The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships offer journalists a chance to step away from the newsroom to hone their health reporting skills. In workshops, field trips and discussions, fellows learn from nationally renowned health experts, policy analysts and community health leaders, from top journalists in the field, and from each other. Participants "graduate" with a multitude of story ideas and sources, plus a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of good health journalism.

The program is both practical and inspiring, focusing on content as well as craft. With the Internet rapidly changing the face of modern journalism, we teach strategies for multimedia storytelling and discuss the latest trends in digital journalism. Seminars also highlight great story-telling techniques and provide tips for old-fashioned street reporting. Award-winning journalists share the inside story of ambitious health projects and fellows team up with seasoned journalists who serve as mentors and guides on final projects that are part of the fellowship program.

The Fellowships encourage journalists to chronicle and illuminate the health challenges and social justice issues confronting an increasingly diverse and polyglot nation. The program is open to all journalists interested in health reporting, not just those on the health beat. We invite participation from print, broadcast, and multimedia journalists working for mainstream and ethnic media outlets.

Check back with us in the coming weeks for our full 2010 agenda of seminars and special programs, including the 2010 National Health Fellowships, the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism call for applications, our 2010/2011 California Health Journalism series as well as some new training initiatives.

Which Program is Right for Me?