Vada & Col. Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship
Vada & Col. Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship supports early-career broadcast and digital journalists’ education and professional development for national defense and security coverage.
Funder: Radio Television Digital News Association
Due Dates: September 9, 2026 (Applications open) | October 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Application deadline) | December 2026 (Notification) | March 2027 (Awards and training)
Funding Amounts: $1,000 fellowship, plus travel and lodging for Washington, D.C. programming
Summary: Supports early-career radio, television, and digital news reporters and producers covering national defense and security.
Key Information: Applicants may apply for only one RTDNA Foundation scholarship or fellowship opportunity; multiple applications result in disqualification.
Description
The RTDNA Foundation, the educational arm of the Radio Television Digital News Association, offers this fellowship to support professional reporters and producers covering national defense and security in radio, television, or digital news. It provides financial support for a young journalist’s continuing education and professional development, alongside an invitation to Washington, D.C., for training and networking with industry leaders.
Established by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, the fellowship honors Vada and Col. Barney Oldfield, both of whom served in World War II and had distinguished military careers. Barney Oldfield also worked in military public relations, writing, and lecturing, and founded more than 40 private foundations, including the RTDNA Foundation.
