2027 Hearst AI Newsroom Developer Fellowship Program

Description

The company Fellowship for Newsroom AI Development is a one-year program where you build AI tools for journalists and experiences for readers.

You will be based on the DevHub, the company's San Francisco editorial innovation team, and work with core product and engineering teams and top metro newsrooms, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, Times Union in Albany, and the company Connecticut newsrooms.

Fellows get training, mentorship and hands-on work alongside journalist-programmers who build interactive pieces and automation tools aimed at connecting with local communities.

Fellows are full-time employees. Pay and benefits include health insurance, a relocation allowance and a housing stipend.

The DevHub is a mix of editorial engineers, AI developers, data journalists, interactive designers and content strategists who work with local newsrooms. The team has built election results pages, AI tools, searchable databases, severe weather trackers and new story formats.

The goal is for Fellows to get full-time jobs at the end of the year. The company wants to train its next builders and keep supporting them as they grow into leaders. Fellowship does not guarantee a job, but the company aims to recruit people who will join its full-time staff.

Responsibilities

• Build AI tools for newsrooms and reader experiences that meet strict editorial standards and company policies.
• Help newsrooms apply AI in sound ways.
• Improve existing tools and interactives with new approaches to workflows, data analysis and visualization.
• Explore new technology that serves journalists and the communities they cover.

Requirements

• Be willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area and work a hybrid schedule that includes in-office days.
• Have the right to work in the U.S. without immigration sponsorship.
• Hold a college degree, or be a graduate, with interest, experience or background in journalism and AI.
• Bring experience with AI, data journalism or programming. The company recruits, trains and retains journalists with these skills.
• Submit all documents as PDFs: a one-page resume with past journalism experience, academic major and minor, graduation date or expected date, permanent and current addresses, email, website and social media links if any; a reference page with three work references, including titles, emails and phone numbers; and a page linking to your portfolio or digital work samples.
• Apply by Jan. 4, 2027.
• Full details are on the Fellowship website.
• The DevHub team interviews candidates several times and tests the strongest ones.

Conditions

Hybrid, with in-office days in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The program does not offer immigration sponsorship.

Accommodation requests for the application process go to the company's site, and that address is for accommodation requests only.

Once accepted, you are assigned a mentor and connected with senior professionals across the company Newspapers and beyond.

Benefits

• Health insurance, a relocation allowance and a housing stipend, alongside competitive salary.