New Mexico Local News Program Names Largest-Ever Cohort of Fellows and Interns
The New Mexico Local News Fellowships and Internships program has announced its largest and most geographically diverse cohort yet, welcoming eight fellows and 11 interns for 2025-2026.
This expansion is made possible by a major funding boost, including $300,000 from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and continued support from the New Mexico Local News Fund. This will allow for major upgrades to the program, including:
Ten new newsrooms, plus two journalism service organizations and one news research project
New internship opportunities during fall and spring semesters
A collaborative reporting project that will produce shareable stories with statewide impact
Cost-of-living adjustments that make the interns’ and fellows’ pay more competitive
Increased training and professional development opportunities, including stipends for registration and travel to major journalism conferences
“This larger cohort and expanded reach will pay long-term dividends in communities across the state,” said Rashad Mahmood, executive director of the New Mexico Local News Fund. “We’re grateful for the strong bipartisan support from the Legislature, including Sens. Jeff Steinborn, Peter Wirth, Carrie Hamblen, and Rep. Nathan Small.”
The program, housed at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Communication and Journalism, was founded in 2019 to strengthen local journalism, support new journalists, and encourage graduates to remain in New Mexico. Since 2019, organizers have placed 63 emerging journalists in 35 newsrooms in 13 cities.
“This talented group of young reporters will give a major boost of energy to news organizations across the state,” said Program Manager Gwyneth Doland, a professor of practice in journalism at UNM. “I’m especially grateful for faculty at NMSU and WNMU who helped us more than double the number of applicants from outside Albuquerque,” Doland said.
To better serve smaller communities, the program has focused more on recruiting students from underserved areas. This year Program Coordinator Darren Phillips, a retired professor from NMSU, reached out to more than 50 faculty members at state colleges, universities and branch campuses, resulting in the first Western New Mexico University graduate and the first interns to be placed in Hobbs and Artesia. This year’s cohort includes nine UNM students/graduates, eight NMSU students/graduates, and one recent graduate from WNMU.
2025-2026 Local News Fellows:
Lily Alexander, UNM — Santa Fe New Mexican
Regina Barnett, WNMU — El Defensor Chieftain (Socorro)
Mia Casas, UNM — KUNM News
Micaela DePauli, UNM — KRQE News 13
Marcela Johnson, UNM — Silver City Daily Press and Independent
Abigail Salas, NMSU — KRWG Public Media (Las Cruces)
Elizabeth Secor, UNM — Albuquerque Journal
Andrea Vasquez, NMSU — The Independent (Edgewood)
2025-2026 Local News Interns:
Adelina Blea, UNM — Journalism and Women Symposium NM
Allison Brady, NMSU — The Las Cruces Bulletin
Samantha Daitz Labarrere, NMSU — KSFR Radio
Diego Gallegos, NMSU — New Mexico Foundation for Open Government
Paola Garcia, NMSU — New Mexico Local News Map
Florian Knowles, UNM — Chalkbeat
Abigail McDonald, UNM — The Paper (Albuquerque)
Marshall Mecham, NMSU — Artesia Daily Press
Azure Mitchel, NMSU — Hobbs News-Sun
Nicole Osborne, UNM — New Mexico Jewish Journal
Ben Schlittler, NMSU — KOB 4
