Knight-Bagehot Fellowship 2025

The Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism at Columbia University, administered by the Columbia Journalism School, is a prestigious, fully funded program designed for mid-career journalists to deepen their expertise in business, economics, finance, and technology. Established in 1975 and named after the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Walter Bagehot, the 19th-century editor of The Economist, the fellowship offers a transformative nine-month academic experience in New York City. Up to 10 fellows are selected annually to take graduate-level courses primarily at Columbia’s Schools of Journalism and Business, attend off-the-record seminars with industry leaders, and engage in field trips to media and financial institutions. Fellows can pursue one of three academic tracks: two leading to a Certificate in Economics and Business Journalism, and one to a Master of Arts in Journalism. The program, recognized as the most comprehensive business journalism fellowship globally, fosters skills in areas like corporate finance, accounting, data reporting, and investigative journalism, preparing fellows for leadership roles in global media.

To be eligible for the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship 2025-2026, applicants must:

• Be full-time editorial employees of newspapers, magazines, wire services, digital media, television, or radio news organizations, or freelance journalists, from anywhere in the world (excluding U.S. citizens for certain funding sources, per some listings, though international applicants are encouraged).

• Have a minimum of four years of experience in business, economics, or finance journalism (seven years of general journalism experience is typical).

• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university (a verified transcript is required).

• Demonstrate fluency in English (recommended: TOEFL iBT 114 or IELTS 8.0 for non-native speakers).

• Show journalistic excellence through work samples, essays, and letters of recommendation.

• Commit to not working or freelancing during the fellowship and relocate to New York City for the nine-month program (August 2025–May 2026).

• Exclusions:

  • Applicants with less than four years of relevant journalism experience are ineligible.

  • Fellows are encouraged to return to their employers post-program, but employer approval is not mandatory.

  • The program is academic, requiring active participation in coursework and graded assignments.

• Tuition: Full tuition coverage for Columbia University courses during the nine-month program (valued at approximately USD $60,000–$70,000, depending on course load).

• Stipend: USD $70,000 for the nine-month period, paid in two installments (September 2025 and February 2026), to offset living expenses in New York City. Note: The stipend is taxable, and fellows must account for taxes in their budget.

• Health Insurance: Coverage for one person (family coverage is extra, at the fellow’s expense).

• Additional Benefits: Subsidized Columbia-affiliated housing is available. Fellows gain access to weekly seminars with media CEOs, top editors, and corporate executives, as well as a network of over 450 Knight-Bagehot alumni.

• Note: The stipend and housing support do not cover additional expenses like family costs, travel, or personal expenses. Total financial aid is limited to tuition, stipend, and single-person health insurance.

1. Register Online: Create an account on the Columbia Journalism School application portal (https://apply.iie.org/apply/).

2. Complete Application Form: Submit the online application, including:

   • Personal and professional details.

   • A personal statement (500–750 words) outlining career goals, reasons for applying, and a proposed plan of study.

   • Up to five samples of published journalistic work (print, digital, broadcast, or multimedia).

   • Three professional letters of recommendation (submitted directly by referees via the portal).

   • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, verifying a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

   • For non-native English speakers: TOEFL iBT (114 recommended) or IELTS (8.0 recommended) scores, if required.

3. Submit Application: Compile and upload all materials by January 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Late applications are not accepted.

4. Interview Process: Finalists may be invited for interviews (in-person or virtual) with the selection advisory committee, typically in February–March 2025.

5. Selection: The committee, comprising senior media and business executives, evaluates applicants based on journalistic excellence, work samples, essays, and leadership potential. Up to 10 fellows are selected.

6. Notification: Admission decisions are announced in March–April 2025.

7. Enrollment: Accepted fellows enroll in August 2025, attending a pre-program orientation and beginning coursework.

Note: The application emphasizes journalistic work samples, with essays and recommendations playing a significant role. Applicants should tailor their study plan to align with one of the three academic tracks (Certificate or MA in Journalism).

• Completed online application form (via https://apply.iie.org/apply/).

• Personal statement (500–750 words) outlining goals and study plan.

• Up to five published work samples (articles, videos, or multimedia pieces).

• Three professional letters of recommendation.

• Official transcripts verifying a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

• English proficiency test scores for non-native speakers (e.g., TOEFL iBT 114, IELTS 8.0, if required).

• Note: All materials must be submitted via the online portal in English or with certified translations. Work samples should demonstrate business/economics/finance journalism expertise.

• Application Deadline: January 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

• Interviews: February–March 2025 (for finalists, if required).

• Notification: March–April 2025.

• Program Start: August 2025 (orientation and coursework begin).

• Program End: May 2026.

• Note: Deadlines are strict, and late applications are not considered. Verify details on www.journalism.columbia.edu/knight-bagehot.