The Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship in Journalism Innovation* brings individuals to Harvard University to work on a specific course of research or a specific project relating to journalism innovation. The fellowship is a collaboration between the Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard. Both organizations share a set of common interests around journalism, innovation, and the evolution of the digital space, and both have longstanding fellowship programs that offer a year of learning and collaboration with others in the Harvard community.
Proposals from Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship candidates may deal with any issue relating to journalism’s digital transformation. Examples include ideas for new revenue streams to fund journalism, the construction of new tools for reporting, or research into news consumption patterns. Candidates must explain how their proposals will benefit journalism.
On campus, Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows draw upon the wealth of resources available at Harvard and in the surrounding area for their work. Along with the Nieman Foundation and the Berkman Klein Center, Cambridge is home to institutions such as the Harvard Business School, the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, the Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy, the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-lab) and other centers interested in journalism’s evolution.
Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows are expected to fully participate in both the Nieman and Berkman Klein fellowship programs and serve as a bridge between them. They also are expected to share the results of their work with other fellows and through the Nieman Journalism Lab.
The Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship is open to both U.S. and international applicants. Candidates should either be working journalists or work for a news organization in a business, technology, or leadership capacity. Freelance journalists are welcome to apply.
Read about the work of previous Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows, including Laura Amico, CEO of Glass Eye Media and co-founder of Homicide Watch D.C., and Borja Echevarría de la Gándara, vice president of digital for Univision News.
Candidates who want to apply for the 2024-2025 Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowships should complete either the international fellowship application or the U.S. fellowship application and indicate interest in being considered for the Nieman-Berkman Klein program in the appropriate section. Learn how to apply.
Application deadlines:
- International journalists: Dec. 1
- U.S. journalists (U.S. citizens): Jan. 31
* The Berkman Center for Internet & Society changed its name to the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society in July 2016 in recognition of a generous gift from Harvard Law School graduate Michael R. Klein.