Journalists are being invited to apply for the chance to spend three months working for the Washington Post this summer.

The winner of the 27th Laurence Stern Fellowship will work on the paper's national desk in Washington, be paid a salary and their air fare by the paper and also receive a modest sum for travel in the US.

The Fellowship aims to appoint a young journalist who already has some experience in important national stories whether their work was in print, radio, television or on the Internet.

The winner will be chosen by Leonard Downie, executive editor of the Washington Post.

The deadline for applications is February 27. Click here for more information.