Fellowship opportunities
The number of newsroom jobs across America has declined by half since 2008 as consolidation shifts newspapers’ priorities away from on-the-ground community reporting. With a generation of experience lost, restoring local journalism means rebuilding capacity. The Local Journalism Project offers both summer and winter journalism fellowships, editorial seminars, and reporting jobs. With those opportunities, we’re engaging a new generation in the work, ethics, and promise of excellent reporting.
MARY HEATON VORSE WINTER FELLOWSHIP
Winter on Outer Cape Cod seems quiet, but it’s a rich time for civic life and creativity, and so a good time to explore life in a community newsroom like the one at the Provincetown Independent.
We’ve named our winter fellowship after Mary Heaton Vorse, author of Time and the Town: A Provincetown Chronicle. Vorse is our muse for this program because she was a pioneering journalist and civil rights activist who lived in Provincetown from 1907 to 1966.
With thanks to the Murray/Reese Foundation and to all of our donors whose generosity makes these journalism fellowships possible.
HOW TO APPLY TO Winter FELLOWshipS
We’re now taking applications for the winter 2026-2027 fellowships.
The program welcomes two kinds of fellows:
In Community Reporting for an early career reporter who wants to learn the nuts, bolts, and ethics of independent journalism in the Provincetown Independent’s award-winning newsroom.
In Community Journalism Leadership for an experienced reporter or editor who wants to practice the leadership skills involved in transforming or leading a community newspaper.
For both journalism fellowships:
A full-time 6-month commitment during the winter months
Competitive compensation
For those who qualify, housing can be provided by community hosts in one of the outermost Cape Cod towns covered by the Provincetown Independent newspaper: Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, or Eastham.
The Mary Heaton Vorse Fellows work alongside the editorial staff of the weekly Provincetown Independent newspaper. They are also invited to participate in and write about a range of cultural and literary projects at the Mary Heaton Vorse House in collaboration with other scientific, literary, and cultural organizations on Outer Cape Cod.
To apply, we require:
1) your resume;
2) at least 3 published clips that show your best work and demonstrate your range;
3) a cover letter (500 words or fewer) describing your journalism trajectory so far.
APPLY HERE.
ABOUT OUR Summer fellowshipS
WE HAVE NOT YET OPENED THE APPLICATION PROCESs FOR SUMMER 2027.
CHECK BACK IN THE NEW YEAR!
What Fellows Do: Fellows join editorial meetings, where discussions about news coverage, what makes a good story, and what ethical challenges might be encountered in the reporting are addressed. They also take assignments and pitch stories to Indie editors. They practice the skills of the profession — tracking down facts, finding and interviewing sources, writing and rewriting. Guidance and debriefings with editors and peers help writers produce high-quality work that is published in the Independent.
Fellowship Eligibility: This is a special part of the world. The enormous natural and cultural resources of Provincetown and outermost Cape Cod are here for adventurous fellows to enjoy as a group and independently. This program is for up-and-coming reporters who have experience working for their college newspapers or have written for other publications. We expect fellows to have proven reporting skills and be ready to delve into our community as they go to work with the Independent’s award-winning team.
Fellowship Duration and Stipend: Fellows must participate in the full 10-week program, start to finish, and receive a stipend of $5,250 for the 10-week period.
Application Process: Applications to participate in our summer program for college students begins with candidates submitting a resume and a 500 word essay describing their trajectories as journalists. We also want to hear your goals and why this journalism fellowship interests you. And we want to see clips that provide evidence of your experience and skills. Click the “Apply Now” button below to use our online application form. Finalists are interviewed on a rolling basis.
CHECK BACK IN THE NEW YEAR, WHEN WE’LL OPEN UP Applications for summer 2027.
The Provincetown Independent’s Tyler Jager, who came to the paper as a Local Journalism Project Fellow, interviews Frank Tangherlini about the theory of relativity, the fortunes of war, and being 101. (Photo by Elizabeth G. Brooke)
Summer Journalism FELLOWSHIPs
at the provincetown independent
Each year, The Provincetown Independent hires a small group of college students to join its reporting team for a paid, 10-week summer journalism fellowship underwritten by The Local Journalism Project. It’s an experience that’s challenging and inspiring and also makes a big difference to the Outer Cape community the newspaper serves.
If you live on the Outer Cape, please consider hosting a smart, hard-working young journalist next summer! Email us if you’d like to learn more.