News Creator Corps’ Trusted Creator Fellowship is a short-term program providing partnership and training to U.S.-based information providers who want to level-up their connection to their communities. The fellowship teaches tactical skills like fact-checking, sourcing, and interviewing to ensure the creators are disseminating accurate information.
Who would benefit most from this program?
We’re looking for independent creators who provide a service to their community, whether that’s restaurant openings, public health information, parenting discussions, or local stories. If you create content that informs or connects people, this program will teach you the tactical skills to ensure you are disseminating accurate information.
Creators only need an engaged following on a digital platform (i.e. Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Substack, YouTube, etc.), and a focus on providing information-based services to a specific community.
For the Fall 2026 cohort, we are reserving three seats for current college students. See below for more information.
Who would not benefit from this program?
Traditional news reporters and journalists who have learned about fact checking, FOIA requests, interviewing skills, sourcing, and other news reporting skills would likely not benefit from this cohort.
What should I expect?
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 17, 2026. Applicants will be notified by the end of September.
The cohort will meet virtually once a week from roughly October 5 to December 18 and will put what they are learning into practice on their channels. Class participants will have access to discussion forums with their cohort, trainers, and NCC staff and alumni. Creators who complete the program will receive a $5,000 stipend.
Can students apply?
We are reserving three seats in the fall 2026 cohort for full-time college students 25 or younger.
We want to reach creators earlier and equip them with the skills to serve their communities from the start. College-aged creators also reach audiences that the rest of our network often doesn’t: people in their late teens and early twenties who are forming their information habits right now. That’s an audience worth investing in.
College students will go through the same fellowship experience as every other member of the cohort.
Not sure where you fit in? Apply and tell us about what you’re creating.
If you have questions, please email creatorprogram@newscreatorcorps.org.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 17, 2026