The deadline for recommendation letters and the letter of support is different from the application deadline. View important dates and deadlines here.

You need two letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work. Recommenders should be able to speak to the quality of your work and commitment to your project and/or mental health reporting. Recommenders will be asked via email to submit their letters online after you have completed the application. 

Applicants are also required to submit a letter of support. A letter of support is different from the recommendation letters.

For further information on the letter of support, please see: What is the difference between the recommendation letters and the letter of support?

Applicants will receive an email when each letter of recommendation and the letter of support is submitted.

All recommenders will be sent an automatically-generated email with instructions to submit their letters online after you have completed the application. Please encourage your recommenders to check their spam or junk email folders to ensure that they do not miss the email regarding the submission of their letter.

You can also log into your application to resend your recommendation request. If you do not receive emails confirming receipt of your application or recommendation letters or your recommender does not receive the request, please contact carterfellows@cartercenter.org. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is completed. Applications with missing criteria will not be considered.

The recommendation letters speak to the quality of your work and commitment to your project and/or mental health reporting. The letter of support indicates that the media organization for which you work or the media organization for which you freelance is committed to affording you the time and editorial support to work on your project and to running your project once complete.

Letters of recommendation should come from someone who has managed and/or is familiar with your work. They should be able to speak to your journalistic abilities and commitment. 

The letter of support should come from a leader in the supporting news organization who has decision-making authority related to the project—such as affording you time and editorial support to work on the project and running your project once complete. The letter of support also may be written by a recommender. Letters from friends or relatives are strongly discouraged.

Get more details on letters of recommendation and letter of support.

Once an applicant completes the online application, recommenders will receive an email with instructions for submitting recommendation letters and the letter of support. Applicants will receive an email when each letter of recommendation and the letter of support is submitted.

Please encourage your recommenders to check their spam or junk email folders to ensure that they do not miss the email regarding the submission of their letter. If you do not receive emails confirming receipt of your application or recommendation letters or your recommender does not receive your recommendation request, please contact carterfellows@cartercenter.org. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is completed. Applications with missing criteria will not be considered.

Following instructions in the email that each recommender and/or supporter receives, recommendations and your letter of support should be uploaded directly to your application.

The same person can complete these letters as long as they can speak to the strength of your work and your commitment to your project and/or mental health reporting as well as their willingness to support or publish the work directly related to your fellowship project. 

You’ll receive an email when each letter of recommendation and the letter of support has been successfully uploaded. You may log into your application to check the status of each letter. If you do not receive one of the emails when expected, please email carterfellows@cartercenter.org.

If you opt to submit a recommendation, you will need to submit one. Letters of recommendation are optional and not submitting one will not negatively impact your application. Recommenders should be able to speak to the quality of your work and commitment to your project and/or mental health reporting. Recommenders will be asked via email to submit their letters online after you have completed the application.

Applicants are also required to submit a letter of support. A letter of support is different from the recommendation letters.

For further information on the letter of support, please see: What is the difference between the recommendation letters and the letter of support?

Applicants will receive an email when each letter of recommendation and the letter of support is submitted.

Recommenders will be sent an automatically-generated email with instructions to submit their letters online after you have completed the application. Please encourage your recommenders to check their spam or junk email folders to ensure that they do not miss the email regarding the submission of their letter.

You can also log into your application to resend your recommendation request. If you do not receive emails confirming receipt of your application or recommendation letters or your recommender does not receive the request, please contact carterfellows@cartercenter.org.

The recommendation letter speaks to the quality of your work and commitment to your project and/or mental health reporting. The letter of support indicates that the media organization for which you work or the media organization for which you freelance is committed to affording you the time and editorial support to work on your project and to running your project once complete.