Outside Funding Opportunities

Scholarship Amount Description
Google News Lab Fellowship $8,500 stipend and $1,000 travel budget The Google News Lab Fellowship offers students interested in journalism and technology the opportunity to spend the summer working at relevant organizations across the US to gain valuable experience and make lifelong contacts and friends. While the work of each host organization is unique, Fellows have opportunities to research and write stories, contribute to open source data programs, and create timely data to accurately frame public debates about issues in the US and the world.
Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics in Journalism Variable FASPE Journalism is a fully-funded, two-week summer program that uses the conduct of journalists in Nazi Germany as a launching point for an intensive study of contemporary journalism ethics. In 2018, the program will take place from Monday, May 21 to Friday, June 1.
Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program 15000 Applicants for a Switzer Fellowship must be a U.S. citizen, be enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in California or New England and have strong academic qualifications with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement.
California Civic Data Coalition Scholarship Variable The California Civic Data Coalition is offering a scholarship for a student or journalist from the state to attend the annual National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR) conference, scheduled for Jacksonville, Florida from March 2-5, 2017.
Clark Foundation "Investment in Community" Graduate Fellowship 10000 The Clark Foundation $10,000 "Investment in Community" Graduate Fellowship is awarded each year to a deserving graduate student who was born, raised or lived on the Monterey Peninsula and who intends to return to the area and be of service to the local community after completing his/her graduate degree. The award can be used to cover the ordinary costs of graduate school including tuition, books, room and board.
Spencer Education Fellowship $75,000 stipend and $7,500 research grant The Spencer Fellowship offers an extraordinary opportunity for journalists and educators in- and outside of the U.S. to spend an academic year at Columbia University researching and producing journalism about a significant topic in education. The fellowship is open to journalists who want to develop an ambitious longform journalism project geared for a large, general audience.
Peter Lyman Graduate Fellowship in New Media Variable The Peter Lyman Graduate Fellowship in new media, established in the memory of esteemed UC Berkeley Professor Peter Lyman, provides a stipend to a UC Berkeley Ph.D. candidate to support the writing of their Ph.D. dissertation on a topic related to new media
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Fellowship Variable CHCI’s Graduate Fellowship Program is designed for exceptional emerging Latino leaders who want to immerse themselves in a specific public policy area. This paid, nine-month fellowship will provide you with valuable work experience, access to powerful Latino network, and a chance to showcase your public policy knowledge on Capitol Hill.
Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship $75,00 full-time or $35,000 part-time The Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program is nurturing a new generation of responsible journalists. This prestigious year-long program awards $75,000 full-time fellowships and $35,000 part-time fellowships for writing projects committed to advancing constitutional principles, a democratic society and a vibrant free-enterprise system.
Ida B. Wells Fellowship 12000 The Ida B. Wells Fellowship was launched in March 2016 to promote diversity in journalism by helping to create a pipeline of investigative reporters of color who bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and interests to their work. The one-year fellowship helps reporters complete their first substantial work of investigative reporting, by providing a $10,000 award and editorial advice from a dedicated Investigative Fund editor. Fellows will receive funds to cover travel and other reporting costs, and the costs associated with attending the annual Investigative Reporters and Editors conference.
Knight-Bagehot Fellowship $60,000 stipend and free tuition The Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism offers qualified journalists the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of business, economics and finance in a yearlong, full-time program administered by the Journalism School.
Martha’s Vineyard Fellowship for Innovation in Journalism 3000 The Martha's Vineyard Fellowship for Innovation in Journalism, created in association with the Noepe Center for the Literary Arts, will select a fellow who will work with reporters, editors and the Gazette's webmaster in the Vineyard Gazette newsroom on a specific project that draws on publicly available data sources to create a dynamic news page.
Human Rights Center Fellowship 5000 These awards will enable students to carry out clearly defined fieldwork, domestically or internationally, with organizations working on human rights issues related to a student’s area of interest. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide students with an opportunity to contribute to the organizations’ work while also gaining practical experience that may influence the students' areas of research, academic focus, or career trajectory
Global Journalism Fellowship Variable The Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto is seeking aspiring journalists with expert knowledge of complex topics for its Fellowship in Global Journalism. Participants will be mentored by a professional journalist while freelancing for major media outlets and attending journalism courses and lectures.
Knight Science Journalism Fellowship 70000 The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT supports a global community of dedicated and thoughtful journalists specializing in science, health, technology and environmental reporting.Every year, the KSJ program offers ten science journalists a 9-month fellowship designed to enable them to explore science, technology, and the craft of journalism in depth, to concentrate on a specialty in science, and to learn at some of the top research universities in the world.
NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship $5,600 + housing stipend The NAJA-NBC News Summer Fellowship gives students real world experience and exposure to one of the world's leading news divisions, which includes NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. Applicants must be a current NAJA member with proof of tribal affiliation..
Peter Agris Memorial Scholarships 5000 Criteria for candidates include: Being of Greek-American decent and a U.S. citizen, current full-time enrollment as a journalism or communications major, active participation in school, community, or church organizations, a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated financial need.
Larry Whiteside Scholarship 5000 The scholarship has been increased to $5,000 this year and also includes a free trip to the NABJ Convention & Career Fair in New Orleans. The recipient will be introduced representatives from major media outlets across the country and have the opportunity to meet mentors and develop contacts throughout the industry.
Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship $65,00 stipend and travel grant The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship seeks to promote the quality of responsible and discerning journalism that exemplified the work of Edward R. Murrow. Fellows spend nine months full-time in residence at CFR’s headquarters in New York to engage in sustained analysis and writing, expand their intellectual and professional horizons, and extensively participate in CFR’s active program of meetings and events.
Alexia Foundation Student Grant Tuition up to $15,000 and $1,000 grant The Alexia Foundation seeks applicants for its student photography grants, which aim to help photographers produce substantial picture stories that further the foundation's goals of promoting world peace and cultural understanding.
Arthur F. Burns Fellowship 4000 The purpose of the program is to increase public knowledge and understanding about the two countries through mass media. Successful applicants will spend August and September living, working and reporting for their home and host news organizations from across the Atlantic. Applicants must be between 21 and 40 years old, and be print, online or broadcast journalists. German language proficiency is not required, but it is encouraged.
MBL Logan Science Journalism Program Variable The Logan Science Journalism Program at the MBL, founded in 1986, offers professional science journalists, writers, editors, and broadcast journalists a chance to forget about story deadlines and immerse themselves in the process of basic biomedical and environmental research. Room, board, lab fees, U.S. travel or partial foreign travel are covered for accepted fellows.
National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) $1,500-$5,000 NAHJ is working to empower the next generation of Latino journalists. Scholarship opportunities are open to college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates and graduate students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language print, broadcast, digital or photojournalism.
NAHJ Knight Foundation Student Project Variable This opportunity gives students an intensive, week-long submersion in a newsroom experience during the NAHJ International Training Conference & Career Fair. NAHJ students will produce stories for the Latino Reporter Digital. Under the guidance of professional mentors, students will write, report, shoot and edit video, shoot photos and cover events on social media, honing skills needed to compete in today’s media market.
NAHJ NBC News Summer Fellowship Variable NBC Universal, partnered with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, offers students the opportunity to join one of the NBC programs as summer interns. Students will be paid hourly for 10 weeks and must be willing to live in New York City for the duration of the fellowship.
NAHJ ESPN Internship Variable SOMOS ESPN and the NAHJ Sports Task Force created a summer internship program at ESPN in order to promote diversity in America’s sports departments and provide programming toward developing future sports journalists. Students will be placed in either an editorial or production internship.
