Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellowship 2026–2027
Pulitzer Center's fifth cohort of AI Accountability Fellows. 10-month fellowship (Sept 2026–July 2027) supporting in-depth journalism on AI's societal impacts. Up to $25,000 per fellow plus mentorship and peer network. Deadline July 12.
Pulitzer Center backing gives this fellowship exceptional reach — outputs are published and amplified far beyond what most research fellowships offer.
The Pulitzer Center is accepting applications for the fifth cohort of its AI Accountability Fellowships — one of the most prestigious fellowships for journalists covering artificial intelligence.
What fellows receive:
- Up to $20,000 for reporting costs (records requests, travel, data analysis, stipends)
- Up to $5,000 for engagement activities
- 10 months of peer community, mentorship, and training
- Access to the AI Accountability Network of 35+ fellows across 29 countries
Fellowship period: September 2026 – July 2027
What they’re looking for:
- In-depth reporting projects on AI systems’ societal impacts
- Transparency and accountability in how AI is funded, built, and deployed
- Journalists representing diverse communities affected by AI
- Strong pre-reporting and a specific story concept — generic proposals are quickly spotted
Useful note from Pulitzer: They specifically flag that proposals generated or substantially drafted by LLM tools produce “flattened language, lack of specificity, and factual errors” — and are quickly spotted. Write your own proposal.
Ask Me Anything webinar: June 11, 2026 — attend for tips from editors and past fellows.
Deadline: July 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT