Acceptance is based on the applicants' ability to "identify and articulate a challenge in journalism that they want to work on addressing."
[3] Beginning with the 2009–10 fellowship year, the program placed a new emphasis on journalistic innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership.
In 2014, it received a further $1.8 million grant from the Knight Foundation to fund a technology resource curriculum and programs to support its alumni in initiatives which they formulated during their fellowships.
[3] Several of the program's alumni have received major journalism awards.
Among past JSK fellows who have received the Pulitzer Prize are Daniel Golden,[4] Eileen Welsome,[5] and Susan Faludi.