Mentored Research Award 16000 The UC Office of the President will again fund the campus' Mentored Research Award program. The purpose of this program is to assist doctoral students in acquiring sophisticated research skills by working under faculty mentorship on their own pre-dissertation research. Each mentor is expected to discuss academic issues, network on behalf of the fellow, write letters of recommendation, advise on the fellow's dissertation plans, and help the fellow avoid academic obstacles. Fellows receive a $16,000 stipend plus payment of in-state fees.
Philip Brett LGBT Studies Fellowship 3500 The Philip Brett LGBT Fund will provide an award in the spring or summer of each academic year to a UC Berkeley graduate student who is conducting research related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer studies in any field or discipline. This is open to all UC Berkeley graduate students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Awardees shall demonstrate high academic distinction and excellence and shall be selected on a competitive basis by a faculty review committee evaluating the merits of the applications.
National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) Variable The NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards were established in 1993 to foster and recognize excellence in journalism on issues related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
World Conference of Science Journalists Student Travel Fellowship Variable WCSJ will provide special training, mentoring, editing, and publication opportunities for students interested in writing, editing, or producing science news, information, or commentary for the public as a career. Priority for these fellowships will be given to U.S. and international students at the undergraduate level, although graduate students in the sciences or early-career writers without access to formal training programs in journalism also are welcome to apply.
National Association of Black Journalists $1,500-$3,000 NABJ awards eight scholarships annually to deserving students interested in pursuing careers in journalism. All applications must be submitted online by the specified deadline.
UC Berkeley-11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship 10000 Aimed at early and mid career journalists, the Fellowship presents an opportunity to report ambitious long form stories on the full range of subjects under the rubric of food systems: agricultural and nutritional policy, the food industry, food science, technology and culture, rural and urban farming, agriculture and the environment (including climate change), global trade and supply chains, consolidation and securitization of the food system and public health as it relates to food and farming.
Albert Newman Fellowship for Visually-Impaired Students 4000 The Albert Newman Fellowship for Visually-Impaired Students is awarded to graduate students with substantial visual impairments, as documented by the Disabled Students Program.
Victory Empowerment Fellowship Registration, travel, and lodging costs The Victory Empowerment Fellowship is for LGBTQ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policymaking power and join a strong cohort of movement leaders from across the country. The Victory Empowerment Fellowship consists of two programs provided by the Victory Institute – the Candidate & Campaign Training and the International LGBTQ Leadership Conference – and a year-long mentorship program.
Taylor/Blakesee University Fellowship 5000 The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing offers fellowships of $5,000 to working journalists and students of outstanding ability who have been accepted for enrollment in graduate-level programs in science writing. Journalists with at least two years of mass media experience are particularly invited to apply. CASW welcomes anyone who can show good writing skills and interest in science journalism to seek these fellowships.
Institute of International Studies Dissertation Fellowships Up to $15,000 The Institute administers funding opportunities for Ph.D candidates. The Simpson, Sharlin, and Bendix fellowships are a vital source of funding for graduate student disssertation research. All UC Berkeley graduate students in good standing who will formally advance to candidacy by Fall of 2017 are eligible.
US-Japan Journalism Fellowship Variable This competitive fellowship exposes the participants to key leaders, policymakers, and innovators at the center of the policy debates shaping US-Japan relations, Japanese society, and the future of Asia. The program aims to develop a cadre of journalists who have a sophisticated understanding of the complex dynamics of US-Japan relations and, more broadly, the US role in Asia.
Islamic Scholarship Fund Variable The Islamic Scholarship Fund is currently accepting scholarship applications. Minimum requirements to apply include 1) Being an active member of the Muslim community, 2) enrollment at an accredited U.S. university by Aug. 2017, 3) majoring in an ISF supported major, and 4) having a minimum GPA of 3.0
Dr. and Mrs. James C.Y. Soong Fellowships Variable The Dr. and Mrs. James C.Y. Soong Fellowship is open to graduate students from Taiwan who are enrolled full time at UC Berkeley in any field of study.
