The National Press Club awards more than $30,000 in funding to student journalists annually.
On Jan. 28, two past NPC scholarship judges offered an inside look at what makes an application exceptional. They covered scholarship application dos and don’ts, including advice on developing strong essay responses, selecting stellar work samples, and choosing the right individuals for a letter of recommendation.
National Press Club scholarship key 2026 dates
- March 1: Application deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
- First week of May: Scholarship recipients announced
- First week of August: Funds to be distributed to scholarship recipients
Part 1: Personal information
- Academic transcripts: Please upload your most recent official or unofficial transcript reflecting the GPA required for the scholarship you want.
- Fall enrollment: Most NPC scholarships are awarded for use in the fall semester of the year you are applying. If you’ve not selected your school, list the schools you’ve applied to.
- Resume: Update your resume, to include your academic experience, extracurriculars, jobs, volunteer positions, and other skills. (Click here for more detailed resume tips.)
Part 2: Personal essay statement
- Answer the essay prompt directly. Tailor your statements to match the opportunity. If submitting multiple applications, write distinct essays.
- Make it personal. Use your essay to tell your story, in the first person. Describe how and why your experiences have inspired you to pursue a career in journalism.
- Don’t repeat your resume in your essay.
- Avoid cliches. Showcase your writing skills. Steer clear of common tropes in your introduction like “The dictionary defines” or “My name is … and I’m studying …”
- Do not use generative AI to draft your essay. NPC policy prohibits the use of generative AI to draft personal essay statements. If suspected, applicants will be disqualified.
Part 3: Work samples
- Include accessible work. Check for broken links or paywalls. Work samples that can’t be accessed will be disqualified. The work-around for paywalls is to upload a pdf, Word doc, or screenshot instead.
- Avoid double bylines. If your best work includes a collaborative project, describe your role and what elements you contributed to directly in the published work along with the sample.
- Disclose the use of artificial intelligence in your work. If AI tools were used transparently in the production of your journalistic work samples, include a short description of how you deployed those tools in your work.
Part 4: Letters of recommendation
- Ask for letters early.
- Ask your recommenders to tailor their letters. Share the scholarship details and your resume.
- Ask references who know you and your work well. Do they know you well enough to write something specific to you? Will they speak to your strengths?
- Do not ask your parents or family to send a letter of recommendation.
- Send a reminder closer to the deadline. Letters received after the deadline are not considered.
Part 5: Financial need
- Provide a brief estimate of how you’ll fund your education. For example: “I expect to pay for school using 50 percent student loans, 20 percent scholarships, and the remaining costs out of pocket.”
Download this checklist to assist in preparing application materials. Watch the webinar:
2026 National Press Club scholarship opportunities include:
- The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior. The award can be renewed for up to three years at $5,000 per year.
- The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to support a high school senior who wishes to pursue a career in journalism.
- The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship supports diversity within broadcast journalism. The scholarship is $5,000 awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed for up to three years.
- The Lewis Scholarship provides housing and a monthly stipend to support student journalists of color with newsroom internships in Washington, D.C., during the summer semester.
- The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship recognizes a journalism graduate student with a one-time scholarship of $5,000.
- New this year: The Rich Passan Sports Writing Scholarship is a $5,000 award supporting undergraduate college juniors or seniors who demonstrate excellence and promise in sports journalism.
All applications are due on Sunday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. ET. (You can apply using this link.) Donate to help us support early-career journalists with training: Your tax-deductible donation today can support the student journalists who will lead the industry into tomorrow. Please visit our giving page to donate. There, you can designate which scholarship you’d like to support.