Journalism Fellowship Opportunity 

Ecology-Civics Reporting in New Jersey

Are you interested in exploring ecology and civics in the Garden State? Are you a New Jersey reporter dedicated to quality journalism that empowers citizens and sparks new thinking in communities and newsrooms?

CivicStory is excited to accept applications from passionate professional and college student reporters to join the next cohort of fellows in our New Jersey Sustainability Reporting project.

The four-month fellowship supports journalists and their newsrooms with:

• Per-story stipends and bonuses

• Exploration of ecology & civics news topics

• Access to ecology and civics experts statewide

• Enhanced visibility for fellows’ stories

Applications are due by Tuesday, January 29, 2025. Please read down for details.

Fellowship Information

Starting the week of February 24, 2025, the ecology-civics fellowship will equip and compensate New Jersey reporters for producing sustainability stories that are co-published or co-aired by their own newsroom and on CivicStory’s project site  www.SRhub.org. During the fellowship, participants will be introduced to subject matter experts in ecology and civics. The program provides motivated, passionate journalists with insights, new contacts, and myriad story ideas for the communities served by their newsrooms.

The NJ Sustainability Reporting fellowship is a program of CivicStory (www.civicstory.org), a nonprofit news organization. The project is an independent media collaborative that amplifies ecology and civic action and initiatives in New Jersey. For more information and to view stories by past fellows, visit www.SRhub.org.

Fellowship Expectations

All fellows will virtually attend 4 orientation and professional development sessions between Feb. 24 and May 10, 2025. Each one-hour Zoom session will provide  information and insights about key issues concerning ecology and civics.

Fellows will report solutions-based stories on ecology and civics-related topics of their choosing; newsrooms retain editorial independence. Each fellow’s news outlet will co-publish their stories between March 1 and June 21, 2025, and CivicStory will publish the stories on www.SRhub.org.

Story topics may include: restoring biodiversity; progress toward zero waste; food and seed sovereignty; urban agriculture; environmental justice; mitigating urban heat islands; flood mitigation; clean water, air and soil; native gardens and urban microforests—to name just a few.

CivicStory welcomes candidates from newsrooms that report stories in any format, including written (print and/or digital), audio, video, and photo essays. 

Professional journalist fellows will produce 4 news stories of at least 600 words each, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. Per-story stipends of $500 are paid to newsrooms, and funds are allocated at newsrooms’ discretion. (Reporters should discuss terms with their editor before confirming acceptance.) A bonus of $500 will be paid to fellows for attending all sessions and completing stories and a survey.

Student journalist fellows must be enrolled in a New Jersey college or university. Student fellows will produce 2 news stories of at least 500 words, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. Stories will be published or aired by the fellow’s campus news outlet or student publication and CivicStory. Students will receive a per-story stipend of $250, and a bonus of $350 for attending all sessions, and completing story assignments and a survey.

Selection criteria

CivicStory seeks a diverse group of motivated, open-minded candidates who are interested in the power of their journalistic platforms as tools – tools that can help their audiences recognize their civic capacity for advancing ecology, sustainability and environmental justice.

All professional and student fellow candidates must have an affiliation with a news outlet that serves a New Jersey audience. Student candidates must contribute to their campus publications or news programs during the fellowship.

Candidates will be evaluated on their interest, writing samples, and openness to new topics and story angles. CivicStory seeks a cohort of fellows representing reflecting the demographic diversity of the state.

Application process

All candidates must apply by January 29, 2025.  

Both professional and student journalist applicants must complete an online application, and supply a resume and two samples of published or broadcast work. 

Candidates’ interviews will be scheduled in early February.

For more information, or if you are unable to complete the application online, please contact CivicStory at editor@civicstory.org.