Applications are now open for a three-day in-person intensive reporting workshop to be held at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY in New York City, from May 4-6, 2026. This training is open to journalists who have at least three years of full-time reporting experience or the equivalent. No prior experience covering aging issues is required.
Participants will learn from experts about some of the latest developments and perspectives on aging. They will explore a range of issues, from how climate change is affecting older adults to the experiences of people who are aging in prison. During hands-on sessions led by fellow journalists, they will deepen relevant skills, including how to report on Medicare and nursing homes and how to utilize public data sets to uncover new reporting threads on a range of issues. Participants will work closely with data journalism coaches who will offer training in new data reporting techniques.
Participants will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the issues facing older adults, an ability to formulate stories that go beyond age stereotypes, and a community of fellow journalists with a shared interest in aging coverage.
As part of the application process, journalists must propose a story or series of stories about aging that they intend to tackle. They must indicate what kinds of data sources they intend to use to pursue the story. Each participant will be paired with an experienced journalist on the aging beat, who will help them refine their pitch and move their story toward publication. The mentorship will take place in remote sessions, beginning in early May and extending for six months afterward.
To apply, please fill out this short form, and include a pitch (250-500 words) for a story you’d like to produce about an issue related to older adults. Your pitch must:
- be directed at a specific publication
- have a clear angle and news hook
- indicate some of the sources and resources you will consult during your reporting
The deadline for applications is Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
The admitted applicants will be notified by the second week of March. Participants will be reimbursed for their transportation to and from New York City, and lodging and food will be provided. Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend to support their ongoing reporting projects.
Support for this initiative is provided by the Congregational Home Legacy Fund (CHLF).
Questions? Please contact
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About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, founded in 2006, is a public graduate journalism school based in the heart of New York City. With affordable tuition and extensive scholarship support, it prepares students from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism. The school offers 16-month master’s degree programs: M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism, and M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual Program (English/Spanish). Through the school’s J+ division, which offers a suite of executive training programs, the J-School trains seasoned journalists to reimagine news business models, build news products, and step into leadership roles with an entrepreneurial mindset. The Newmark J-School is also home to four unique centers and initiatives: the McGraw Center for Business Journalism; the Center for Community Media; the Tow-Knight Center for Journalism Futures; and the Journalism Protection Initiative. In January 2024, the school launched a campaign to provide free tuition, in perpetuity, to all of its students.
About the Congregational Home Legacy Fund
The Congregational Home Legacy Fund (CHLF) was established in 2021 for the purpose of supporting policy and program initiatives addressing the issues of aging and the lives of the elderly in New York. CHLF was funded with the proceeds of the sale of the New York Congregation Nursing Center, the successor to the Congregational Home for the Aged (established in Brooklyn in 1906) which served the frail elderly of New York City continuously for more than a century. The trustees currently support projects related to housing, advocacy, and public awareness of aging issues.