August 29, 2025 – A journalist from Fresno, California, Anthony De Leon, has been selected for the first NAHJ-Apple News Fellowship, giving him the opportunity to spend the next 10 months working at the forefront of news and technology at Apple News, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists announced.
De Leon earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Fresno, where he led the student newspaper through the pandemic, and a master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he wrote his thesis, “What’s the Question: Overview of Interviewing, Questioning, and News Conference Coverage in Professional Sports Journalism.”
Over the past two years, he has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, covering business, breaking news, newsletters and sports. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Sporting Tribune. After learning of his selection, he answered our questions:
What does NAHJ mean to you?
As a proud Chicano and journalist, NAHJ means everything to me. Having been a member for years, I’ve seen firsthand how the organization — and the people behind it — works tirelessly to advance opportunities for Latinos in journalism. I’ve connected, collaborated, and built relationships with many members with similar backgrounds, making me feel like part of a family. Without NAHJ, I’m not sure I would have received this incredible opportunity with Apple News, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of the organization.
What are your future aspirations?
Without journalism, I’m not sure where I would be in my life or career. I aim to continue building a path in journalism — whether through in-the-field reporting or eventually in an editor role — telling meaningful stories and elevating voices. I aspire to grow into a position where I can both shape impactful coverage and mentor the next generation of reporters.
What was it like getting the phone call that you were chosen for the fellowship?
When I got the call that I had been chosen as the NAHJ Apple News Fellow, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Good things tend to come when your back is against the wall, and this opportunity arrived at exactly the right time. The process was long and arduous, testing both my persistence and resilience, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything — especially given how it ultimately turned out.
Apple News provides millions of users with trusted journalism from leading news organizations around the globe. The opportunity to work on the Apple News editorial team — and to collaborate with editors from Apple News’s publisher partners — is a chance to gain valuable skills and insight from a newsroom that is revolutionizing how consumers access world-class journalism.
The fellowship is a partnership between NAHJ and Apple designed for recent graduates or early-career journalists. The program is designed to expose the fellow to the app’s key editorial areas, e.g., breaking news, audio, newsletters, etc. Starting in September, De Leon will rotate through the editorial teams at Apple News in Los Angeles, California, before focusing on a single area for the remaining seven months of the fellowship.
Applications for the 2026 NAHJ-Apple News Fellowship will be accepted during May, 2026.
–
Press contact: Andrew Sherry, asherry@nahj.org, (315) 954-7571
About the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. NAHJ has more than 3,500 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information, please visit NAHJ.org or follow us on X @NAHJ.