2026 Journalism Fellowship - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Born from a tradition of journalism and deeply engaged in innovative digital ventures, The Chronicle is powered by an essential mission: to inform, empower, and connect the people and institutions that work to improve society. Today, The Chronicle serves the higher-education community through the industry-leading news and information resource: The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The Chronicle of Higher Education is seeking two reporting fellows to join our newsroom. The fellowship runs from July 2026 to July 2027. The fellows will work as general-assignment reporters, covering a broad set of issues at the center of the academic enterprise.
Your chief responsibility will be to produce smart, engaging coverage of the themes and concerns that touch our readers every day. You will pick up assignments and pitch stories about issues of deep national importance, such as politics, finance and how colleges are changing. Through creative story ideas and careful reporting, your work will shed light on the everyday experiences of scholars, administrators, and students.
We're looking for recent college graduates or early-career journalists with a passion for storytelling and in-depth reporting. You should be curious about higher education, but previous experience covering the sector is not required. You'll need to be self-motivated and proactive, eager to collaborate with others, attuned to how news is distributed online, accustomed to pitching ideas, and flexible enough to juggle multiple stories and approaches — including breaking news and self-driven enterprise writing — at once. You'll write on deadline often, and you'll look to drive conversations about the big issues facing colleges and universities.
The Chronicle is independently owned and based in Washington, D.C. Most Chronicle staff members work in a hybrid capacity out of our D.C. office, but remote work in VA, MD, MI, WA, TX, FL, NC, and NY may be considered. If you have questions about the policy, email Megan Zahneis at megan.zahneis@chronicle.com.
This position will pay $55,000 a year with benefits — including health, dental and vision and paid time off — which are among the best in the business. Fellows can also expect internal and external opportunities for professional development and a one-on-one mentorship program with a senior staff member.
If this sounds like the place you want to make your mark, submit a cover letter, résumé, five clips, three brief pitches for story ideas, and the names and contact information of three references. Please ensure application readers are able to view your clips (e.g., an ad doesn't cover half the article). Cover letters should be addressed to the Chronicle Fellowship Selection Committee.
We will begin reviewing applications on Thursday, January 15 and hope to extend offers by early March.
Zoom Info Session
Interested applicants are invited to attend a zoom session with members from the Editorial Team to learn more about The Chronical and it's Fellowship Program.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 2:00 ET
Meeting ID: 441 918 7951
Passcode: 416484
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Report and write stories that contribute to The Chronicle’s short-term and medium-term news coverage and that appear in The Chronicle’s flagship daily newsletter.
Write or contribute to The Chronicle’s Daily Briefing subscriber-only newsletter.
Pitch, report and write one or more ambitious long-form features over the course of the year.
Show a strong ethical core. Be familiar with and follow The Chronicle’s editorial and ethics policies.
Treat sources and readers fairly. Return their calls, letters, and e-mails and answer questions.
Strive for accuracy and fairness above all. When errors occur, work with sources and editors to clarify or correct the record.
Meet deadlines and communicate frequently and promptly with all parties involved, including the assigning editor, copy editor, and Visuals department to ensure timely production.
Work collaboratively with the Visuals department to arrange for compelling visual treatments that may include photography, illustration, multimedia, and data.
Work collaboratively with the Audience department to produce engaging and appropriate promotions for social media and other platforms.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of one internship or college newsroom position preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of MS Office applications, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Proficiency with Brightspot or other content management system preferred.
Strong organizational and verbal communication skills with keen attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Strong writing, interviewing and fact-checking capabilities.
Ability to learn quickly.
Ability to complete reporting assignments from an editor and meet established deadlines.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Ability to perform work indoors in climate-controlled private work area with minimal noise, performing primarily sedentary work.
Ability to routinely perform work on computer for an average of 7-8 hours per day, when necessary.
Ability to work extended hours whenever requested by management.
The Chronicle is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse work environment. We encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply.