Eight Reporters Named JAWS 2026 Health Journalism Fellows

GRANDVILLE, Mich. - Jan. 8, 2026 - PRLog -- Eight early career reporters have been named 2026 Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellows. JAWS is the premier non-profit organization dedicated to professional growth and empowerment of women journalists,

The fellowship, now in its fourth year, is supported by The Commonwealth Fund. The goal is to train more journalists in health reporting and help diversify the journalist pool for better and more inclusive reporting on health issues.

Fellows will work on substantive reporting projects examining disparities and inequities in U.S. health care. Each fellow receives a reporting grant of $4,000, a one-year membership to JAWS, registration and travel expenses to the JAWS annual conference, one-on-one mentoring, will participate in educational programs, and  networking events with veteran journalists.

The eight fellows are:

Lingzi Chen, California Local News Fellow, Lake County News

Project: An investigative chronicle of Lake County's imminent health crisis triggered
by the Big Beautiful Bill's sweeping federal cuts.

Ngozi Cole, KAZU FM

Project: How the closure of a rural hospital's labor and delivery unit is affecting maternal health access in South Monterey County, California.

Kathleen Davis, Science Friday

Project: Exploring what scientists are learning about microplastic exposure during pregnancy and fetal development, and where babies are most vulnerable to microplastics.

Ashley Fredde, North Carolina Health News

Project:  How financial consolidation and weakened oversight of nursing homes intersect to endanger older North Carolinians.

Rose Lundy, Maine Monitor (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting)

Project: Unpacking the outlook of Northern Light Health, which serves Maine's northern and rural half, and is currently experiencing financial strain.

Margaret Manto, NOTUS

Project: Investigating how the changing immunization recommendations impact children in West Virginia, who rely on federally funded vaccines.

Ashley Moss, Louisiana First News

Project: Investigating the scope, causes, and systemic drivers of maternal mortality locally, and holding institutions accountable while offering solutions and resources to the audience.

Lucia Starbuck, KUNR Public Radio

Project: Investigating how anti-immigrant sentiments are affecting caregivers and their clients who come from different countries.

Fellows were selected from a pool of diverse applicants based on their knowledge and depth of understanding of their proposal topic, the proposed project's contribution to public discussion and debate, its potential impact on the intended audience, and their ability to meet high journalistic standards.

The Commonwealth Fund is among the first private foundations started by a woman philanthropist, Anna M. Harkness, was established in 1918 with the broad charge to enhance the common good.

https://jaws.org has been for working journalists, journalism educators and researchers from across the country since 1985. JAWS advances the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and advocates for more inclusive coverage of the diverse experiences and cultures that comprise our society.