How do I apply?

Apply here. Applications open October 2, 2024. Deadline to apply is November 4, 2024. Students and will be notified by email about fellowship interviews by November 22, 2024. Newsrooms will called by RJI to follow up on the application and discuss project possibilities prior to being matched with a student.

What is a 2025 RJI Student Innovation Fellowship? 

A Mizzou journalism student placed with a news organization to work 30-40 hours per week in a summer RJI Student Innovation Fellowship. These fellowships are being sponsored by RJI’s Palmer Innovation Endowment fund. They must be focused on projects that create, extend or build upon innovative work in each newsroom and transparently share that work with the industry by publishing articles for the Innovation in Focus series to help journalists learn from and emulate the innovative work.

What do the student fellows receive?

Each student fellow receives a minimum stipend of $8000 and will be expected to work for 30–40 hours a week for 12 weeks, starting mid-May and ending mid-August. Organizations are allowed (and encouraged!) to supplement this stipend with hourly pay.

Payments from RJI are made in two parts. Half the stipend is paid at the beginning of the fellowship (within 30 days after their start date) and the second half is paid after all the student’s RJI deliverables are met.

Who are the 2025 newsroom & org partners?

These fellowships are designed for each student to work with a newsroom or journalism organization on innovative projects of mutual interest. Partner organizations are chosen based on their application and the availability of a student fellow whose interests match.

If you are a newsroom who would like to host a student fellow, apply here.

Do I qualify for a fellowship?

All current and soon to be recently graduated Missouri School of Journalism students are eligible and encouraged to apply. 

Who supervises my work?

Each newsroom will be required to assign a mentor. The mentor will give the RJI Student Innovation Fellow regular feedback and provide guidance on projects. The mentor will also be the main point of contact with RJI on everything related to the fellowship.

In addition, the RJI program supervisor will meet with Student Fellows bi-weekly to make sure they are learning, supported and achieving their goals. 

What am I required to produce for RJI?

Each student’s work will be highlighted in RJI’s Innovation in Focus series and newsletter. These 2-3 articles will be produced by the student fellow over the course of their fellowship to share their work and help other newsrooms implement the same innovation. 

How are the RJI Student Innovation Fellows chosen?

RJI’s Director of Innovation Kat Duncan and Innovation in Focus Editor Emily Lytle will choose up to 10 finalists to interview before awarding the fellowships.