CCN Faculty Champions are leaders who want to create or grow a news/academic partnership, helping college students cover local communities.
The program supports academic leaders through a $1,000 monetary award and one year of coaching and mentoring. It also connects them to other leaders in this growing field.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please fill out an application.
2026 CCN Faculty Champions
The 150 news-academic leaders awarded this year represent 41 states and two Canadian provinces. They come from 15 community colleges, 41 Minority-Serving Institutions, 4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 30 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and seven public media outlets.
2026 CCN Faculty Champions Press Release (PDF)
2025 CCN Champions
Meet the 63 CCN Champions, who are growing university-led reporting programs in their region. This year’s cohort includes faculty, public media professionals and news leaders from institutions large and small.
2025 CCN Champions Press Release (PDF) Stories of Impact Past Faculty Champions2024 Faculty Champions
2024 awardees represent 24 different states and 13 Minority Serving Institutions. Sixteen of the honorees have proposed partnerships with public media and/or local radio stations. Eighteen will lead democracy and elections coverage this fall and three lead bilingual reporting programs.
Full list of awardees
2023 Statehouse Faculty Champions
Statehouse Faculty Champions are leading student reporting programs that focus on state governance, legislation, and politics. Currently, there are 19 Statehouse Faculty Champions. The honor is a priority program in our efforts to help build a sustainable future for local news around the country.
Statehouse Faculty Champion Profiles Why Statehouse Reporting Matters Press Release (PDF)
Faculty Fellows
Faculty Fellows collaborate with CCN staff to lead national initiatives that support university-led student reporting programs. Fellows serve one-year terms and receive a stipend for their leadership. To apply to be a Fellow contact Richard Watts (rwatts@uvm.edu).
Faculty Fellows Profiles