who Should Not Apply
JSK says the fellowship is not the right fit if you:
🎓 Seek a degree: the fellowship does not award one
📢 Work in public information or public relations
🏢 Produce in-house or industry communications
🏛️ Are a government employee
🔬 Are a full-time academic
The programme also does not support book or reporting projects, it is not a startup accelerator, and it does not consider applicants working for or with organisations that are not editorially independent, such as government-operated media.
Visa Rules for International Fellows
JSK Fellows and their eligible dependents come to Stanford on J-1 and J-2 visas tied to the fellowship, and no visa is needed before applying. International candidates should note one restriction: if you are a citizen of a country where the United States has suspended issuance of nonimmigrant visas (specifically J visas), JSK would be unable to offer you a fellowship, and the programme recommends waiting to apply until the restrictions are lifted. If you hold citizenship and a passport from an additional country without a visa restriction, you could apply with that citizenship.
What You Need to Submit
📝 Online application form: questions about your professional background and goals
📄 Resume
🖼️ Work example
👥 Three professional references: contact information for three references
Selection Timeline
🗓️ 2 December: application deadline, by 1:00 p.m. Pacific time
📬 Early March: initial evaluations completed; applicants not moving forward are notified by email
💻 March: Zoom interviews
🎁 April: international fellowship offers are extended, and finalists for the U.S. fellowships are notified
🇺🇸 May: U.S. fellowship offers are extended
📢 May: JSK International Fellows are announced
🧳 August: fellows move to the Stanford area to prepare for orientation
🎉 Early September: fellowship orientation
How to Apply
Applications for the 2027-28 fellowships opened on 14 October at 1 p.m. Pacific time. Create an account on SurveyMonkey Apply, the application platform, answer a few profile questions to see whether you qualify for the U.S. or the international fellowship, and complete the online form. JSK does not offer extensions or accept late applications, with no exceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may apply for the JSK Fellowships?
U.S. and international journalists, people in operations or strategy roles in news organisations, and people working with organisations that support or collaborate directly with journalists. You need at least five years of professional experience, and a college degree is not required.
What financial support do fellows receive?
A stipend of $135,000, Stanford tuition and Stanford health insurance for the fellow, as well as for spouses and children who come to Stanford.
What is the deadline, and are extensions possible?
The deadline is 1:00 p.m. Pacific time on 2 December 2026. There are no extensions and no late applications.
Do I earn a degree or academic credit?
No. Fellows can sit in on many Stanford classes informally, but they do not receive grades or academic credit.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Spouses or partners and children are welcome, and they come on J-2 visas tied to the fellowship.
Do I need a visa before I apply?
No visa is needed in advance of applying. Fellows and eligible dependents receive J-1 and J-2 visas tied to the fellowship.
What are the fellow's obligations?
Stay in residence at Stanford from September to May, treat the fellowship as full time, attend weekly cohort meetings and one-on-one meetings with an adviser, and share your work and insights publicly.
Deadline
⏳ 02 December 2026 (1:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Links
🔗 Application platform (SurveyMonkey Apply): https://jsk.smapply.org/
🔗 Fellowship information: https://jsk.stanford.edu/become-a-fellow
🔗 Fellowship FAQ: https://jsk.stanford.edu/become-a-fellow/faq
✉️ Contact: jskfellowships@stanford.edu
🔎 More fellowships on Youth Works Hub: https://youthworkshub.org/?tab=fellowships
