Request for Applications: Food Systems and Public Health Fellowship for Journalists 2025 Cohort Recruitment
Mar 17, 2025
About the Program
CLF established this year-long fellowship in 2024 with the goal of helping early-to-mid career journalists navigate the complexity of issues at the intersection of public health and food systems, with a special focus on issues associated with food animal production. The fellowship program aims to cultivate a supportive network for journalists who are striving to report on under-communicated stories about food production and the promise of sustainable food systems.
The inaugural cohort consisted of seven journalists from California, Maryland, New York, and Washington, DC. They began their fellowship with a multi-day immersion experience in Baltimore, Maryland, with Johns Hopkins University faculty public health researchers, food policy analysts, community health advocates, and journalists with extensive experience on the food systems beat. As part of the experience, they took part in a field trip to Seaford, Delaware, to hear first-hand stories of workers employed in slaughter and processing facilities. Additional information about the 2024 cohort’s kickoff experiences can be found here.
Fellows for this one-year program will receive continued support from CLF through ongoing mentoring, networking, and webinars as they develop story ideas to raise awareness of critical food systems topics and advocate for change. Fellows are also eligible to apply for a reporting grant.
This year’s program will begin in Baltimore, Maryland, the week of June 23, 2025. The format will be similar to the 2024 format, with a workshop in Baltimore and a field trip to learn about the Chesapeake region’s ecology food industry and food systems issues. The fellows’ costs for travel to Baltimore, lodging, and meals will be covered.
2025 Recruitment Details
The program application for the 2025 cohort is open from March 17 to April 14, 2025. The fellowship is open to journalists interested in food systems and public health. A preference will be given to journalists with seven or fewer years of experience on the food systems beat. Staff and freelance journalists across all media platforms are eligible to apply. Applicants will be notified of decisions in early May 2025.
Please contact Tiffani DeFreitas with any questions about the program and application process, at tdefrei1@jhmi.edu. More information about the program can be found in this link.