Fully Funded Nova Media Fellowship 2026–2027 – Apply Now.
The Nova Media Fellowship 2026–2027 is a prestigious, fully funded program designed to support exceptional journalists and nonprofit newsrooms reporting on the complex, interconnected factors that shape health and well-being.
This fellowship empowers storytellers to produce impactful, evidence-based, and solution-focused journalism that advances public understanding and inspires meaningful change.
Each year, Nova selects a small cohort of Media Fellows whose work explores pressing global issues related to human flourishing.
The Nova Media Fellowship provides selected journalists with the time, funding, and editorial freedom needed to pursue ambitious reporting projects.
Fellows maintain full editorial independence, allowing them to define their storytelling approach, angles, and dissemination strategies.
The program emphasizes:
- Evidence-based journalism
- Solution-oriented storytelling
- Broad audience engagement across sectors (science, policy, communities, and the public)
Fellowship Benefits
Selected Media Fellows will receive:
- $60,000 grant distributed over 12 months
- Additional travel and conference stipends
- Flexible support to explore in-depth and evolving storylines
- Opportunities to reach global audiences and decision-makers
Fellowship Duration:
- September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
The Nova Media Fellowship is more than just funding; it’s an opportunity to:
- Produce high-impact journalism that influences global conversations
- Explore complex health challenges through innovative lenses
- Contribute to a future where all people can thrive and flourish
If you are a journalist passionate about uncovering solutions and telling stories that matter, this fellowship offers the platform, resources, and freedom to bring your ideas to life.
To apply for the Nova Media Fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Professional journalists with a proven track record of publication (local, regional, or national)
- Nonprofit newsrooms
- Student-led newsrooms affiliated with educational institutions
- Applicants must reside in the United States throughout the fellowship period
- Projects may include international or global reporting
Not Eligible
- Book proposals
- Poetry, songwriting, or artwork
- Academic research projects
Nova strongly encourages applications from individuals and communities historically underrepresented in media, including:
- Women
- People of colour
- Indigenous and Native communities
Fellowship Focus Areas (2026–2027).
Nova is particularly interested in proposals addressing innovative and emerging themes, including:
Children’s Health and Development
- Nutrition,
- education
- , and early childhood experiences
- Upstream factors shaping lifelong well-being
Mental Health and Justice
- Legal systems and the “legalome.”
- Compassionate and equitable justice frameworks
Planetary Health and Collective Well-Being
- Climate, ecology, and interconnected global systems
- Practices that foster connection with the natural world
AI, Technology, and Society
- Impacts of artificial intelligence on healthcare and mental health
- Broader societal implications of emerging technologies
Health System Innovation
- New models of primary healthcare
- Addressing systemic inequities
Food Systems and Regenerative Agriculture
- Sustainable agriculture practices
- Transformative food systems
Note: These themes are not exhaustive. Nova welcomes creative, interdisciplinary proposals that explore new ways of understanding health and human flourishing.
Successful proposals should:
- Go beyond identifying problems to highlight innovative solutions
- Demonstrate a clear reporting plan and timeline
- Include a strategy for reaching broad audiences
Provide a publication and dissemination roadmap, including:
- Target outlets
- Social media strategies
- Newsletters (e.g., Substack)
- Speaking engagements
Applicants are also encouraged to include:
- A travel budget
- Existing editorial partnerships or contacts
- A realistic set of deliverables for a one-year project
Application Requirements
For Freelance Journalists:
- Written project proposal
- Résumé
- Relevant work samples
For Newsrooms:
- Application completed by a senior representative (e.g., managing editor)
- Organizational details, including:
- Structure
- Editorial focus
- Available resources
Finalists:
- Must submit two professional letters of recommendation
- Participate in virtual panel interviews
Application Timeline.
- Applications Open: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Info Session (Zoom): Thursday, April 2, 2026 (4:00 PM ET)
- Application Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
- Semi-finalist Interviews: Mid-May 2026
- Finalist Interviews: Mid-June 2026
- Fellowship Awards Announced: Early July 2026
- Program Start Date: September 1, 2026
Note: Dates (except the deadline) may be subject to change.
Additional Requirements and Expectations.
- Fellows must credit Nova’s support in all published work related to the fellowship
- Nova affiliation should be included in bios and bylines, even for unrelated work during the fellowship term
- Fellows are encouraged to embrace curiosity-driven exploration, following new leads and evolving narratives
