USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Data Fellowship

The USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Data Fellowship trains journalists to strengthen their reporting by learning how to “interview the data” as if it were a human source. Over five months, Fellows gain skills in data acquisition, cleaning, analysis, and visualization, while producing investigative or explanatory projects on health, equity, and community well-being.

The program begins with multi-day, in-person training led by some of the nation’s top data reporters. Journalists learn how to bulletproof their data for accuracy and combine analysis with compelling narratives on overlooked health issues. After the training week, Fellows receive one-on-one mentoring to support their reporting projects from start to finish.

Program Benefits

  • $2,000 stipend to support reporting costs
  • Multi-day in-person training in beginner, intermediate, or advanced Excel or RStudio
  • Five months of mentorship, virtual sessions, and skills-building workshops
  • Optional engaged journalism track with additional mentorship and $1,000–$2,000 in funding

Reporting Themes

The Data Fellowship embraces a broad view of health, recognizing that well-being is shaped not only in hospitals and clinics but also in schools, homes, and communities. Fellows may explore:

  • Systemic inequities and the root causes of health disparities
  • Impacts of poverty, trauma, food insecurity, and housing instability on families
  • Effectiveness of safety net programs and social welfare policies
  • Maternal and infant health, with a focus on racial disparities
  • Mental health needs and access to services
  • School discipline policies and the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Environmental justice, climate change, and neighborhood safety
  • Homelessness and interventions to alleviate it
  • Accountability reporting on healthcare systems and public policy

Who Should Apply

Journalists across the U.S. and California who want to build advanced data skills and produce impactful, data-driven reporting on health equity and community well-being.

Opportunity offered by:

USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

Helping journalists investigate health challenges and solutions in their communities with fact-based, rigorous reporting that serves as a catalyst for change. The Center for Health Journalism has trained more than…
Online application form
Contact for application information
Opportunity type

Fellowship

Location(s) where available

United States (all)

Minimum grant amount

$1000

Maximum grant amount

$2000

Areas of focus

Data Journalism
Equity/Inclusion
General Funding
Health
Investigative Journalism
Poverty

This is a recurring opportunity