Calling all professional and college student reporters!

CivicStory is seeking passionate professional, freelance, and college student reporters to join the fifth cohort of journalism fellows in our flagship New Jersey Sustainability Reporting project.

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

• Up to $3,000 in stipends for professional fellows and up to $600 for students

• Opportunities for professional development

• Access to sustainability experts statewide

• Enhanced visibility for fellows’ stories

CivicStory seeks a cohort of NJSR fellows representing newsrooms throughout New Jersey, and reflecting the diversity of the state.

Applications are due by Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, and will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

Fellowship Information

Fellowship applications will be accepted beginning December 8, 2022. Fellowships will begin February 13, 2023, following a selection and interview process.

 The NJSR fellowship equips and compensates New Jersey reporters for producing sustainability stories that are co-published or co-aired by campus or professional news outlets and on the NJSR website, www.SRhub.org.

The program provides motivated, passionate journalists with insights, new contacts, and myriad story ideas for the communities served by their newsrooms. Professional development events will allow fellows to broaden their contacts and expertise in sustainability journalism.

NJSR is the flagship project of CivicStory (www.CivicStory.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization. For more information and to view stories by past fellows, visit www.SRhub.org.

Fellowship Expectations

All professional and student fellows will virtually attend one orientation session and four professional development sessions over the course of the fellowship. Each of these one-hour Zoom sessions will provide fellows with information to report impactful stories on sustainability. 

Fellows will report solutions-based stories on sustainability topics of their choosing with a New Jersey connection; newsrooms retain editorial independence. Each fellow’s news outlet will publish/air their stories over the course of the fellowship, and CivicStory will publish/air the stories on www.SRhub.org. Freelance applicants will pitch and place their stories during the same period.

Story topics could include: environmental justice; restoring biodiversity; reducing waste; the connections between food and the environment; sustainable agriculture (including urban agriculture); clean energy; clean water; anti-pollution action; or landscaping and gardening with native plants — to name just a few.

CivicStory welcomes candidates reporting in any medium, including written (print and/or digital), audio, video, and photo essays. 

Professional journalist fellows will produce 6 news stories of at least 500 words each, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. A per-story stipend of $500 is paid directly to newsrooms. Funds are allocated at newsrooms’ discretion. Reporters should discuss terms with their editor before applying. With prior approval, stipends can be combined to fund longer/more ambitious work and reduce overall story output.

Independent or Freelance journalist fellows must submit clips that demonstrate the ability to place stories in reputable publications. Each fellow will produce 6 news stories of at least 500 words each, or audio or video stories of two to five minutes’ duration. A per-story stipend of $500 will be paid directly to independent or freelance fellows. With prior approval, stipends can be combined to fund longer/more ambitious work and reduce overall story output.

Student journalist fellows must be enrolled in a New Jersey college or university. Student fellows will produce 3 news stories of at least 300 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 first, when possible. Students will receive a per-story stipend of $150, plus a $150 completion bonus. With prior approval, stipends can be combined to fund longer/more ambitious work and reduce overall story output.

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 environmental sustainability and environmental justice.

Candidates will be evaluated on their interest, writing samples, and experience (note that we welcome journalists at all stages of their careers).