Become a Class of 2028 New America Fellow

The New America Fellows Program supports thinkers, creators, and storytellers whose work shapes public conversation on the defining issues of our time. Each year, we select a diverse group of writers, journalists, filmmakers, and innovators who pursue ambitious investigative projects that bridge storytelling with research and lived experience.

Through unrestricted funding, a supportive community, and increased visibility, New America Fellows bring big, bold ideas to life—through books, films, longform articles, podcasts, and other creative nonfiction narrative forms.

The product of the fellowship should be a nonfiction reporting project in the form of a book, film, podcast, longform article, or multimedia work.

The fellowship supports projects that are already in progress. The purpose of the New America Fellows Program is to help Fellows get their work over the finish line. In many cases, Fellows use the unrestricted funding for additional reporting, hiring fact-checkers, or covering other costs that are necessary to advance or complete their project. Those whose projects are still at the concept stage are encouraged to apply in a future cycle, once their work has progressed further.

To be considered, applicants must have done substantial reporting on the project or have significant experience in the field it covers. Most Fellows have a signed contract for a book, a production partner or distributor for a film or podcast, or a publication commissioning their work, but none of these are preconditions for applying.

Interested applicants should visit the Fellows Archive to see the types of projects we have supported over the years. Most are book projects; however, the program has increasingly supported and welcomes other narrative-driven formats.

Before starting your application, please read the application instructions and visit our How to Apply and FAQ pages.

Choose up to three work samples. Please include a cover page that outlines your writing samples. You can download the writing samples cover page template here. A cover page is not required for non-written work samples, as you will be asked to enter information about your video or audio samples in the form itself.