Applications are now open for the MWP Emerging Women Journalists Fellowship 2026–27.
Migrant Women Press is inviting emerging journalists, media and communications professionals from migrant and adversely racialised backgrounds who are based in Scotland to apply for our 2026–27 Fellowship.
The Fellowship is a professional development programme designed to support women who are studying journalism, media or communications, or who have recently graduated, to develop their skills, build professional networks and gain practical experience in the sector.
Through training, mentoring, editorial support, publication and an industry placement, Fellows will be supported to develop their journalism and take the next steps in their careers.
Applications close: Sunday 13 September 2026
Programme: October 2026 – April 2027
8 Fellowship places available
What does the Fellowship offer?
Selected Fellows will take part in a programme combining learning, practical experience and professional development.
The Fellowship includes:
- Professional training led by journalists, editors and media professionals, covering areas such as journalism writing and reporting, fact-checking and verification, investigative journalism, multimedia storytelling, media law and ethics, AI in journalism, and responsible reporting.
- One-to-one mentoring with an experienced journalist or media professional.
- Editorial support to research, report and develop an original feature story for publication by Migrant Women Press.
- £600 Fellowship stipend to support participation in the programme.
- Industry placement with a media organisation, newsroom or communications team, providing practical experience and insight into working in the sector.
- Networking and community-building opportunities, including Fellowship meet-ups and opportunities to connect with other Fellows, previous participants and media professionals.
- Publication in the Fellowship’s print magazine and participation in our final Fellowship event in Glasgow.
Most training and mentoring will take place online, with some in-person activities in Scotland.
Your Fellowship story
As part of your application, we will ask you to pitch ONE story that you would like to develop during the Fellowship.
If you are selected, this pitch will become the starting point for the feature story you will research, report and produce during the programme, with support from your mentor, trainers and the MWP editor.
Your story should have a clear connection to Scotland or communities living in Scotland.
We are not expecting a finished professional pitch. We are interested in the strength and potential of your idea, your curiosity, its relevance and your thinking about how you might report it. You will have opportunities to research, refine and strengthen your idea during the Fellowship.
The final piece will normally be a well-researched feature of approximately 1,000 words, including at least two interviews, alongside a short piece of multimedia content.
Who can apply?
The Fellowship is designed for emerging women journalists, media and communications professionals from migrant and adversely racialised backgrounds.
You should:
- be based in Scotland;
- be currently studying journalism, media, communications or a related subject, or have graduated within the last three years;
- identify as being from a migrant and/or adversely racialised background;
- be interested in developing your skills and experience in journalism, media or communications;
- be able to participate in the Fellowship programme between October 2026 and April 2027.
We welcome applications from women from different migration backgrounds and experiences, including international students, refugees and people seeking asylum, as well as first, second and third-generation migrants.
The Fellowship is trans-inclusive and trans women are welcome to apply.
If you’re unsure whether you are eligible, please read our Applicant guide and Q&A (below) or contact us before applying.
What will the application ask?
The application is designed to help us understand your ideas, motivation, interests and potential, rather than how much professional experience you already have.
You will be asked about:
- why you would like to take part in the Fellowship;
- what matters to you about working in journalism, media or communications;
- where you would like the Fellowship to take you;
- what you would ideally like to be doing professionally in the next 1–3 years;
- one story idea you would like to develop during the Fellowship;
- one example of your previous work.
Your work example does not need to have been professionally published. Academic, student, independent, community and other relevant work can be considered.
Selection process
After applications close, Migrant Women Press will first check applications against the Fellowship’s eligibility criteria.
Eligible applications will then be independently assessed by external assessors using the same assessment framework. Each eligible application will be reviewed by two assessors.
We are interested in applicants’ potential, motivation, curiosity and ideas. Applicants will not be advantaged simply because they have more professional experience, have previously been published by a well-known organisation or have had greater access to opportunities.
Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of September.
Accessibility and application support
We want the application process and Fellowship to be as accessible as possible.
If completing a written application presents a barrier, or you require reasonable adjustments or another form of support to apply or participate in the Fellowship, please contact us.
Contact: migrantwomenpress@gmail.com
Find out more before you apply
We recommend looking through the information below before submitting your application. These resources will help you understand the Fellowship, what to expect from the programme and how to apply.
FELLOWSHIP CONCEPT NOTE
Learn more about the purpose of the MWP Emerging Women Journalists Fellowship, who it is for, what the programme offers and what we hope Fellows will gain from taking part.
APPLICATION GUIDE & Q&A
Everything you need to know about applying, including eligibility, the application process, what we ask for, accessibility and support, selection, time commitment and answers to frequently asked questions.
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE
A quick visual overview of the Fellowship journey, from joining the programme through training, mentoring and story development to industry placements, publication and the final event.
Still have a question?
If you can’t find the information you need in the Application Guide & Q&A, please contact us at migrantwomenpress@gmail.com.