Bringing Home the World: International Reporting Fellowship Variable The Bringing Home the World Fellowship sends U.S. minority journalists overseas to cover stories that resonate with their local communities. It aims to support diverse new voices and fresh perspectives on underreported global issues, and advance minority journalists’ careers. The program provides support for fellows to report in-country for up to two weeks, including costs for travel, lodging, and interpreters.
Data Journalism Awards 1801 The Data Journalism Awards are the first international awards recognizing outstanding work in the field of data journalism worldwide. Media companies, nonprofit organizations, freelancers and staff journalists can enter.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund $500-$5,000 The Hispanic Scholarship Fund empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible.
The Sacramento Press Club Journalism Scholarship $4,000-8,000 The Sacramento Press Club is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists through college scholarships. Applicants must have a connection to the 9-county Sacramento region.
Spotlight Investigative Journalism Fellowship 100,000 Open Road Films and Participant Media, with support from First Look Media, are sponsoring a fellowship of up to $100,000 to be awarded by The Boston Globe for one or more individuals or teams of journalists to work on in-depth research and reporting projects. The chosen journalist(s) will collaborate with established investigative reporters and editors from The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning Spotlight Team.
George W. Hunt, S.J., Prize for Excellence in Journalism, Arts & Letters 25,000 The George W. Hunt, S.J., Prize was created to support and promote a new generation of journalists, authors and scholars. Writers of books, articles or essays intended for a thoughtful, general audience are invited to submit material in the following categories: biography, memoir, general history, cultural analysis and criticism (aesthetics, art, drama and film, education), political and social criticism, philosophical and theological reflections.
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund 10,000 The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement.
Society of Environmental Journalists Awards 500 The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is accepting submissions for its annual recognition of excellence in environmental reporting. The awards honor journalists in seven different categories, including outstanding feature story, outstanding in-depth reporting, outstanding photography and best environmental book.The winners in each category will receive US$500 in September at SEJ’s Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
BMI Founders Award for Radio Broadcasting 5000 The BMI Foundation is currently accepting online applications for the BMI Founders Award, a $5,000 scholarship for students aspiring to careers in broadcast radio. The competition is open to students age 17 - 24 who are pursuing a degree in Broadcast Journalism or related majors.
California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) $500-$1,000 The CCNMA Scholarships are awarded annually to qualified Latino students who are planning to pursue a career in journalism. The scholarships range from $500 to $1,000 per student and are based on several criteria, including: commitment to the field of journalism, scholastic achievement, community awareness and financial need. Students must be enrolled full time for the entire academic year in which they apply. They must also be a California resident or attend an accredited college or university in California.
Leica Oskar Barnack Award Variable The Leica Oskar Barnack Award seeks entries depicting the relationship between humans and the environment in a sequence of 10 to 12 images. Prizes include a Leica M camera and a lens worth EUR10,000 (US$10,857) in addition to a cash prize of EUR25,000 (US$27,144). The contest also features two more categories: the Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award to any (prospective) professional photographer age 25 or under and the Leica Oskar Barnack Public Award.
The Greater Good Science Center Up to $15,000 The Greater Good Science Center offers annual fellowships to UC Berkeley Graduate students whose research relates to our mission. The fellowship program aims to attract scholars from across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, with an emphasis on the social-behavioral sciences. In addition to pursuing their proposed research, GGSC Fellows will be invited to contribute to the greater good by contributing approximately five hours per month as a research assistant for the GGSC’s online magazine, Greater Good, or otherwise contributing to another of the Center’s initiatives.
National Endowment for Democracy Grant Variable Each year the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) makes direct grants to hundreds of nongovernmental organizations worldwide working to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions. NED is interested in proposals from organizations for nonpartisan programs that seek to: promote and defend human rights and the rule of law, support freedom of information and independent media, and promote accountability and transparency. Grant amounts vary depending on the size and scope of the projects, but the average grant lasts 12 months and is around US$50,000.
