SSN Media Fellowship 2026-27: Media Training and Mentorship for Scholars

The SSN Media Fellowship 2026-27 is accepting applications from current Scholars Strategy Network members who are new to media engagement. The fellowship provides personalized media training, mentorship from experienced public scholars, workshops, and support with op-eds, media pitches, and research communication. Applications are due September 21, 2026.

Background & Fellowship Description

The SSN Media Fellowship 2026-27 is a professional development opportunity offered by the Scholars Strategy Network (SSN) for current SSN members who are new to media work.

Entering its fourth year, the fellowship is designed to help scholars develop the practical skills needed to communicate research findings effectively to broader audiences. The programme combines individualized mentorship, media workshops and support from SSN national staff throughout the 2026-2027 academic year.

Unlike a traditional academic fellowship focused primarily on research, the SSN Media Fellowship emphasizes public scholarship and research communication. Participants receive guidance on how to translate scholarly research into accessible messages for audiences across television, radio, print media, opinion articles and social media.

Applications are limited because the programme has a restricted number of spaces.

Application deadline: September 21, 2026.

Who Can Apply?

The SSN Media Fellowship has a specific eligibility requirement: applications are open only to current Scholars Strategy Network members.

The programme is particularly intended for SSN members who are relatively new to media engagement and want to develop their ability to communicate their research to diverse audiences.

Applicants should be prepared to identify research projects that they would like to develop into media opportunities during the fellowship.

The application asks candidates to provide a short description or abstract of the research project or projects that would serve as the focus of their media work.

Because the fellowship is designed for scholars new to media work, applicants do not necessarily need an extensive media background. Instead, the application gives candidates an opportunity to explain their existing media experience, interests and goals.

What Does the SSN Media Fellowship Provide?

Selected fellows receive several forms of professional development and personalized support during the programme.

Mentorship

One of the central components is a mentor-mentee relationship.

Selected SSN members will be paired with experienced public scholars from the SSN network. Mentors provide hands-on guidance, advice and feedback related to media strategy and research communication.

Mentor-mentee pairs are expected to meet approximately five times during the 2026-2027 academic year.

These meetings allow fellows to receive individualized guidance based on their research interests and media goals.

Media Workshops

Fellows will also participate in media workshops led by SSN national staff.

The first media workshop is scheduled for November 2026, followed by two additional workshops during spring 2027.

The workshops are intended to complement the individual mentoring relationship and provide participants with practical media engagement skills.

Support From SSN Staff

In addition to mentorship and workshops, SSN national staff will provide supplementary assistance where applicable.

This support may include:

Editing op-ed drafts
Helping fellows pitch their research to media outlets
Finding relevant media contacts
Sharing media alerts
Providing tailored guidance on media engagement

This combination of mentorship and staff support gives fellows multiple opportunities to strengthen their approach to public-facing research communication.

Media Skills Fellows Can Develop

The fellowship is designed around communicating research effectively to audiences beyond academia.

Participants can work on strategies for presenting research through different media platforms, including:

Television
Radio
Print media
Op-eds
Social media

For scholars who have strong research expertise but limited experience communicating with journalists or general audiences, these skills can be particularly useful.

The fellowship can also help participants think more strategically about how their research can be translated into accessible public conversations.

Fellowship Timeline

The SSN Media Fellowship runs during the 2026-2027 academic year.

September 21, 2026 — Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted by September 21, 2026.

October 2026 — Selection and Onboarding

Selected fellows will be notified in October and paired with mentors from the SSN network.

Before mentor-mentee meetings and media workshops begin, fellows will participate in an onboarding session.

November 2026 — First Media Workshop

All selected fellows will attend the first media workshop led by SSN staff.

Spring 2027 — Additional Workshops

Two additional media workshops will be held during spring 2027.

June 2027 — Programme Conclusion

The fellowship will conclude in June 2027 with a programme evaluation.

Is There a Stipend?

The SSN Media Fellowship does not include a stipend for selected fellows.

Instead, the programme’s benefits are centered on professional development, mentorship, media workshops and personalized support from experienced scholars and SSN national staff.

Applicants should therefore consider the fellowship primarily as a media training and professional development opportunity rather than a funded fellowship providing financial support.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete the online application and provide several pieces of information.

Research Project Description

Candidates must submit a short description or abstract of the research project or projects that they would focus on for their media work during the fellowship.

This section gives applicants an opportunity to explain the research they want to communicate to broader audiences.

Media Engagement Statement

Applicants must submit a statement of 500 to 1,000 words outlining:

Their interests in media engagement
Previous media experience, if any
What they hope to achieve through the fellowship

This statement is an important part of the application because it allows candidates to explain their motivation and professional goals.

Mentor-Mentee Interests

Applicants are also asked to explain what they are most interested in exploring during mentor-mentee meetings throughout the fellowship.

Candidates should use this section to identify the types of media strategy, research communication or public scholarship issues they would like to discuss with their mentor.

CV

Applicants must provide a link to their most up-to-date CV.

The application also includes an optional opportunity for candidates to share other relevant information or thoughts about potential mentor pairings.

How to Strengthen Your Application

Applicants should make sure their materials clearly connect their research interests with their media goals.

A strong application can explain what research the applicant wants to communicate, why public engagement matters to that research, what media skills they want to develop and what they hope to accomplish during the fellowship.

The 500-1,000-word media engagement statement should be specific rather than simply stating a general interest in media. Applicants can use it to explain their current experience, identify areas where they need development and describe the types of audiences or media platforms they hope to reach.

The mentor-mentee section should also be thoughtful. Rather than simply requesting general advice, applicants can identify specific areas where experienced public scholars could provide useful guidance.

Who Is the Fellowship Best Suited For?

The SSN Media Fellowship is particularly relevant for SSN members who have established research expertise but are still developing their media engagement skills.

It may be useful for scholars who want to:

Communicate research to non-academic audiences
Improve their media strategy
Learn how to work more effectively with journalists
Develop stronger op-eds
Improve research-based media pitches
Build confidence in public scholarship
Expand the reach and accessibility of their research

The programme’s structure is especially suited to applicants who value personalized feedback and ongoing mentorship.

Why Media Engagement Matters for Researchers

Academic research can have significant public value, but research findings often need to be translated into accessible language before they can reach wider audiences.

Media engagement provides scholars with opportunities to bring evidence and research-based perspectives into public discussions.

For researchers interested in public scholarship, learning how to write an effective op-ed, communicate with journalists, prepare for interviews or present research through social media can complement traditional academic communication.

The SSN Media Fellowship is structured around this type of research-to-public communication.

How to Apply

Eligible SSN members should complete the official application before the deadline.

Applicants should prepare:

A short research project description or abstract
A 500-1,000-word media engagement statement
A description of topics they want to explore with a mentor
A link to their current CV

The application deadline is September 21, 2026.

Applicants should also remember that space in the programme is limited, so submitting a complete application before the deadline is important.

Conclusion

The SSN Media Fellowship 2026-27 offers current Scholars Strategy Network members an opportunity to strengthen their media engagement and public scholarship skills through mentorship, workshops and personalized support.

Selected fellows will work with experienced SSN public scholars, participate in media workshops and receive assistance from SSN national staff on areas such as op-ed editing, media pitching and identifying media contacts.

The programme does not provide a stipend, but it offers professional development focused on helping scholars communicate research more effectively across television, radio, print, op-eds and social media.

Current SSN members who are new to media work and want to expand the public reach of their research should consider preparing their applications well ahead of the September 21, 2026 deadline.

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