Commonweal is pleased to announce a call for applications for the inaugural Commonweal Centennial Fellowship.
For more than a century, Commonweal has produced some of the best writing and thinking on religion, politics, culture, and literature. Now, as the magazine kicks off its second century, the editors seek to extend and expand this legacy by actively nurturing the next generation of writers, scholars, and public intellectuals.
Thanks to a generous gift from former Commonweal editor Karen Sue Smith and Rose DiMartino, Commonweal will award a one-year fellowship to an outstanding writer in the early or middle stages of their career. We invite applications from candidates seeking an opportunity to examine or expand upon a compelling aspect of their academic interest, area of expertise, creative endeavor, or journalistic beat in a series of articles and related podcasts to be published and posted by Commonweal.
Over the course of a calendar year, in close collaboration with Commonweal’s editorial staff, the Centennial Fellow will produce four pieces of original writing for publication in the print magazine and online. The fellow will also conceptualize, script, and help produce a three-part podcast series in collaboration with the editorial and production teams behind the bimonthly Commonweal Podcast.
Work should explore emerging ideas, developing narratives, and interesting points of contention in at least one of the following six categories, though the ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to write across topics, integrating and synthesizing lines of inquiry among multiple categories:
- Political Life
- A Church in Renewal
- Social Justice
- The Environment
- Science & Technology
- Arts & Culture
Additionally, the Fellow will help advance Commonweal’s mission of fostering rigorous and reflective discussions about faith, public affairs, and the arts, centered on belief in the common good. The Fellow will do so by hosting in-person and virtual salons, attending conferences, and developing editorial, marketing, and promotional plans for his or her original work. The Fellow will also participate in the life of Commonweal for the year.
The Centennial Fellow will receive a stipend of $25,000. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
The Commonweal Fellowship will also be offered in 2026 and 2027.
Application Requirements
How to Apply
Applications for the Commonweal Centennial Fellowship are due April 30, 2025.
Materials can be sent via email to fellows@commonwealmagazine.org.
Qualities
Ideal candidates for the Commonweal Centennial Fellowship ought to be familiar with Commonweal: its sensibility, style, prior writing on relevant topics, and wide-ranging point of view. They should be capable of and interested in contributing to the public discourse in the areas of political life, church renewal, social justice, the environment, science and technology, and/or arts and culture. An ideal candidate will possess excellent writing skills, a sense of curiosity, and the ability to collaborate with a team both in-person and remotely. Finally, the Commonweal Centennial Fellow should have something urgent, fresh, and flexible to express in multiple media formats.
Commonweal is based in New York City, but candidates from around the United States are encouraged to apply, especially women and people of color.
Expectations
The Fellow will be invited to participate in the life of Commonweal for one year, undertaking specific tasks in close collaboration with the editorial staff, including but not limited to:
- Four pieces of original writing for print and online publication
- A three-part podcast series
- One virtual event (webinar, public lecture, town hall, etc.)
- One in-person event
Additionally, the Fellow will be expected to attend staff meetings on a semi-regular basis, and may be invited to travel to the Commonweal offices in New York or elsewhere—conferences, salons, etc. (with expenses covered) as part of their role as Fellow. They will work with Commonweal’s audience development team to imagine ways to best disseminate and promote their original work throughout the year.
We understand that candidates for this Fellowship may be in full- or part-time careers or in graduate school, and therefore may not have consistent daytime availability. We will accommodate schedules and work plans accordingly.
Materials for Application
Please send application materials as PDF or Word Document attachments to fellows@commonwealmagazine.org
- Résumé or CV
- Cover Letter
- Writing Sample
More than one submission permitted; please limit 2,500 words in total. - Project Proposal
In 2,500 words or less, describe the central focus of your proposed, year-long project at Commonweal, taking care to connect it to the areas Commonweal has already identified as editorial priorities:
- Political Life
- A Church in Renewal
- Social Justice
- The Environment
- Science & Technology
- Arts & Culture
This proposal should outline potential directions for four written pieces, possibilities for a three-part podcast series that unpacks or expands upon the central proposal; and a sense of what kind of public-facing discourse, whether live or virtual, might complement this year-long exploration.
The outline of these particular deliverable items may include background information on what it will take to produce each: what conversations, interviews, research, or reading is required? How might Commonweal helpfully provide support and encouragement for this project?
Scholarly work is not discouraged, but proposals should keep in mind Commonweal’s commitment to writing and content aimed at general audiences, and the importance of translating academic and complex ideas into compelling prose.
Interview
After an initial review of applications, top candidates will be invited to participate in an interview with members of the Commonweal staff.