POLITICO Journalism Institute announces 2026 class

ARLINGTON, Va. — POLITICO, the global authority on the intersection of power, politics and policy, has announced the 2026 class of the POLITICO Journalism Institute (PJI).

The 10-day program for undergraduate and graduate students offers hands-on training for students interested in sharpening their skills at the largest politics- and policy-focused newsroom in the nation. POLITICO is pleased to share the students who emerged from an outstanding and competitive applicant pool, who impressed the selection committee with their strong journalism skills and entrepreneurial spirit.

POLITICO partners with American University and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education on the program. Two high school students from the Washington Association of Black Journalists’ Urban Journalism Workshop join for the first week.  

“We’re immensely proud of the success of PJI,” said POLITICO Global Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenberger. “Since the program began 13 years ago, we’ve trained hundreds of young journalists. That success speaks to POLITICO’s commitment to shaping and strengthening the future of political journalism.”

Programming for PJI features interactive workshops, sessions with industry leaders and newsroom team pairings, along with guided tours of Congress and other historic locations where national news unfolds. The students also will visit NBC and NPR newsrooms for in-depth discussions with reporters on the current state of journalism.

“American University's School of Communication is excited to continue its partnership with PJI,” said Marnel Niles Goins, Ph.D., dean of AU’s School of Communication. “We welcome this inspiring new cohort, as they prepare to be the next generation of journalists.”

“The POLITICO Journalism Institute plays a critical role in expanding pathways into political reporting and creating a more inclusive and representative media landscape,” said Felecia Henderson, senior director of strategic initiatives at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. “We are excited by the thoughtfulness, energy and commitment these students will bring to the future of journalism.”

Participants split time between the POLITICO newsroom in Arlington, Va. and American University. 

POLITICO Journalism Institute’s 2026 Class 

College Participants

• Declan Bradley – Oberlin College
• Delilah Brumer – University of California, Los Angeles
• Roxy Ekberg – University of Iowa
• Remy Francisco – University of California, Santa Cruz
• Cameron Glymph – Florida State University
• Abigail Hatting – American University
• Philip Lam – Northwestern University
• James Libresco – Brown University
• Desiree Luo – Northwestern University
• Nila Roper – Spelman College
• Yasuhiro Shinozaki – Oberlin College
• Naina Srivastava – University of Texas
• Ruby Topalian – Columbia University
• Grace Yoon – Harvard University
• Ethan Young – University of Pennsylvania
• Joseph Zuloaga – Columbia University

High School Participants

• Marley Farmer – The Gunston School, Centreville, Maryland
• Gavin Leonard – Georgetown Day School, Washington, D.C.