The Reynolds Journalism Institute Innovation Team is accepting pitches for collaborators in building programs, tools and resources for journalism. 

Have an idea that tackles a current need, gap or challenge in journalism? Do you believe in being completely transparent, whether you succeed or fail? Want to share, collaborate and be a part of building something together? 

We want to work with you! Not sure if your idea is a good fit? Set up a meeting with Sriya.

As collaborators we share the work & the cost of the project, these are collaborations - not gifts or grants. 

Read more.

RJI is hosting our annual symposium for a cohort of 30 community-centered journalists who want to come together to share and create thoughtful and actionable ways to serve our communities better. This year we have an amazing co-host, Mirror Indy! We'll be having the symposium in their space in Indianapolis.

Note: this symposium is now full but you can apply to be added to the waiting list! 

Dates: Nov 13 & 14, 2025

Location: Mirror Indy, Indianapolis 

This experience is for those who want to take a couple days to thoughtfully brainstorm, build and collaborate together across newsrooms, roles, teams and organizations on ideas and solutions that can benefit us all.

This weekend will be considered off the record and conducted under Chatham House rules – you will be able to take anything away from it that will be helpful to your work and utilize it, but will be asked to not quote or reveal who it originated from unless they provide express permission.

This is an opportunity for us to take time to be critical and honest about the work we do, and how we can do it better in service to our communities.

Those accepted into this symposium will receive the following:

• A room at a local hotel for Nov 12-15 (arrival Nov 12, departure Nov 15) 
•  Lunch each day of the symposium
• A roundup of all the examples, resources and takeaways shared in the sessions + collaborative results of your work together
• Check-ins (with RJI & your symposium cohort) 3 and 6 months after the symposium to provide ongoing support + share results, challenges and takeaways
• A stipend to try a new idea you learned or developed at the symposium in your newsroom

We want you to attend if:

• You work in a community-centered role, org and/or newsroom
• You’re willing to be honest, open and think critically about your work and your newsroom in this space
• You want to collaborate, work together and share results transparently
• You want to try new-to-you methods of serving your community
• You want to listen to others and learn from their lived experiences
• Your newsroom/org & you are willing to commit to trying something you are exposed to at this symposium, (resources, ideas, methods) and being transparent about results in a published piece at rjionline.org

The topics of the sessions and the resources built from them will be participant-led and inspired, but everything will happen with guidance and support from RJI to ensure that actionable resources, activities and goals are incorporated into the weekend. We will be there to prompt, mediate and make sure every voice in the room is heard and included.

Newsrooms & orgs who are interested in hosting a RJI Student Innovation Fellow for summer 2026 should apply below.
 

Fellowship Guidelines:
 

• RJI pays the student fellows directly a stipend for their summer work but you are allowed (and encouraged!) to pay them an hourly wage in addition to their stipend if you are able to do so. 
• The student fellow must work on 2-3 innovative projects/initiatives over the course of the summer which will be transparently shared with the journalism industry through articles they write for RJI. Students will not be doing traditional journalism reporting (writing articles, copy editing, covering daily stories etc) 
• The RJI articles on their innovative projects will be published through our Innovation in Focus series on rjionline.org and in the IIF newsletter.
• This application should be filled out by the mentor who is willing to work closely with the student supervising their work and taking part in our fellowship program by attending the required meetings, joining our shared slack space and communicating with RJI on their progress. 

Read more details here.

How do I apply?

Apply below.

Students: Applications close November 7, 2025. Students and will be notified by email about fellowship interviews by November 14, 2025.

What is a 2026 RJI Student Innovation Fellowship? 

A Mizzou journalism student placed with a news organization to work 30-40 hours per week in summer 2026. These fellowships are sponsored by RJI’s Palmer Innovation Endowment fund and the stipends are paid directly to the students.

These Fellowships are focused on projects that create, extend or build upon innovative work in each newsroom and transparently share that work with the industry by publishing articles through the Innovation in Focus series to help journalists learn from and emulate the innovative work.

Projects that are similar to past projects undertaken by Student Fellows and/or not very innovative will be less likely to be picked for a student match. We are looking for newsrooms who want to undertake projects that will be useful to other newsrooms in the journalism industry to learn from.

What do the student fellows receive?

Each student fellow receives a minimum stipend of $8000 and will be expected to work for 30–40 hours a week for 12 weeks, starting mid-May and ending mid-August. Organizations are allowed (and encouraged!) to supplement this stipend with hourly pay.

Payments from RJI are made in two parts directly to the student. Half the stipend is paid at the beginning of the fellowship (within 30 days after the fellowship start) and the second half is paid after all the student’s RJI deliverables are met.

How are org/newsrooms chosen?

These fellowships are designed for each student to work with a newsroom or journalism organization on innovative projects of mutual interest. Partner organizations are chosen based on their application answers, proposed projects and the availability of a student fellow whose interests match the skillsets needed for those projects.

How are students chosen?

All current and soon to be recently graduated Missouri School of Journalism students are eligible and encouraged to apply. Students are chosen based on the application, interview and the newsroom applications we receive. We look to make strong matches between student interests & skillsets and the innovative projects pitched by newsrooms.

Who supervises the student work?

The newsroom/org mentor will give the RJI Student Innovation Fellow regular feedback and provide guidance on projects at least 3 days a week whether in-person or remote. The mentor will also be the main point of contact with RJI on everything related to the fellowship and attend orientation and required zoom meetings.

RJI will meet with Student Fellows regularly prior to and then bi-weekly throughout the 3-month Fellowship to make sure they are learning, supported and achieving their goals. 

What am students required to produce for RJI?

Each student’s work will be highlighted in RJI’s Innovation in Focus series and newsletter. These 2-3 articles will be produced by the student fellow over the course of their fellowship to share their innovative project work and help other newsrooms implement the same innovation. 

How are the RJI Student Innovation Fellows chosen?

RJI’s Director of Innovation Kat Duncan and Innovation in Focus Editor Emily Lytle will choose up to 10 finalists to interview before awarding the fellowships.

Official page on RJIonline.org