“Wisconsin Public Radio is the ultimate laboratory for early career journalists.”
Parth Shah, "Hidden Brain" Producer at NPR
Wisconsin Public Radio is committed to the future of journalism. WPR offers three different full-time, paid fellowships for early-career journalists – the Lee Ester News Fellowship, Second Century News Fellowship, and the Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellowship.
Recent journalism graduates, and early-career journalists, are encouraged to apply. Find details about each of the fellowships below. Get application information and deadlines by contacting Human Resources, Wisconsin Public Media, hr@wpm.wisc.edu.
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Current Lee Ester News Fellow: Gaby Vinick
The Lee Ester News Fellowship was created in 2008 by Leota Ester (pictured above with Parth Shah) to honor her late husband, Lee. Fellows receive a salary, hands-on training, and daily reporting experience in the award-winning Wisconsin Public Radio newsroom. The nine-month fellowship is open to early-career journalists. More …
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Current Second Century News Fellow: Leah Treidler
Created in 2016 with a generous gift from Joan Leonard and Michael Vigoda, the Second Century News Fellowship provides an opportunity for new journalists of color - and others underrepresented in the field - to gain practical, hands-on experience in public media news production. Second Century Fellows earn a salary and are full-fledged members of the WPR news team with responsibilities for covering local and state news. This is a 12-month fellowship based in Milwaukee. More …
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Current Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow: Jonah Chester
The fellowship is named for award-winning Superior-based WPR Reporter Mike Simonson, who passed away unexpectedly in 2014. The fellowship is a collaboration between WPR and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and offers journalists resources and mentorship specifically in the field of investigative journalism, editing and on-air production. More …
Donor Support For Wisconsin Public Radio Fellowships
Major support for fellowships at WPR comes from these donors:
Amanda Das
Anna Remillard
Scott & Mary Kolar
Bill Merrick
Cynthia F Stiehl
Elizabeth K Ester
Pat Boldt
Gary McGoey
Jane & John Boutelle
John & Valerie McAuliffe
Rima & Michael Apple
Leota Ester
Lynda J Anthony
Mary Nikolay
Michael Cisler