The Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program offers a crash course in investigative journalism. Fellows at Mother Jones dive deep into every aspect of a national multimedia outfit—covering breaking news, assisting and conducting investigations, ensuring accuracy and impact, and seeing from the inside how awards are won. Fellows build on their reporting and research experience, working with reporters, editors, and our digital, social, and art teams to master all the dimensions of a prize-winning digital and print publication.
Mother Jones fellowships are full-time positions. The next fellowship cycle will begin in June 2024, and run for one year. Applications will open in spring 2024.
Those who are still in school or are only available part-time are not eligible, nor can fellowships be used for course credit. Because the first two weeks of the fellowship consist of intensive group trainings, all applicants, without exception, must be prepared to start on June 1, 2023. Regrettably, Mother Jones is not able to furnish work visas for applicants from outside the United States.
Fellows receive $22.68/hour, plus benefits including health, dental, and vision, as well as 15 vacation days and 12 sick days. The fellowship is supported by grants from the Irving Harris Foundation, Lannan Foundation, and Helen and Will Webster Foundation, and by the generosity of our contributors.
Mother Jones believes that a diverse newsroom strengthens the quality of our workplace and reporting. We strongly encourage applications from members of communities that have been historically underrepresented in the media, including people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.
Position Description
Editorial Fellowship: The editorial fellowship is a demanding, research-intensive foray into investigative journalism. While fellows spend a large portion of their time fact-checking, the fellowship also offers extensive experience in writing and reporting stories, from breaking news to long enterprise pieces. Fellows work closely with reporters and editors on fact-checking, research, and reporting. You’ll receive training in every aspect of the editorial process, from research tools and methods to media law, and have opportunities to learn magazine pitching, explore feature writing, and hone your reporting, writing, and investigative skills. You’ll attend regular skill-building sessions covering topics that span the operations of a media organization.
Editorial fellows work closely on our award-winning bimonthly print magazine. By fact-checking our investigations, columns, and other reported pieces, fellows reverse-engineer a reporter’s work and learn what it takes to report, organize, and write a sophisticated magazine story. Fellows are also expected and encouraged to report on subjects including national and regional politics, climate change, the justice system, reproductive rights, and culture.
Fellows may also become involved in various digital projects—working on our newsletters, helping with web production, and aiding our Climate Desk partnership—depending on interest and need.
We’re looking for candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Some of our current fellows have had previous journalism jobs, while others are working in a newsroom for the first time. Candidates should be curious, driven, hardworking, and excited about our mission to inspire change through hard-hitting reporting. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.
Mother Jones has offices in San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York City. Most editorial staff are currently working remotely. The 2023-2024 fellowship cycle will be remote, but fellows living near one of our bureaus would be welcome to come into the office if they choose. Fellows are required to be able to work in the US.
How to Apply
To apply to our editorial fellowship, complete this form.
