Tarbell Fellowship 2024 - Applications Open (AI Journalism)

By Cillian_ @ 2023-09-28T10:38 (+58)

The Tarbell Fellowship is accepting applications until November 5th. Apply here.

Key details

• What: One-year programme for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence.
• When: March 2024 → March 2025 (with some flexibility)
• Benefits: Fellows receive a stipend of up to $50,000, secure a 9-month placement at a major newsroom, participate in a study group covering AI governance & technical fundamentals, and attend a 2 week journalism summit in Oxford.
• Who should apply: We’re interested in supporting people with a deep understanding of artificial intelligence that have the potential to become exceptional journalists. Previous newsroom experience is desirable but not essential.
• Why journalism? Journalism as a career path is neglected by those interested in reducing risks from advanced AI. Journalists can lead the public debate on AI in important ways, drive engagement with specific policy proposals & safety standards, and hold major AI labs accountable in the public arena.
• Learn more: Visit our website or sign up for our information sessions:
  • October 4th (6pm BST / 1pm ET / 10am PT)
  • October 6th (10am BST)
• Deadline: Apply here by November 5th.

About the Tarbell Fellowship

What is it?

The Tarbell Fellowship is a one-year programme for early-career journalists interested in covering emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

What we offer

• Stipend: Fellows receive a stipend of up to $50,000 for the duration of their placement. We expect stipends to vary between $35,000 - $50,000 depending on location and personal circumstances.
• Placement: Fellows secure a 9 month placement at a major newsroom covering artificial intelligence. The Tarbell Fellowship will match fellows with outlets in order to secure a placement. Exact details will vary by outlet.
• AI Fundamentals Programme: Prior to placements, fellows explore the intricacies of AI governance & technical fundamentals through an 8-week course. This programme requires ~10 hours per week and is conducted remotely.
• Oxford Summit: Fellows attend a two week journalism summit in Oxford at the beginning of the fellowship. This will be an intensive fortnight featuring guest speakers, workshops and networking events in Oxford and London. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.

Who should apply

We’re interested in supporting people with a deep understanding of artificial intelligence that have the potential to become exceptional journalists.

In particular, we’re looking for:

• AI Expertise: A deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will have experience working in tech journalism, machine learning research, or AI governance.
• Passionate about journalism: Previous newsroom experience (including at student newspapers) or comparable experience in a field such as law or research is desirable but not necessary. We seek to support early-career journalists and will prioritise potential over experience.
• Excellent writing skills: A creative approach to storytelling combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of a new topic. Fellows must be able to produce compelling copy under tight deadlines.
• Relentless: Journalism is a highly competitive industry. Fellows must be willing to work hard, and be capable of withstanding repeated rejection
• Open-minded: The desire to understand the truth of any given story, even when it conflicts with prior beliefs. Fellows must be open to criticism and recognising ways they can improve their writing and thinking.

If you’re unsure whether you’re a good fit, we encourage you to apply anyway. Alternatively, you can attend one of our upcoming information sessions or email cillian [at] tarbellfellowship [dot] org

Why consider a career in journalism?

Journalism, as a career path, is neglected by those interested in reducing risks from advanced AI. We believe many more people should consider a career in journalism (and expect to write a more detailed post on this in the near future).

Artificial intelligence is one of the key challenges facing humanity this century and journalists can lead the public debate here in important ways. As AI systems progress, they could pose a catastrophic risk to humanity. Researchers could lose control over advanced AI systems, malicious actors could weaponize this technology, and a deluge of persuasive misinformation could undermine democracy. Relative to their importance, these issues receive much less attention than they deserve.

The Tarbell Fellowship is creating a community of expert journalists that can focus the collective conversation on the most important risks from AI, drive engagement with specific policy proposals & safety standards, and hold major AI labs accountable in the public arena.

Track record

The Tarbell Fellowship launched in 2023, selecting 7 fellows from a competitive pool of over 950 applications. 3 fellows are currently at TIME, one is at Coda, and another is freelancing with the New Yorker. Following the fellowship, we expect our fellows will go on to work at top news organisations, bringing their expertise to outlets around the world.

Attend an information session

Interested in learning more about the Tarbell Fellowship? Register for one of our information sessions & ask any questions you might have:

• October 4th (6pm BST / 1pm ET / 10am PT)
• October 6th (10am BST)

How to apply

We expect the application form to take ~1 hour to complete provided you already have a current CV and writing samples. The application form includes four sections:

• About you, including your CV.
• Short essay responses about your suitability for the Tarbell Fellowship.
• 1-3 writing sample(s) (500-2000 words) to assess your writing skills.

Apply here by November 5th.