Fellow

Job Description:

The POLITICO Fellows Program, among the most prestigious in the industry, trains early-career journalists in the fundamentals of covering politics, policy and power. It offers a select group of enterprising journalists a front-row seat to the biggest storylines in American and international politics at a time of historic political disruption – and a jump-start to a career in political and policy journalism.

Over a 12-month term, Fellows in the 2027–28 class receive hands-on newsroom experience, structured training and mentorship from POLITICO reporters and editors, preparing them to report for the most influential audiences in politics and policy. Start dates are flexible in 2027. Fellows will work from our HQ in Arlington, VA.

Who You Are:

We’re looking for candidates with at least two years of relevant experience, strong writing and analytical skills, the ability to work on a team, and a passion to learn and grow at the premier news organization covering the intersection of politics and policy in the United States and beyond.

What You'll Do:

• Report and write stories for POLITICO’s audiences, from fast-turn breaking news to deeper policy explainers
• Rotate through editorial teams covering the White House, Congress, federal agencies and key state capitals
• Dig into the policy debates driving decision-making in Washington
• Pitch your own story ideas and build a network of sources
• Learn from POLITICO reporters and editors through regular training sessions and one-on-one mentorship
• Be considered for an open position in the POLITICO newsroom upon successful completion of the program

What You'll Need (Application Materials):

• Cover letter, sharing your story and stating your interest in politics or policy-focused journalism, plus any policy expertise
• One-page résumé reflecting at least two years of paid newsroom or other professional journalism experience
• Two references (list names, email addresses, phone numbers and relationship to the applicant)
• Three work samples (i.e. published news stories or other articles, video, or audio) that are publicly accessible. Paywalled links will not be considered.
• Please upload all documents to the Resume/CV section of the application in Workday. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

COMPENSATION: Total compensation of $63,700, plus benefits.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline is Dec 18, 2026 at 5pm EST.

The Fellowship generates a high level of interest, so we cannot acknowledge the status of applications upon receipt or during the vetting process, which can take several weeks. We cannot accept applications that are mailed or emailed to us or amendments to applications. We will contact you for interviews as needed, which will start in January 2027.

We value our people. Click here for more on what we offer and what it’s like to work for POLITICO. 

Let’s keep in touch. You can view our list of open positions here.

About Us.

POLITICO illuminates the forces shaping global power. Since 2007, we have delivered intelligence that anticipates tomorrow's headlines, not reports on yesterday's news. As politics has increasingly become the defining force of our era, our work has never been more vital.

Cabinet secretaries and Ministers start their mornings with our analysis. CEOs shape strategy around our reporting. Advocacy leaders rely on our insights to move policy. We deliver the straightforward facts and clear-eyed analysis they need to navigate the most complex political landscape of our lifetimes.

Our 1,100+ publishing professionals across the world's key democratic capitals—Washington, Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, Sacramento, and New York—form the world's premier politics and policy newsroom. We tell the story of how power really works by explaining who wields it and how they plan to exercise it, connecting dots others miss and delivering scoops from sources others don't even know exist.

Innovation has always been a core tenet of our story. At launch, we bet that depth would trump scale, that talent would trump traffic, and that politics would become central to modern life. In 2011, we made another bet and launched POLITICO Pro to help decision-makers understand the business of government, transforming both how they shape government action and the business of journalism itself.

These bets have made POLITICO the most successful digital news startup of its generation and the indispensable resource for leaders who shape the future. Today, we are a rarity in media: a growing, profitable, and sustainable news organization.

POLITICO is a subsidiary of Axel Springer SE, a family-owned transatlantic media company headquartered in Berlin and New York. Axel Springer is dedicated to shaping the future of journalism in the free world, believing that a free and informed society is essential to democracy. The company’s guiding principles - first articulated as The Essentials by founder Axel Springer in the aftermath of World War II - remain a cornerstone of the company’s foundation today. Learn more about Axel Springer.

Posting date:

2026-11-04

Title:

2027-28 POLITICO Fellows