Joel Belz Journalism Fellowship

Program overview

This year-long paid fellowship is designed for Christian journalists seeking to grow in both craft and discernment. Through supervised newsroom experience and field assignments, fellows develop their reporting, writing, editing, and critical thinking from a Biblical worldview.

Unlike shorter introductory programs, the Joel Belz Journalism Fellowship (JBJF) is an intensive, apprenticeship-style experience emphasizing real reporting, rigorous feedback, and meaningful responsibility in a working newsroom. It is best suited for applicants ready to take the next step after completing the World Journalism Institute program or a WORLD internship.

How it works:

Phase One: Cross-Training

Fellows rotate through multiple WORLD News Group platforms and divisions, building a shared foundation and broader perspective. This phase helps fellows become versatile journalists who understand how different parts of the organization work together. Program specifics vary based on each fellow’s interests and skills but typically include a multi-month residency in Washington, D.C., Charlotte, or Asheville. WORLD provides housing recommendations, but fellows are responsible for securing their own accommodations. Most editorial relationships are virtual, with weekly check-ins led by the JBJF director.

Phase Two: Specialization

Following the rotation period, fellows move into a focused area of coverage. In this phase, they develop deeper expertise under senior editorial staff who serve as mentors in a real-world remote newsroom setting. This phase may include travel required for select stories and WORLD events (costs covered by the organization). Fellows are responsible for their own housing, and location is flexible under guidance from executive editors.

Capstone Project

Each fellow completes a major integrative project near the end of the program. The capstone demonstrates reporting ability, editorial judgment, and readiness to contribute at a professional level.

What we look for:

WORLD seeks applicants whose character and skill reflect the kind of journalists WORLD aims to form: trustworthy, humble, inventive, determined, and audience-focused. These qualities are essential for success in a feedback-driven, collaborative newsroom.

Who should apply:

This fellowship is primarily for early-career journalists who have completed a WJI program and/or a WORLD internship. Applicants should demonstrate strong reporting instincts, a willingness to learn, and the maturity to thrive in an environment shaped by regular critique and revision. JBJF is not a classroom-first program. It is a boots-on-the-ground, partial-residency experience for journalists committed to reporting through firsthand observation, research, and in-person interviews.

How to apply:

Applicants should demonstrate both technical skill and the spiritual, relational, and emotional resilience required for iterative work in a professional newsroom. The application process includes writing assignments, recommendations, and a portfolio of work, including:

• a one-page motivation statement
• an interdisciplinary portfolio with five work samples
• a two-page resume or biographical summary
• two professional letters of support
• one pastoral recommendation
• a one-year project proposal for the specialization phase

Applications close July 15, 2026.

We are grateful for your interest in the fellowship and will acknowledge each application received. After careful review, we will invite a select group of candidates for interviews based on alignment with the program’s goals. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of July.