The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7099, aims to establish a journalism fellowship program funded by the Office of Higher Education for graduates of public institutions of higher education in Connecticut. Effective July 1, 2025, the program will provide a minimum of twelve fellowships at local news organizations within the state. The bill outlines specific requirements for the fellowships, including mentorship opportunities, direct work experience, and professional networking, as well as eligibility criteria for applicants, which include graduating from a journalism degree program at a public institution and being approved by the local news organization offering the fellowship.

Additionally, the Office of Higher Education is mandated to provide detailed information about the fellowship program on its website by September 1, 2025. This information will include a description of the program, funding amounts for each fellowship, minimum and eligibility requirements, and the application form. The bill does not delete any existing legal language but introduces new provisions to support journalism education and local news organizations in Connecticut.