The National Association of Black Journalists is accepting applications for the 2026 Ethel Payne Fellowship, a $5,000 award supporting an NABJ member completing an international reporting project.
The fellowship honors Ethel Payne, a pioneering African American journalist known for her civil rights reporting and global storytelling. Proposed projects should explore in-depth and nuanced stories about Africa and African people. Travel to Africa is not required.
The fellowship provides funding to produce a reporting project and requires recipients to engage with African-based programs, organizations or communities either virtually or in person. Fellows must agree to share their final work with NABJ for promotional and publication use.
Eligibility Criteria
• Must be an NABJ member in good standing
• Mid-career or veteran journalists with at least seven years of full-time journalism experience
• Must submit a proposed topic, issue or reporting project
• Two letters of recommendation required
• Completion of all application requirements
Applications close at 11:59 p.m. PT on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested applicants can learn more and apply here.
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