The Atlantic Restarts Prestigious Editorial Fellowship Program with New Cohort

The Atlantic has officially announced the return of its highly competitive editorial fellowship program, marking the first time the storied publication has welcomed a fellowship class since 2020. After reviewing more than 1,300 applications, the magazine has selected six early-career journalists to join its newsroom for a yearlong tenure beginning next month.

This program serves as a critical pipeline for emerging talent, offering fellows the opportunity to embed with various editorial teams. Throughout the year, these journalists will refine their skills in reporting, editing, and research while gaining a deeper understanding of the evolving media landscape.

Meet the 2024–2025 Editorial Fellows

The incoming class represents a diverse range of academic backgrounds and reporting experience, spanning from investigative journalism to data-driven science writing. The new fellows include:

• Laney Crawley: A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate and former editor in chief of The Daily Tar Heel, Crawley brings experience from internships at People and Apartment Therapy.
• Catherine Goodman: An Emory University alumna who previously served as the Arts in Review Bartley Fellow at The Wall Street Journal and held leadership roles at The Emory Wheel.
• Nora Lowe: A recent Amherst College graduate with a background in environmental studies and science communication, having interned at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
• Jack Rodriquez-Vars: A Yale University graduate who has covered city politics and homelessness for The Sacramento Bee and contributed to various investigative projects.
• Jacob Smollen: A Brown University graduate who transitions to The Atlantic after producing podcasts for KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, and contributing to The Provincetown Independent.
• Katherine Weyback: The valedictorian of her class at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Weyback is returning to The Atlantic following her previous work with the magazine’s Talent & Culture team.

The Significance of the Fellowship Return

The revival of this fellowship marks a strategic investment by The Atlantic in the next generation of professional journalists. In an era where newsrooms are increasingly constrained by budget cuts and the rapid rise of AI-generated content, specialized training programs provide a vital space for human-led, rigorous investigative journalism.

By embedding fellows directly into the newsroom, The Atlantic ensures that these early-career reporters are mentored by some of the most experienced editors in the industry. This hands-on approach is designed to uphold the publication’s standards for long-form narrative and deep-dive reporting.

Key Takeaways

• Program Revival: This is The Atlantic’s first fellowship cohort since the program was paused in 2020.
• High Demand: The selection process was exceptionally competitive, with the six fellows chosen from a pool of over 1,300 candidates.
• Mentorship Focus: The yearlong program emphasizes practical newsroom experience, including embedding with editorial teams and honing research and editing proficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary goal of The Atlantic’s fellowship?

The fellowship is designed to support The Atlantic’s journalism while providing early-career reporters with professional development in writing, editing, and industry awareness.

How long does the fellowship last?

The program is a yearlong commitment, during which fellows work full-time within the newsroom.

Will the fellowship program continue in future years?

While The Atlantic has not released a multi-year schedule, the reinstatement of the program signals a renewed commitment to fostering new editorial talent within their organization.

As the media industry continues to navigate a complex digital environment, the inclusion of fresh perspectives from this new cohort is expected to bolster The Atlantic’s ongoing coverage of politics, culture, and science. The fellows are scheduled to begin their work in Washington, D.C., and across the organization’s remote teams next month.