Since 2020, California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship program has provided student journalists at California community colleges financial and professional support to develop new skills and conduct in-depth local reporting projects. Throughout, the program is designed to incorporate the insight and perspective of journalism and the context and inquiry of the humanities, to encourage media literacy and civic engagement, and to provide a springboard for California’s next generation of journalists.
First launched in 2019 as part of the national Democracy and the Informed Citizen initiative with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through the Federation of State Humanities Councils, this program has since grown to include partnerships with community college campuses throughout the state.
In 2024, California Humanities has awarded $90,000 of fellowship funds in support of 22 student journalists enrolled at six community colleges.
Participating campuses for 2024 are:
· Bakersfield College
· Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga)
· El Camino College (Alondra Park)
· Fullerton College
· Los Medanos College (Pittsburg)
· Sierra College (Rocklin)
During the nine-month fellowship period, students receive mentoring from Joaquin Alvarado, former Executive Director of the Center for Investigative Reporting and founder of Studio To Be, as they develop, pitch, and produce reporting projects about underreported regional California stories.
After school, I hope to teach as a professor and write for the Bakersfield Californian. The fellowship will also get me more connected to my community, as well as the voiceless people in it; while also giving me the experience and access to the field of journalism like I’ve never had before.
– Julian Caro, 2024 Journalist Fellow, Bakersfield College
My hope is to be involved in harm reduction through journalism, destigmatizing drug use by sharing stories and covering news regarding the opioid epidemic in California. The core idea of this project is something that I have been passionate about for a long time, and the fellowship is already helping me bring a lot of my dreams to fruition. Getting out there, connecting with my community, and learning to be comfortable talking about difficult topics are experiences that I will take with me beyond this fellowship, into my future career.
– Miranda Ricks, 2024 Journalist Fellow, Sierra College
Our team from Sierra College are working on a series of pieces on the state of Fentanyl in our local Northern California community. From the variety of tactics used by local governments in the name of drug prevention, to harm reduction options for users, to the recovery process some users may find themselves going through. With Fentanyl and other opioids having such a significant impact locally, and nationwide, we want to help shine a light on what’s going both right and wrong in how the issue is being addressed.
– Greg Micek, 2024 Journalist Fellow, Sierra College
Our project that we are working on will be a survival guide for people that are unhoused. We also plan to do a podcast that will be based around people in our community to see what they have to do to survive without a stable home.
– Eduardo Benitez, 2024 Journalist Fellow, Chaffey College
*Stay tuned for more 2023 projects added here!
In 2023, California Humanities awarded $135,000 in fellowship funds to nine community colleges to support student journalists throughout the state. The campuses awarded the 2023 Emerging Journalist Fellowships are:
- Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga)
- City College of San Francisco
- El Camino College (Alondra Park), On Cliff’s Edge
- Fullerton College
- Los Angeles City College
- Los Medanos College (Pittsburg), A Tough Climb
- Riverside City College
- San Diego Mesa College
- Sierra College (Rocklin), Everybody is Entitled to Equity
*Stay tuned for more 2022 projects added here!
In 2022, California Humanities awarded $150,000 in fellowship funds to ten community colleges to support student journalists throughout the state. The campuses awarded the 2022 Emerging Journalist Fellowships are:
- Bakersfield College, Kern County
- Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga), San Bernardino County
- City College of San Francisco, San Francisco County
- Fullerton College, Orange County, OC Sidewalk Vendors Struggle With Costly, Confusing County, City Permits
- Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles County
- Riverside City College, Riverside County
- San Diego City College, San Diego County
- Shasta College (Redding), Shasta County
- Sierra College (Rocklin), South Placer County
- Skyline College (San Bruno), San Mateo County
In 2021, $88,000 in fellowship funds were awarded to eight community colleges supporting 31 student journalists. Below are links to the 2021 Emerging Journalist’s projects:
- San Diego City College, The Highland Avenue Project
- Santa Rosa Junior College, Chronic Catastrophe
- Riverside City College, The Fight for California’s Great Lake
- Shasta College, This Is My Truth: Soy Mexicana and I Carry My Home on My Back
- City College of San Francisco, Student Journalists Examine What Economic Recovery Means for San Francisco Workers in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Los Angeles City College, The End of the Faultline (print), The End of the Faultline (video) Echo Park Night (video)
Emerging Journalist Fellowship Experiences
Los Medanos Journalist Fellows Report on the Experiences of Immigrants in Contra Costa County
- Blog, Emerging Journalist Fellowship, Spotlight
Sierra College Emerging Journalist Fellows Report on Fentanyl in Northern California
- Emerging Journalist Fellowship, Spotlight
California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship Provides $90K in Support for Community College Journalists
- Emerging Journalist Fellowship, Press Releases, Spotlight
