2027 Fellowship

2027 Fellowship

Posted: November 5, 2026

Click here to sign up for our informational Zoom webinar on Weds 11/18!

The Los Angeles Reporting Collective (LARC) Fellowship is a yearlong training and mentorship program for Southern California-based journalists, documentarians and nonfiction storytellers. LARC will be selecting a group of fellows to form the 2027 cohort.

Throughout 2027, fellows will participate in 12 free journalism workshops and pursue an individualized professional development project, supported by a $600 stipend and one-on-one sessions with a dedicated mentor.

The Fellowship program is for people who've already started making their mark in local journalism and want to see how much further they can go. It’s a chance to experiment with new skills, learn from experienced reporters and find a community of people who care about telling great stories.

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LARC 2027 FELLOWSHIP FAQ What do fellows receive?

• 12 free journalism training workshops - 8 remote sessions, 4 in-person sessions (at no cost to the fellows).

• A $600 stipend upon completion of the training program to support your Fellow Project (more below) and one-on-one sessions with a mentor.

• Access to free professional development opportunities outside of LARC events at partner conferences (from our partners at Maynard Institute, USC Annenberg, INN and more) and newsroom shadowing opportunities with our local public media partners.

• Community building with other reporters through in-person gatherings and attending LARC events for free throughout the year.

What is the timeline and expectations? The 2027 Fellowship program is divided into two parts: Part 1 is a training module and Part 2 is a professional development module centered around a "Fellow Project". Fellows must complete Part 1 to participate in Part 2 and receive their project stipend.

PART 1: January - April 2027: Journalism Training

Fellows will participate in 12 training sessions designed to build reporting skills and introduce them to different reporting approaches. Topics include pitching, video production, story development and more.

The hybrid training includes:

• 8 online workshops, approximately 60 minutes each, led by LARC and guest instructors. Past LARC workshop instructors have included journalists from KCRW, LA Times, Zócalo Public Square, LA Review of Books and more.

• 4 in-person sessions in Los Angeles (some held in conjunction with other LARC events).

• Fellows will get hands-on experience applying their skills, developing short hyperlocal stories during the training.

Fellows are expected to make a good-faith effort to participate in the sessions and communicate about any scheduling conflicts. However, we know fellows may be balancing work, school or other life commitments, so we'll work with the cohort to accommodate schedules where possible.

Completing the training program will make fellows eligible for the professional development stipend and additional Part 2 fellowship benefits.

PART 2: May - December 2027: Fellow Project & Professional Development

Fellow Project:

After completing the training sessions, we'll work with you to set a Fellow Project to pursue during this period. The aim is for the project to be informed by your own career goals and the skills you've learned in our training program.

Think of it as a chance to invest in yourself. It can be any professional skill you want to improve -- public speaking, video editing, building a portfolio, launching a newsletter... we're open to all kinds of ideas!

Each fellow will be paired with a mentor for one-on-one sessions to help guide their progress. Fellows will also receive a $600 stipend to support their project (with potential additional funding available for project-related expenses).

Professional Development: Fellows will also have the opportunity to:

• Participate in newsroom shadowing with LARC’s partner newsrooms.

• Access free and priority admission to LARC events.

• Attend LARC partner journalism conferences for free.

This part is designed to help fellows continue building relationships and developing their careers while accommodating their other commitments.

Who is this fellowship for?

The LARC Fellowship is open to Southern California residents ages 18 and older who have some experience in journalism or local storytelling and would benefit from additional training, mentorship and access to the local journalism community. You don't need a journalism degree or a long list of published work to apply.

The program is especially suited for:

• People who have been pursuing journalism through nontraditional paths and are looking for more structured training and professional connections.

• Emerging journalists who have been working in the field for a few years and are looking to take the next step.

• Freelance journalists who have been reporting independently without the resources or support of a full-time newsroom.

• Experienced journalists who want to expand their multimedia storytelling skills or explore new forms of reporting.

These are just a few examples of who might benefit from the fellowship! We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage anyone who feels the program could help them grow as a journalist to apply.

What makes a strong application?

Be real and be yourself! We want to learn who you are, what interests you and where you hope to grow.

We're looking for people who demonstrate curiosity and a genuine interest in local storytelling. A strong application will help us understand what you hope to gain from the fellowship and why this opportunity would be meaningful to you right now.

Applications are due Nov 23rd at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Questions? Email [email protected].