Medill Local News Initiative Fellowship

The Medill Local News Initiative Fellowship is awarded to students admitted to the graduate journalism program who are interested in pursuing research and studies relating to new business models in local journalism. 

Students who will be selected for this opportunity based on the content of their application; applicants who would like to be considered should highlight their interest in local journalism in their professional statement. No additional materials are required.

The award of $5,000 will be provided in addition to any merit aid offered. Scholarship funds will be applied toward tuition charges for Summer Quarter.

Scholars selected for the fellowship will be placed with Chicago-area news outlets that are clients of the Local News Accelerator as their summer practicum experience. They will work full-time on custom-designed projects that fit their academic and professional interests. Typically, these will be some blend of consumer/competitive research and analysis, content strategy, business strategy and product development. Scholars will finish their project by delivering a case study that will become a primary showpiece in their professional portfolios. 

In addition to the fellowship award, fellows will have the opportunity to participate in the Medill Media Innovation & Leadership Academy. This weeklong executive education program has been a springboard for many of the top executives in the Chicago journalism ecosystem. Scholars who choose to audit MILA will learn MBA-level problem-solving frameworks, and will be networking with 12-15 of the brightest stars in the industry. 

Students in the Medill Investigative Lab DC and Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specializations are not eligible.