Washington State University launches news fellowship for local outlets

Washington State University has partnered with the nonprofit Report for America to launch a revamped news fellowship program aimed at supporting local journalism across Washington state. The initiative seeks to eventually place reporters in all 39 counties of the state.

The first cohort includes six participating newsrooms located in Stevens, Grant, Chelan, Spokane, San Juan, and Cowlitz counties. The Statesman-Examiner in Colville is among the selected outlets. Under this new model, newsrooms provide approximately half of the fellows’ salaries, while the remaining funds are raised through external support.

This partnership follows a budget reduction in state funding for the original fellowship program that began in 2023. The program aims to provide early-career journalists with placements lasting two to three years, helping local outlets cover municipal news and community stories.