Kickstart your journalism career: apply for WBUR's newsroom fellowships
WBUR offers several newsrooms fellowship for early career journalists eager to careers in public media. Applicants should be recent graduates or new to journalism who are ambitious, hold a passion for public radio, are looking to build reporting and production skills, and have demonstrated experience with and commitment to advancing issues of underrepresented voices in public media.
WBUR's fellowships provide hands-on training in every aspect of public media journalism. Fellows develop their skills under the guidance of WBUR’s editors and producers and have opportunities to work alongside newsroom journalists. Fellows are active members of the WBUR newsroom, involved in the production of news at every level – from morning editorial meetings to field reporting, to story mixing and publishing.
With these fellowships, WBUR seeks to cultivate the talent and develop the skills of emerging journalists so that they may grow in their careers and become the next generation of reporters and newsroom leaders.
**Applications for the 2026 Fellowships are closed**
Fellowships for 2026:
Newsroom Rotation Fellowship, one year
This fellow will embed in different parts of the newsroom, rotating approximately every three months, maximizing exposure to the many aspects of public media:
- Newscast. The fellow will learn how to gather and write headline-style stories for broadcast, navigate WBUR’s newsroom content management systems, and record and edit audio.
- Live Broadcast. The fellow will join the production team producing interviews and segments for WBUR's flagship magazine shows. They will pitch ideas and learn how to produce daily segments for air, both live and pre-recorded.
- Digital. The fellow will learn how to prepare stories for WBUR’s website, write headlines, and deploy social media strategy.
- Reporting. In the final months of the fellowship, the fellow will use the skills developed in the previous rotations as a reporter in the newsroom. The fellow will have a chance to pitch ideas and be assigned to stories, working with an editor to learn piece scripting, editing, and story production.
Climate & Environment Reporting Fellowship, one year
WBUR’s Climate & Environment team reports on climate change, health, pollution, energy and ecology in New England and beyond. The team is dedicated to being the top source of environmental coverage in the region, producing stories with local relevance and national resonance. Because communities of color are often the hardest hit by the effects of pollution and climate change, the team is committed to covering stories of racism and environmental justice.
We are looking for an ambitious, inquisitive and self-starting fellow with excellent writing and reporting skills who wants to work on original, enterprising climate and environment stories affecting Massachusetts’ communities. Responsibilities will consist of filing shorter pieces for air and online – including breaking news – and reporting longer features. You will work alongside the WBUR Climate & Environment team and be expected to generate and pitch story ideas, take assignments, and develop stories for broadcast and publication.
Arts & Culture Reporting Fellowship, six months
WBUR’s Arts & Culture team covers the vibrant and thriving arts scene in and around Greater Boston with a particular focus on overlooked communities and artforms. Our reporting is featured on air, online, in our weekly newsletter, and at live events hosted at WBUR’s CitySpace and other venues across the city. We’re passionate about human-centered storytelling and strive to bring curiosity, openness and thoughtfulness to all we do. If this sounds exciting, we want to hear from you.
The fellow will be embedded with the team and report on local arts and culture news in the Boston area. They'll work with the arts & culture editors to develop local reporting skills, enterprise stories and radio technique. Assignments will include covering breaking news stories, writing local arts guides, crafting social media posts and reporting short news stories for broadcast.
READ: An insider's look at the WBUR newsroom fellowship
Fellowships and Application Details
- The fellowships are open to candidates who have recently received — or are about to receive — an undergrad or graduate degree, or who have recently embarked on a career in journalism.
- Applications are open now and due by Friday, September 26, 2025. Finalists will be notified by late October.
- The yearlong Newsroom Rotation Fellowship and Climate & Environment Reporting Fellowship are full time and fellows will receive a salary of $58,656 along with healthcare and other Boston University benefits. They begin in early January and will run through the end of December 2026.
- The six-month Arts & Culture Fellowship is full time and fellows will receive a salary of $29,328 along with healthcare and other Boston University benefits. The fellowship begins in early January and will run through early July.
Application Should Include
- A cover letter explaining why you want to work in public media, what you hope to achieve in the fellowship, and your interest or experience in promoting traditionally underrepresented voices and issues in media.
- Resume.
- One work sample, for example: news clip, audio sample, an academic paper, or piece of creative writing. (Maximum of 5 pages.)
FAQs
Is this fellowship remote or in-person?
Fellowships are in-person in our Boston newsroom, though there will be opportunities to work a hybrid schedule.
What is the interview and fellowship timeline?
We will be conducting interviews in early November, and selecting fellows later in November. The fellowships will begin in early January.
Will I be able to apply for future fellowship opportunities with WBUR if I'm not accepted?
Yes!
I graduate in the spring. Am I eligible?
The fellowships are for people who have already graduated. We’d encourage you to consider the next fellowship round.
I didn't major in journalism. Can I still apply?
Absolutely! We are looking for curious minds who are enthusiastic about a career in public media. We look forward to reading more about your commitment to journalism in your cover letter.
Who chooses the fellowship recipients?
Applications go through two rounds of reviews by WBUR journalists to arrive at a pool of finalists. A small group of journalists — including editors and current fellows — will interview the finalists to arrive at a final decision.
Is housing provided?
Unfortunately not, but The BU Real Estate Office is a good place to start.
What can I expect once the fellowship is over?
Completion of a fellowship does not guarantee a full-time or permanent position at WBUR, though several fellows have gone on to join the staff. In either case, we want to help fellows make meaningful connections throughout their fellowship and provide an experience that gives fellows a competitive edge when pursuing a career in journalism. We hope to be a support and a resource to all our fellows, even after the completion of the program.
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