2025 Media Fellowship Overview

Health is essential to the flourishing of all people. In these divisive times, we strive to transcend polarization and focus on solutions-based approaches that encourage thoughtful engagement with critical topics. We value evidence-based reporting that will engage with policies (past and present) that play a positive or negative role in health and connect the dots between different sectors of our society. We want to defy reductionist approaches that shy away from tackling the urgent and complex challenges we face today. Ultimately, we are seeking stories that will unite us in a more holistic understanding of the many interrelated factors that shape our health and well-being.

Nova Media Fellows have considerable latitude in determining the focus and distribution methods of their proposed projects. Successful proposals will identify strategies for engaging with key audiences including, but not limited to, policymakers, thought leaders, researchers, local communities, and the public at large. In 2025-26, we are particularly interested in receiving proposals in the following areas:

Health of Children and Adolescents
Numerous academic studies and governmental reports indicate that psychological stress is rising in young people, reflected in pediatric mental health diagnoses and acute care hospitalizations. At the same time, longstanding inefficiencies in our existing health care framework have exacerbated the effects of poor nutrition, caregiving support, and chronic diseases. Proposals in this area might explore the latest cross-cutting research around social determinants of health and/or highlight innovative new approaches to improving children’s health and well-being.

Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
We are in the midst of a growing, global mental health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already significant mental health decline and a staggering increase in “deaths of despair” from suicide and drug and alcohol use. A loneliness epidemic underscores growing disconnection from ourselves, our communities, and our natural environments. The climate crisis magnifies persistent inequities and threatens lives and livelihoods worldwide. Proposals in this area may wish to examine mental health using the latest science- and evidence-based approaches and dive deeply into the ways in which mental health and emotional well-being connect to personal, community, and planetary health.

Health Inequities and Vulnerable Populations
Long-standing, inadequate, and harmful social, economic, and environmental conditions and systems have had an adverse impact on individuals’ health and created significant inequities. Proposals in this area may examine the political, environmental, and social dynamics that have led to health inequities and connect those to current policy decisions. How might science point the way forward on improving health outcomes for vulnerable and historically marginalized communities?

Transdisciplinary and Intersectional Approaches to Health
Nova champions a transdisciplinary approach to understanding the many interconnected factors that affect health and well-being. How can we connect the dots between the environment, healing, and an individual’s ability to flourish and live a fulfilling life? Compelling proposals in this area may examine connections between personal, community, and planetary health; recognize and/or examine political, historical, and social dynamics that influence health; and/or highlight exciting new collaborations and intersections between sectors.

Applicants can read about our 2024 Media Fellows and view their published work.

Experience
Ideal applicants are full-time journalists with established records of publication or broadcast in local, regional, or national markets. Local, community, nonprofit and/or student-led newsrooms are also invited to apply; see additional notes below in the application section.

Proposals may highlight international issues and/or involve international travel, but Media Fellows themselves must be based in the United States for the entire 12-month cohort term.

The Nova Institute acknowledges that the medical community has long ignored systemic racism, economic injustice, and other factors that adversely impacted the health of communities. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, Native and Indigenous peoples, and members of other historically marginalized communities.

Time Commitment
Fellowships will begin in September 2025 and last for a period of 12 months. We will hold bi-monthly virtual check-ins with Media Fellows and expect Media Fellows to attend key in-person meetings, including one scheduled for October 12-15, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. We also encourage participation in monthly online Nova Scholars and Fellows meetings as well as other virtual Nova events, trainings, and professional development opportunities.

Project Deliverables
We recognize the value of flexible support designed to encourage unbounded curiosity and thus, we encourage Media Fellows to follow leads suggested by their research. Nevertheless, applicants must outline a set of deliverables that will reflect a year’s worth of ambitious work. In all cases, deliverables must aim to reach the targeted audiences via publication and dissemination during the term of the fellowship, though we understand that some work may not be published until after the term has ended. The Media Fellowship does not support research-only projects that do not include a plan for publication.

Journalists interested in being considered for a Nova Media Fellowship should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria listed above and submit an application that consists of a written proposal, résumé, and work samples as detailed here.

Newsrooms who wish to apply should designate a representative (managing editor or similar) to complete the application as indicated above. In lieu of a résumé, newsrooms will be asked to complete an additional text field outlining their organizational structure, editorial focus areas, and current reporting resources.

A committee of Nova Institute staff, Nova Scholars, Nova Fellows, and Media Advisory Council members will select finalists and schedule virtual interviews. Finalists selected for interviews will be asked to provide one to two professional letters of recommendation (one page maximum).

Applications are due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Monday, May 19. A list of Frequently Asked Questions may be found here. Please see application guidelines for further detail and to apply.

Media Fellowship Announcement: April 7
Informational Q&A Zoom call: April 30 at 3 pm ET
Applications Due: May 19 (11:59 p.m. EST)
Finalist Interviews: Mid-July
Fellowship Term Begins: September 2 (flexible)
Scholars and Fellows Meeting (in-person): October 12-15

Note: all dates except the application due date are subject to change at the Nova Institute’s discretion.

Nova Institute Media Advisory Council Members

Virginia Hubbell
Jackie Judd
Jayne O’Donnell
Meaghan Parker
John Schidlovsky
Rich Stone