StoryReach U.S.

HOW IT WORKS

Each year of the program, the Pulitzer Center will seek applications to form the cohort of StoryReach U.S. Fellows. The yearlong Fellowship is a chance for forward-thinking journalists, partnered with U.S. local and regional newsrooms, to collaborate with peers and the Center’s staff to unlock the full potential of storytelling and innovative audience-centered engagement.

Fellows commit to reporting and publishing stories in local or regional U.S. news outlets that reflect pressing issues impacting the communities where the outlets are based. They also identify the key audiences for the stories they are reporting, explore how those audiences engage with news and other sources to inform themselves and their communities, and develop publication and engagement plans that connect the key audiences they identified to the information in their reporting.  In 2024, we supported nine journalists partnered with local U.S. newsrooms in Texas, Indiana, Missouri, Alaska, and more.

This summer, we will launch a second cohort of eight to nine Fellows for StoryReach Midwest. Applications are now open for freelance and staff reporters hosted by local or regional news outlets in the following 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

There are two key reasons for this regional approach. First, this region of the United States has seen the sharpest decline in newsrooms and journalists, according to Revelio Labs. Secondly, the Center has a wealth of experience supporting Midwest newsrooms, along with civic and educational organizations.

StoryReach is a response to the challenges facing local and regional outlets across the United States. Amid the surge of misinformation, fragmenting news consumption habits and declining civic health, the Pulitzer Center's news engagement accelerator empowers local newsrooms to connect with new and diverse audiences. Through specialized training, resources, and monthly virtual gatherings for Fellows, StoryReach engages journalists, their newsroom teams, and the Center's nearly two decades of experience working with journalism and civic organizations to extend the reach and impact of journalism beyond publication.  

JOIN THE NETWORK

The StoryReach U.S. Fellowship is open to freelance and staff journalists partnered with local and regional news outlets. The 12-month, part-time Fellowship provides journalists with up to $30,000 to pursue their reporting project and innovative engagement activities that expand the reach and impact of their reporting. In addition, Fellows have access to data and research support and training with peers that will help strengthen their reporting projects and related engagement activities. They are also eligible to receive training and data, communication, research, and coordination support from the Pulitzer Center. They will work closely with their co-Fellows, benefiting from one another’s skills and diverse perspectives.

Applications for 2025 StoryReach Midwest are now open. Submit your proposal by May 1, 2025, at 11:59pm ET. 

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