Introducing the Tarbell 2026/27 fellows, the largest cohort to date

September 25th 2026 — The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism today introduces its 2026/27 fellowship class, its largest cohort since the program began. The 21 fellows will report on the development, deployment and impact of AI at newsrooms including NPR, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, USA TODAY, CBS News, MIT Technology Review and The Dispatch.

Now in its fourth year, the fellowship brings together experienced journalists, budding journalists and subject-matter experts for nine-month newsroom placements. Fellows will pitch, investigate and produce stories under the editorial direction of their host newsrooms.

Fellows have already received nine weeks of intensive AI journalism fundamentals training and attended a one-week summit in San Francisco hosted by Tarbell, where they networked with and learned from leading AI researchers and experts.

The 2026/27 fellowship class has a variety of experience and backgrounds. These span investigative reporting, science and technology journalism, national security, economics and AI policy. Their work has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the BBC, The Guardian and WIRED, covering subjects from government use of AI and China’s technology industry to labor migration and conflict. The cohort includes award-winning reporters, experienced editors and documentary podcast creators, alongside researchers with backgrounds in computer science, engineering and AI governance.  

Libby Nelson, director of fellowships at Tarbell, said: “This cohort brings together deep reporting experience and specialist knowledge across science, technology and public policy. That range of expertise will help fellows ask informed questions, scrutinize claims and explain what AI developments mean for the audiences their newsrooms serve. We look forward to seeing where their reporting takes them.” 

Meet the 2026/27 Tarbell fellows and learn about their backgrounds and host newsrooms.

The application for Tarbell’s 2027/28 fellowship program will open on Monday, September 28th. Interested applicants can visit our Fellowship page for more information and apply before the November 22nd deadline.