I've met people who applied to it at different times. None have got the key yet, including me. I don't think they are handing out many api keys. They probably had some sort of limit in mind when they launched and they probably reached it already. Unless you're a company or individual they are particularly interested in, I think the chances of getting it in the near future are quite slim :(

I applied with, I think, a reasonable use case, but no word either. I don't have much hope to try it in practice anytime soon.

I jokingly said i wanted to have the key so I could replace journalist's jobs.

Still no luck on getting the key.

I did the same a long time ago. No key yet, but waiting patiently and in excitement.