In a powerful call for deeper, more human-centered storytelling around the intersections of health, environment, and social justice, the Nova Institute for Health has officially launched its 2025 Nova Media Fellowship. This prestigious year-long fellowship offers $60,000 in funding plus additional support for U.S.-based journalists and nonprofit newsrooms eager to dive into complex narratives that influence public well-being.
Fellowship Purpose: Shaping the Future of Health Reporting
First introduced in 2023, the Nova Media Fellowship aims to transform how society understands health—not merely as an absence of disease, but as a dynamic interplay of personal, communal, and environmental factors. This initiative supports journalists who are motivated to inform, engage, and inspire action through deeply researched and solution-oriented journalism.
Fellows are encouraged to take bold, innovative approaches to storytelling, contributing to a better-informed public and more enlightened policymaking. Past Nova Fellows have contributed work to leading media outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, Science, Grist, and Bloomberg.
Funding & Benefits Package
Each selected Media Fellow will receive $60,000 over the 12-month fellowship period, alongside up to $7,500 in reimbursable expenses for reporting-related costs such as travel and conference participation. The Nova Institute also covers all travel, lodging, and related expenses for required in-person workshops, including the cornerstone October meeting in Baltimore.
Fellows maintain full editorial independence over their projects and are expected to credit the Nova Institute in all resulting published work.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be based in the United States for the entire fellowship term (Sept 2025–Sept 2026).
- Open to print, digital, or broadcast journalists working full-time, as well as student-led and nonprofit newsrooms.
- Applicants should have a strong record of publication or broadcast work in regional or national outlets.
- Journalists from historically marginalized communities—including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Indigenous peoples—are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Focus Areas for 2025-2026 Projects
The Nova Institute seeks proposals that explore:
- Health of Children and Adolescents – Social determinants, pediatric care gaps, and innovative interventions.
- Mental Health and Emotional Well-being – From loneliness to “deaths of despair,” tackling global mental health challenges.
- Health Inequities and Vulnerable Populations – Systemic injustices affecting marginalized communities and policy solutions.
- Transdisciplinary and Intersectional Approaches – Connecting climate, environment, healing, and holistic wellness through innovative storytelling.
Apply: https://novainstituteforhealth.org/our-communities/media-fellows/2025-media-fellowship-overview/
Timeline for Application and Fellowship Activities
The application timeline for the 2025 Nova Media Fellowship begins with the official announcement on April 7, 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend an informational Q&A session via Zoom, scheduled for April 30, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. All completed applications must be submitted by the deadline of May 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Finalist interviews are expected to take place in mid-July 2025.
The fellowship term will officially begin on September 2, 2025, with flexibility on the exact start date. One of the key in-person gatherings—the Scholars and Fellows Meeting—will be held from October 12 to 15, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.
