Editorial Fellow

The Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program offers a crash course in investigative journalism. Mother Jones fellows dive deep into every aspect of a national multimedia outfit—how to cover breaking news, how investigations happen, how we ensure accuracy and impact, and how awards are won. Fellows build on their reporting and research experience, working with reporters, editors, and our digital, audio, and art teams to master the inner workings of nonprofit news.

Fellowship positions include:

Mother Jones fellowships are full-time positions lasting approximately one year. New fellowship cohorts generally begin on the first Monday in December. The 2021-‘22 fellowship cycle will begin the first week of December 2021 and run through late November 2022. Applications for the 2021-‘22 cycle are due by 11:59 PM PT on Sunday, October 17, 2021. See below for the application.

Those who are still in school or are only available part-time are not eligible, nor can fellowships be used for course credit. Because the first two weeks of the fellowship consist of intensive group trainings, all applicants, without exception, must be prepared to start on the first Monday in December. Mother Jones is not able to furnish work visas for applicants from outside the United States. For additional questions regarding eligibility, please email us at fellowships@motherjones.com.

Fellows receive a $3,250 monthly stipend, supported by grants from the Irving Harris and Lannan Foundations and by the generosity of our contributors.

Mother Jones believes that a diverse newsroom strengthens the quality of our workplace and reporting. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Editorial Fellowship (San Francisco and DC): The editorial fellowship is a demanding, research-intensive foray into investigative journalism. Fellows work closely with reporters and editors on fact-checking, research, and reporting. You’ll receive training in every aspect of the editorial process, from research tools and methods to media law, and have opportunities to learn audio and data reporting, explore magazine feature writing, and hone your investigative skills. You’ll attend regular skill-building sessions covering topics that span the operations of a media organization.

Editorial fellows in our San Francisco office, our headquarters, work closely on our award-winning bimonthly print magazine. (Mother Jones will not resume in-office work in 2020, but fellows should be prepared for a possible reopening of offices in 2021.) By fact-checking our investigations, columns, and other reported pieces, fellows re-engineer a reporter’s work and learn what it takes to report and put together a magazine story. Fellows in San Francisco also work on our website, podcasts, and are expected and encouraged to report on subjects including national politics, climate change, the justice system, reproductive rights, and culture.

Editorial fellows in our DC office get a research- and reporting-intensive foray into the life of investigative beat reporters and editors covering Washington. An immersive and fast-paced mix of fact-checking, web production, research, and blogging, the fellowship means working closely with our team of more than a dozen reporters and editors in the Beltway to learn the ropes of reporting breaking news, delivering investigative content, and promoting stories through social media and other outlets.

Fellows may also become involved in various digital projects—including contributing to our food and politics podcasts, working on our newsletters, and aiding with our Climate Desk partnership—depending on interest and need.

Mother Jones accepts new fellow cohorts annually during the first week of December, unless otherwise noted. Deadlines are listed above. To apply to our editorial fellowship, complete this form.