Hi!

I am pleased to share with you an announcement for our annual fellowship programme where writers, global health and media experts lend their interest, skills and time to work with us.

Please find the call for applications below, and consider sharing with your networks, as relevant, among those who may be interested in global health journalism, and/or media entrepreneurship.

We have the run the fellowship programme since 2021, and it has been a treasured experience for me where I have got to work with talented folks from around the world. The idea of the fellowship is to provide a glimpse into how critical journalism is crafted in the capital of global health, and to give a flavor of the exciting world of media entrepreneurship.

(The fellowship requirements can be downloaded as a pdf document. Scroll down to see link later in this edition.)

Thank you for your engagement.

Priti Patnaik

Founder & Publisher, Geneva Health Files

Feel free to write to us: genevahealthfiles@gmail.com

Find us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/genevahealthfiles.bsky.social

Volunteer Opportunity in Global Health Journalism: Geneva Health Files

Geneva Health Files is an inter-disciplinary journalistic initiative that reports on power and politics from the capital of global health. Our small but influential newsroom covers global health policy-making in Geneva through the lens of politics, science, law, and trade.

We serve a niche readership of global health experts who see our work as a resource and a tool to navigate the complex landscape of global health.

We are looking for committed fellows, including experts, writers, professionals, and students, who are interested in contributing to high-quality global health journalism while helping us build this independent media initiative. (Learn more about our work in 2025.)

This is an opportunity to work with a trusted and contemporary newsroom and gain hands-on experience in learning how global health journalism is crafted in Geneva. Fellows will not only get a chance to write about global health more critically, but to also be a part of an exciting initiative in media entrepreneurship.

About our work

Geneva Health Files is read by over 7,000 readers across 150 countries, including diplomats, policymakers, academics, activists, and global health negotiators. Our in-depth stories seek to go beyond the headlines and capture the important nuances at a time when global health policy-making in Geneva is continuously changing. We closely follow the discussions and negotiations that often shape international health outcomes.

Learn more about how we do this: Why Experts Rely on Geneva Health Files’ In-Depth Analysis

Fellowship Focus Areas

We are looking for candidates interested in contributing to two key objectives:

1. Reporting and Research

This includes:

a. Working on specific reporting projects

b. Attending and summarizing press briefings and webinars

c. Conducting research and analyses

d. Supporting various aspects of the editorial production process

e. Curating news developments

f. Listening in on press briefings and webinars (Summarising as necessary)

g. Assisting with podcast production (for candidates with relevant skills)

2. Business Development and Growth

This includes:

a. Supporting business strategy and fundraising efforts

b. Graphic design and illustrations

c. Marketing and communications

d. Designing materials

e. Promoting our online presence and brand

f. Systematic mapping and reaching out to global health organizations in Geneva

g. Working on online and in-person events as necessary

h. Targeted outreach of global health academics outside of Geneva

i. Working on e-books, posters and events as necessary

j. Working on grant proposals

k. Working on the website

Skills & Outcomes

We are seeking the following skills in an applicant:

• An understanding of global health and international trade
• An appreciation of the role of journalism in global health
• A good writer with a nose for news (Prior writing & journalistic experience desirable)
• Web skills including content management system, social media
• A basic understanding of the newsletter economy
• Critical thinking and a sense of humour will be a plus
• Fast worker with quick turn-around time under tight deadlines

Here are the outcomes we intend to achieve with your contribution to our work:

• Getting published in Geneva Health Files

• Familiarity with the Geneva Global Health Ecosystem

• Understanding newsletter journalism

• Experience in media entrepreneurship

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  Time Commitment & Nature of Fellowship

• Commitment: 5–10 hours per week, consistently
• Duration: April 1, 2026 – October 1, 2026 (subject to availability of candidates)
• Compensation: This is a volunteer fellowship. Students may apply for external internship grants to support their participation.

How to Apply

If interested, please submit:

• A formal cover letter (~500 words) explaining:

Why you are interested in the position

What you hope to gain from working with Geneva Health Files

Whether you wish to work on the editorial side or business operations

• Your CV, combined with the cover letter into a single document

Please send applications before March 1, 2026 to Priti Patnaik, Founding Editor, Geneva Health Files at genevahealthfiles@gmail.com, clearly indicating the application for the fellowship in the subject line of your email.

It is important you explain in your cover letter why you are interested in global health journalism specifically and why you want to work with Geneva Health Files. It is not enough to be knowledgeable about global health, and/or journalism. We are looking for demonstrated and specific skills that will make you a good fit within our niche reporting initiative.

Shortlisted candidates will need to appear for a small writing test, followed by an interview. Due to time constraints, we can offer three to five positions this year to do justice to selected fellows.

Important Notes

• Applicants who are currently affiliated with organizations we report on, will not be eligible.
• Please apply only if you are confident that you can commit regular weekly hours. We invest significant time mentoring our fellows amid a hectic news cycle and a demanding entrepreneurial operation. For that reason, we simply cannot afford to lose time with candidates who are unsure about their engagement with us.
• While respect fellows’ on-going commitments, this role requires hands-on participation from them in a fast-paced newsroom environment which operates under tight deadlines.

We look forward to receiving your application. Thank you for your attention.

Previous Fellows & their Work

Our first round of fellowship in 2021 brought together a talented group of volunteers whose work was published in Geneva Health Files (read their work here and here). In 2022, more than six fellows joined us to produce critical reporting on global health (see selected pieces here and here). In 2023, we welcomed a diverse set of experts joining us. Our 2024 fellows can be found here. In 2025, some of the fabulous work by fellows is here and here. Over the years, several fellows have continued to work with us beyond the fellowship period.

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