Mid-career journalist or editor
with strong sourcing, verification, and editorial judgment
Rewrite the story.
Join
The Story StudioMalaria
The Story Studio is a new fellowship that supports East African journalists and storytellers with expert training, mentorship, and reporting grants to produce ambitious, evidence-based malaria stories for regional and international audiences.
Applications closedApplications closed 10 Aug 2026
About
The Story Studio is a new fellowship for East African journalists and storytellers looking to improve the power, impact and reach of their stories. With direct mentorship and workshops with industry experts, the Story Studio: Malaria provides specialist training in global health for storytellers looking to take their work to the next level. The program aims to ensure stories stand out across multiple platforms and markets, with a particular focus on reaching U.S. and international media.
The brief
Malaria is the leading cause of death for children across Africa, and yet, it doesn't grab headlines or garner attention like it should given the massive toll it takes on countries, economies, communities, and families. Despite its enormous impact, malaria remains one of the most under-reported and under-amplified stories on the continent. That's exactly the gap this fellowship aims to close.
If you've got the story and want the craft and the audience to match — this is where you build both.
At a glance
- Cohort
- 12 fellows
- Eligible
- Kenya · Uganda · Tanzania
- Length
- 16 weeks
- Format
- Live sessions, Nairobi bootcamp, 1:1 mentorship
- Support
- Reporting grant + editorial guidance
- Output
- 1–2 publishable malaria stories
Who we're looking for
We're recruiting 12 fellows for our first cohort from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania across a broad storytelling field. You might be a…
Multimedia storyteller
with video, audio, photo, social, or digital skills who can bring complex health issues to life
Scientist & health communicator
with a track record of communicating beyond technical audiences
You don't need to be a malaria specialist. You need to be curious, committed and ready to learn and do the work of finding and telling stories that matter.
What you'll get
- A 16-week fellowship blending live sessions, in-person training, and 1:1 mentorship from experienced journalists and editors
- A reporting grant to support your stories
- Editorial guidance from a cross-sector panel with U.S. and international media experience
- Direct pathways to pitch and place your stories with regional and international outlets and the opportunity to have them showcased on our global Story Hub platform
- An ongoing network of malaria storytellers across Sub-Saharan Africa
What we're asking
Full commitment across the 16-week fellowship — from pitching your initial ideas, through field reporting and editing, to publication and showcase. This includes a 3-day in person bootcamp in Nairobi and a commitment to develop 1-2 high impact, publishable malaria stories.
This is a hands-on program: expect coaching, feedback and the opportunity to pitch your best work to globally renowned media outlets.
Key dates
- Applications open
- Closed
- Applications closed
- 10th August 2026
- Fellowship dates
- 1st September – 19th December 2026
- In-person training in Nairobi
- 8th – 10th September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Applications closed
Applications closed on August 10, 2026. Thank you to everyone who applied.