Director of Journalist Programmes Anne Godlasky on our Fellowship in 2025-26

From our Annual Report 2025-26

At a time when journalists’ time, resources and even freedom is increasingly limited, the Reuters Institute provides space to stretch, where ambitious reporters and editors from around the world can expand their thinking, expertise, and networks.

In both deadline-oriented programmes as well as our intensive journalism fellowship, our curriculum proactively confronts the biggest challenges facing journalists today. Whether they are with us for a matter of days or an academic year, we know journalists return to their work with new ideas and renewed passion for the field.

During the 2025–26 academic year, the Reuters Institute welcomed 23 journalists from 19 countries/territories to Oxford to investigate and problem-solve for issues ranging from how to fix AI’s lack of attribution, to how to create sustainable coverage of the Global Majority, to how to adapt to changing values of expertise.

Alongside journalists’ research into thought-provoking and practical questions, they learned from each other, Reuters Institute staff, and guest lecturers in more than 90 seminars. Speakers included award-winning journalists, such as Gabriel Gatehouse and Amira Hass, as well as experts in AI, digital safety, corporate power in geopolitics, and enhanced investigations of financial crimes.

Many of the journalists took advantage of the bounty of other educational opportunities Oxford offers, including events featuring Christiane Amanpour, Maria Ressa, and Andrew Hunter Murray, as well as visiting newsrooms and journalism events in London, including the Trust Conference and the launch of the Digital News Report 2026.

Fellowship alumni remain actively in touch with staff, and we’ve been proud to celebrate their accomplishments. Fellows and alumni shared their knowledge at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, re:publica in Berlin, Giidae Connect in Reading, and other conferences. Fellows and alumni also received notable promotions after completing the fellowship, including several to executive editor.

After a competitive process reviewing more than 1,000 applications, we have just welcomed another excellent cohort in 2026–27.

As the online programme at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network winds down after an impactful four years, we celebrate the more than 800 journalists who participated across 133 countries and remain a part of the Reuters Institute's community.

The 2026–27 Journalist Fellowship cohort includes two journalists supported by Laudes Foundation, representing our continued commitment to climate journalism as a long-term priority.

Highlights from the Fellowship

In addition to fellowship traditions, such as punting on the Cherwell and visiting the Pitt Rivers Museum, fellows took a turn in Westgate’s cricket batting cages, enjoyed Green Templeton parties, and attended events offering fresh perspectives from journalists, policymakers, academics, and advocates.

In Trinity Term, the Reuters Institute brought the journalists to Cardiff, Wales, to learn from ITV’s Welsh Senedd election coverage, and youth audience outreach on social media, followed by a tour of the Senedd.

BBC journalist and broadcaster Clive Myrie visited the Reuters Institute on 24 October for an off-the-record Q&A with Michaelmas fellows, hosted by Mitali Mukherjee. The intimate conversation explored Myrie’s career and experiences as a journalist, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing journalism today.

Reuters Institute Journalism Fellows and the inaugural class of the Oxford Department of Politics and International Relations United Nations Peace and Security Fellows came together to trade notes and perspectives at a social at 13 Norham Gardens. The relationships forged led to a number of follow-up meetings, including attendance at their capstone event.

At the peak of our first 2026 summer heatwave, as Oxford broke its all-time high temperature record for May, our fellows met with FIND.org to sweat over new skills and tools for tracing cross-border financial flows.