The California Health Equity Fellowship is an opportunity for journalists in California to develop in-depth reporting projects on underreported health and health equity issues. This fellowship is designed to empower reporters to address crucial community health stories that influence outcomes and engage local audiences. The program includes a three-day in-person training session from March 18-20, 2025, at USC Annenberg in Los Angeles, with a deadline to apply on December 18, 2024.
During the intensive in-person training, fellows will engage with leading health experts, policy analysts, community health advocates, and experienced journalists, and they will also learn from each other. Following the training, fellows receive ongoing mentorship and participate in virtual sessions to support the development and completion of their reporting projects. The fellowship emphasizes exploring how environmental and community factors affect health, with a focus on creating impactful, community-centered journalism.
Fellows are provided with grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to cover reporting expenses. Additionally, participants have access to five months of professional mentorship, with a particular focus on engaged journalism. Fellows may also apply for supplemental funding of $1,000 to $2,000 to support engagement and outreach efforts tied to their projects.
The fellowship encourages reporting on a range of topics related to health equity, including systemic racism, food insecurity, economic stability, housing insecurity, the effectiveness of justice and healthcare systems, and accountability in social services. Proposals should reflect a broad view of health that considers factors beyond healthcare institutions, looking at the influence of schools, neighborhoods, and other social structures.
