A FELLOWSHIP THAT CONNECTS EXPERIENCE WITH ASPIRATION
How It Works
A Fellowship for Authors Who Report What Matters
The Watchdog Writers Group provides fellowships to established journalists who are writing a deeply reported nonfiction book. Each fellowship includes a financial stipend, research assistance, networking opportunities, and workshops with other authors.
Fellows work remotely but travel to the University of Missouri campus twice a year to workshop ideas, share expertise with students, and support one another through the writing process.
For Fellows
Apply
Submit your fellowship application and project proposal.
Research
Conduct in-depth reporting with full support from the WWG fellowship.
Mentorship
Collaborate with faculty, peers, and student reporting assistants.
Recognition
Join a network of acclaimed journalists and authors advancing public-interest reporting.
Books that Bring Focus to Neglected Stories
WWG Fellows produce works of objective, in-depth journalism in the tradition of America’s classic muckrakers. Their books investigate vital social issues often neglected by coastal-centric media — including the opioid crisis, corporate agribusiness, the coal industry, gun violence, and systemic inequality.
By providing both financial and editorial support, WWG enables authors to step away from daily newsroom demands and focus on stories that strengthen democracy and serve the public interest.
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
Mentorship That Trains the Next Generation of Investigative Journalists
Each fellow is paired with a student from the Missouri School of Journalism for a year-long apprenticeship. The student serves as a reporting assistant, learning the best practices and ethics of investigative journalism while contributing to the fellow’s project.
Student researchers who actively participate for two semesters are eligible to apply for the WWG Summer Reporting Program. This eight-week program gives young journalists a chance to take on an ambitious in-depth reporting project. Student in the program learn how to pitch a story and place it with a regional or national publication under the guidance of experienced mentors.
For Students
Apply
Apply through the Missouri School of Journalism to become a WWG student researcher.
Research Assistant Role
Work alongside a WWG Fellow on a year-long investigative book project.
Training & Workshops
Learn advanced reporting, ethics, and storytelling through hands-on experience.
Outcomes
Graduate with real-world reporting experience, published work, and lasting mentorship.
A Program Rooted in Impact
By bringing together accomplished journalists and aspiring reporters, WWG helps revitalize local and national newsgathering. The result is a collaborative model that fuels ambitious reporting, creates professional opportunities for students, and delivers important stories in the public interest.
Lessons from the Field: Thursday, April 2, 2026
