Develop Your Journalistic Voice — Apply For NPR's Kroc Fellowship

NPR has made the difficult decision to pause the Kroc Fellowship. The next round of the fellowship, which had been slated to begin in September 2024, will not take place.

The NPR Kroc Fellowship is a yearlong program designed to identify and develop the next generation of extraordinary public media journalists.

Three fellows are selected each year and receive hands-on training in audio and digital journalism, including writing, reporting, producing and editing. Applicants must be recent graduates, but previous journalism experience is not required. Now in its 18th year, the program has produced nearly 50 fellows, many of whom continue to work at NPR and Member stations across the country.

Throughout the experience Kroc Fellows can expect to:

• Develop audio production and writing skills by working on an NPR program or podcast. Past fellows have worked at Weekend Edition, Goats & Soda, and Alt.Latino.
• Become better reporters, writers and storytellers by working under the guidance of skilled editors, producers and the NPR Training team.
• Gain firsthand broadcast journalism experience by working at an NPR Member station

The program was created to honor and recognize a bequest to NPR from Joan Kroc, noted philanthropist and widow of McDonald's Corp. founder Ray A. Kroc. In 2003, Joan Kroc left NPR more than $200 million to contribute to NPR's Endowment, which is used to deepen and strengthen the NPR news and digital divisions.

Fellowship Overview

The fellowship begins each year around September and lasts 12 months. Fellows receive a stipend of more than $50,000 and benefits, including paid vacation.

The fellowship is divided into four, three-month rotations that are spent at NPR in Washington, D.C., and an NPR Member station. Fellows work alongside and learn from some of the nation's most respected reporters, producers and editors. They receive additional instruction from the NPR Training team. Fellows learn how to pitch news stories, find sources, book interviews, report and write audio and digital stories, operate production facilities and more.

NPR expects all of the Kroc Fellows to do reporting as part of their training, and some of those reports will appear on NPR's broadcast and digital platforms. Fellows may find that they are most interested in one of the "off-air" jobs you'll be trained for, such as editing or production.

Eligible Candidates

While the ideal Kroc Fellow aspires to work in public media, previous journalism or public radio experience is not required. Fellows must be able to demonstrate exceptional potential and drive. Applicants must be close to completing an undergraduate or graduate degree or have earned a degree no more than one year prior to December 31. All Fellows must be authorized to work in the United States.

Application Process

THE KROC FELLOWSHIP IS CURRENTLY PAUSED AND NOT TAKING APPLICATIONS.

Applications are accepted between August 31 and November 15 each year. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15. After the hiring team reviews applications, 10 finalists are selected for a round of virtual interviews in late January. The selection of three Fellows is made shortly thereafter.

Each completed application must include:

• Cover letter explaining why you should be selected, addressed to the Kroc Fellowship Committee
• Answers to the following questions: 1.) What do you want to do in journalism? 2.) Tell us about a news story you've been following. Why has it held your interest? 3.) Tell us about a piece of journalism you've enjoyed. What did you like about it?
• Sample work reflecting remarkable initiative or accomplishment. This might be in the form of a writing sample (1,000 words or less), a link to an excerpt (five minutes or so) from an audio story, video production, musical composition, etc., or some other piece of creative work
• Two reference letters from people who can speak to your work ethic and commitment to curiosity, including names and contact information. The letters should be addressed to the Kroc Fellowship Committee and must be emailed to [email protected] as a PDF file with APPLICANT LAST NAME, FIRST NAME – KROC FELLOW APPLICANT in the subject line. The deadline is November 15.
• Resume
• Academic transcript(s) — unofficial transcripts will be accepted

Selection

We choose three Kroc Fellows each year. The Kroc Fellowship Committee is made up of NPR managers and staff from the News, Content Administration, and Training divisions.

Timeline

• August 31: Applications posted.
• November 15: Deadline to submit applications.
• November 15 - December 31: Applications are reviewed by NPR staff; top-ranking applications are referred to the Kroc Fellowship Committee.
• Mid-January: Ten finalists are selected by the Fellowship Committee and are invited to take part in virtual interviews in late January.
• January 31: The three selected Kroc Fellows are notified.
• September: The Kroc Fellowship begins in Washington, D.C.

Stipend and Housing

Each Kroc Fellow receives an annual stipend of more than $50,000, plus benefits that include health insurance and paid vacation. Fellows are compensated for any unused vacation upon completion of their fellowship.

Kroc Fellows are expected to find their own lodging in the Washington, D.C., region. NPR does cover the cost of housing while the fellow is working at an NPR Member station.

After the Fellowship

Completion of the fellowship does not guarantee a full-time, permanent job at NPR. However, we hope the experience leads you to pursue a career in public media. If that's your goal, we'll do all we can to help you make connections at NPR or at one of the hundreds of NPR Member stations around the country.More than half of Kroc Fellow alumni are still working in public media, including at NPR and Member stations. Past Kroc Fellows have also gone on to work at Marketplace, the BBC, The New Yorker and other media organizations.

Kroc Fellows have also gone on to receive many journalism awards, including: the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award, Peabody recognition, Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation, an NABJ Salute to Excellence National Media Award and the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 Award.

Still have questions?

Send additional questions to [email protected] during the application period (August 31 to November 15).