The Fulcrum is proud to introduce the six students selected for the Fall 2026 Fulcrum Fellowship, a semester‑long program designed to strengthen the next generation of civic‑minded journalists. Building on the momentum of the summer cohort, this fall class reflects the fellowship’s mission: elevating diverse voices, sharpening democratic storytelling skills, and preparing emerging reporters to cover the systems shaping American civic life.

This cohort reflects the fellowship’s continued expansion and its growing partnership with the Latino News Network (LNN), which brings additional mentorship, newsroom collaboration, and community‑driven reporting opportunities to the fellows.

The Fall 2026 fellows represent universities across the country and bring a wide range of experiences, interests, and journalistic ambitions. Each fellow will participate in newsroom-style training, solutions-focused reporting workshops, and hands-on civic journalism projects that align with The Fulcrum’s commitment to strengthening democracy, nonpartisan public-interest reporting, and community-driven storytelling.

Hugo Balta, Executive Editor of The Fulcrum and Publisher of the LNN, said:

“This partnership allows us to give emerging journalists the kind of hands‑on, community‑centered experience that strengthens both their reporting and our democracy. These fellows bring curiosity, empathy, and a real commitment to public‑service journalism.”

Alejo Cruz

Alejo Cruz — Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Cruz draws on his experience growing up in an immigrant household and his reporting with unhoused people and asylum seekers to center human rights and community voices in his journalism, a commitment he hopes to deepen through solutions‑focused reporting with The Fulcrum.

"The Fulcrum's commitment to repairing our democracy through informed and civil dialogue is what drew me to the Fellowship. We are at a pivotal moment in our nation's history where the growing political polarization presents a challenge for the next generation of journalists. I hope to walk away from this Fellowship with a better understanding of how to write for unity rather than division."

Pechuqui Laurata

Pechuqui Laurata — UC Berkeley School of Journalism (Master of Journalism). Guided by early experiences in Cameroon and strengthened at Berkeley, Laurata aims to produce rigorous, compassionate journalism that highlights how communities respond to hardship and where meaningful change is taking root.

"I applied for the Fulcrum Fellowship because I want to strengthen my skills in reporting democracy and civic issues in ways that are thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in people’s lived experiences. Through the fellowship, I hope to sharpen my opinion and solutions journalism skills, learn from seasoned experts, mentors, as I develop stories that connect communities across diverse cultures, backgrounds and perspectives."

Idris Mohammed

Idris Mohammed — University of Alabama, Ph.D. Student in Journalism & Creative Media. Idris’s work covering terrorism, displacement, and humanitarian crises across northern Nigeria has shaped his commitment to evidence‑based, solutions‑driven reporting that highlights both community resilience and the responses that make a difference.

"Coming from a region where many people have been denied basic rights, I know that telling someone’s story can be an act of recognition and justice. Through We Are One Humanity, I hope to share those stories with a global audience and demonstrate that even in places marked by conflict and hardship, humanity, resilience, and hope continue to endure. This motivated me to join We are One Humanity project!”

Abbey Osborn

Abbey Osborn — CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Abbey focuses on local democracy, public institutions, and youth civic engagement. She brings experience in community reporting and a commitment to amplifying voices often overlooked in political coverage.

"I applied for this fellowship after being inspired by The Fulcrum's work highlighting democracy’s influence on everyday life. I want to expand my skills as a journalist by telling stories that elevate diverse backgrounds and viewpoints. Over the course of the fellowship, I hope to deepen my practice in solutions journalism and strengthen my ability to listen to and engage with a wide variety of communities."

Malory Shaw

Malory Shaw — University of Nevada, Reno. Malory's reporting is grounded in building trust with communities — from pesticide‑affected families in rural Costa Rica to Latino neighborhoods in Nevada — and in examining how law enforcement technology impacts democracy.

"The Fulcrum Fellowship gives me the incredible opportunity to learn more about solutions journalism, storytelling skills, and how to write a story with community at the forefront. I hope to broaden my perspectives and dip my toe into unfamiliar beats alongside talented, driven journalists."

Val Amiel Vestil

Val Amiel Vestil — University of Michigan (Graduate Student). Val blends environmental scholarship with nine years of journalism leadership, founding a nonprofit that has trained more than a thousand reporters and championed solutions‑driven climate coverage across the Philippines and Asia‑Pacific.

"Coming from the Philippines, where climate stories are often inseparable from stories of disaster and loss, I’m interested in what journalism can do to make room for responses, agency, and possibility. I hope the Fulcrum Fellowship will help me deepen that practice and bring a Global South perspective into solutions journalism. I also want to bring what I learn here back to the journalists and storytellers I work with in the Philippines."

David Nevins, Publisher of The Fulcrum, added:

“Each new cohort reminds us how much talent and passion exists in the next generation of journalists. Their work will help expand the national conversation about civic health, and we’re proud to support their growth.”

Throughout the fall, fellows will participate in workshops on solutions journalism, democratic systems, media literacy, and public‑interest storytelling. They will produce original reporting for The Fulcrum, engage with civic leaders, and collaborate on projects that explore the health of American democracy at the local and national levels.

The Fulcrum Fellowship continues to grow as part of our mission to support emerging journalists committed to strengthening civic understanding and democratic participation. This fall cohort reflects the energy, curiosity, and commitment needed to meet today's journalism challenges.

Hugo Balta is an accredited Solutions Journalism and Complicating the Narratives trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network.

The Fulcrum is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of journalists, investing in emerging reporters who are driven to produce ethical, solutions‑focused storytelling and strengthen civic understanding through their work.

The Latino News Network's mission is to provide greater visibility to Hispanics, Latinos through community‑centered reporting that provides culturally nuanced, solutions‑driven coverage for underserved audiences.