The National Press Club Journalism Institute announced the 2026 cohort of its Public Health Reporting Fellowship, supporting journalists across the country in producing in-depth, community-centered reporting on critical public health issues.
The fellowship provides funding and resources to help journalists pursue ambitious reporting projects that examine pressing health challenges, from access to care and health equity to emerging threats and policy impacts. The program is made possible through the generous support of the Common Health Coalition.
“At a time when both journalism and public health face challenges — from strained resources to declining trust — we have an opportunity to strengthen the connections between these vital sectors in service to families and our neighbors,” said Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, Chair of the Common Health Coalition. “Trusted, community-centered reporting is essential to helping people understand the issues and policies shaping their health. By investing in public health and media partnerships, the Common Health Coalition is investing in community health.”
The 2026 Public Health Reporting Fellows are:
Maea Lenei Buhre, general assignment producer for PBS NewsHour. Buhre will explore the long-term environmental health and mental health impacts of the 2023 wildfires in Maui, with a focus on residents’ access to care.
Cassie Chew, independent journalist. Chew will report on the coming adult autism services surge, using Illinois as a case study to examine gaps in services, disparities in access, and the human consequences of a system that largely stops at 21.
Whitney Downard, reporter for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Downard’s project will cover Pennsylvania’s experimentation with a new type of medical provider – primary care medics – as the state’s response to known shortages in licensed medical providers.
Olga Loginova, independent environmental journalist and documentary filmmaker. Loginova will explore maternal and child health care and access to care among residents of Arizona colonias.
Mark Rabago, correspondent for the Marianas Press. Rabago’s reporting will dive into the rates of cancer cases and access to health care in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory.
Jayati Ramakrishnan, reporter for The Seattle Times. Ramakrishnan will report on mental health-related wraparound services with a solutions-focused approach that ties in to the overarching need for systems of care.
Each fellow will receive up to $7,500 and six months of training and support to advance reporting that informs the public and elevates underreported perspectives in health coverage.
“High-quality public health reporting isn’t optional. It’s essential,” said Beth Francesco, executive director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute. “This fellowship is about giving journalists the time, resources, and support to go deeper, to listen closely, and to tell complex stories that might otherwise go untold. That kind of reporting can truly make a difference.”
Now in its second year, the Public Health Reporting Fellowship has supported journalists producing impactful work that deepens public understanding and drives meaningful conversations around health and well-being.
For more information about the fellowship, click here.