News Creator Corps’ Trusted Creator Fellowship is an intensive, completely virtual training program for information-focused creators. Fellows learn fact-checking, sourcing, interviewing, and research skills so they can serve the communities they care deeply about. There is one application for everyone, including rural creators and college students.
Who should apply?
Creators who inform or connect a specific community. You might cover restaurant openings, public health, parenting, local government, national politics, or the news in your town. We typically work with creators who don’t have a background in journalism. You need an engaged following on at least one platform (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Substack, Twitch, or elsewhere) and a commitment to getting information right for the people who follow you.
We especially want to hear from creators who serve:
- Communities of color
- LGBTQ+ communities
- Rural communities and college towns
- Places that have lost their local news
- Communities that don’t typically engage with civic information
I create for a rural community. Is this for me?
Yes. Rural creators are now part of every cohort rather than a separate program, so you’ll train alongside creators from across the country.
Can students apply?
Yes. Full-time college students are welcome to apply.
We want to reach creators earlier and equip them with the skills to serve their communities from the start. College-aged creators also reach people our network often doesn’t: people forming their information habits right now. That’s an audience worth investing in. Students go through the same fellowship as everyone else in the cohort.
Who is this not for?
If you’re a trained journalist, including reporters who have gone independent, you’ve likely already learned what we teach. This fellowship is built for creators who haven’t had that training.
What should I expect?
Applications for the Winter 2027 cohort are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 13. Applicants will be notified by January 13. We are unable to provide individual feedback.
The cohort meets once a week on Zoom, from approximately January 25 to March 19. Fellows put what they learn into practice on their own channels and connect with their cohort, trainers, NCC staff, and alumni in Discord. Creators who complete the program receive a $5,000 stipend. Graduates are invited to join the Collective, our nationwide alumni network.
Not sure where you fit in? Apply and tell us about what you’re creating.
If you have questions, email creatorprogram@newscreatorcorps.org.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 13, 2026