Knight Foundation Journalism 360˚ Challenge 35000 Knight Foundation, Google News Lab and the Online News Association are partnering to launch an open call for ideas, offering up to $35,000 in funding to test, refine and build out a project. This is an open call for ideas using immersive storytelling to discover new ways to engage audiences and advance the field of journalism.
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism Variable The goals of this fellowship are to increase accurate reporting on mental health issues and decrease incorrect, stereotypical information and to help journalists produce high-quality work that reflects an understanding of mental health issues through exposure to well-established resources in the field. Journalists must propose an enterprise project on immigrant children and families for publication or broadcast.
Dorothea Lange Fellowship for Photography 4000 The fellowship, in memory of one of the most outstanding documentary photographers of the 20th century, encourages the use of photography in the scholarly work of any discipline at UC Berkeley. The fellowship will be awarded to a UC Berkeley faculty member, a graduate student, or a senior who has been accepted for graduate work at Berkeley. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding work in documentary photography and a creative plan for future work.
The Markowski-Leach Scholarship 2000 The purpose of this scholarship is to assist in the education of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people who would then have an impact on other LGBTQ people through their works.The scholarship is for LGBTQ incoming, undergraduate, and graduate full-time students that demonstrate their dedication to excellence in their lives through service, education, or employment.
Carlos M. Castaneda Journalism Scholarship 7000 The FECMC grants a $7,000 scholarship to a Spanish-speaking individual for graduate studies in Journalism at an accredited university in the United States, approved by the FECMC.
The GroundTruth Project Reporting Fellowship $8,400 stipend and travel budget The GroundTruth Project is offering a new reporting fellowship called “Crossing the Divide,” which will pull together a team of diverse, emerging journalists to join in a reporting journey across America at a time of deep social, political and economic divisions. Five selected journalists will be invited on a three-month reporting trip starting in late August and ending in mid-November 2017. The team will travel across the country from Massachusetts, through Kentucky, along the Mississippi River to Minnesota and on to Montana and then the northern coast of California.
Feldman Fellowship for Graduate Studies in Journalism 5000 Winners will receive a onetime stipend of $5,000 to help defray post-graduate tuition costs. Applicants must be enrolled in, or in the process of applying for, admission to an accredited graduate program in Journalism.
Getty Images Women Photograph Grant 10,000 Getty Images has partnered with Women Photograph to promote gender diversity within professional photojournalism and elevate the work and the voices of female visual journalists. Through funding and mentorship, this $10,000 grant will support an ongoing documentary project from a professional photojournalist who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to their story
Getty Images Reportage Grant 15,000 The Grants for Photojournalism program has supported independent photojournalists around the world by providing the creative freedom and collaborative editorial support necessary in their pursuit of work that is personally important to them and which they would otherwise not have the time or resources to address. Selection will be based on the judges’ determination of applicant’s ability to execute the submitted project with compelling visual narrative in documentary feature format, taking into account the caliber of portfolio, project merit and professional ability.
Jerry Jensen Memorial Scholarship 3000 The San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) will award one graduate student scholarship for work in production, reporting, videography and writing. The Chapter awards these scholarships to encourage students who demonstrate leadership and talent in advancing the artistic, cultural, educational, and technical qualities of television.
2017 NAHJ Ñ Awards Variable The NAHJ Ñ Awards celebrate achievements in Print/Digital, Television, Photography and Radio categories. The NAHJ Elaine Rivera Civil Rights & Social Justice Award recognizes excellence in coverage of civil rights of Latino Americans and/or issues of social justice for Latinos.
Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalists Fellowship Program Variable Sponsored annually by the United Nations Department of Public Information, the fellowship program is for junior and mid-level broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. It provides journalists with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the work of the UN and to meet journalists from other countries and exchange ideas with UN communication professionals.
Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship 2000 The Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship was established in 2007 to honor the late Pete Wilson, a San Francisco television and radio journalist. The scholarship is granted to an undergraduate or graduate journalism student from the San Francisco Bay area or attending a college or university in the Bay Area who shares Wilson's commitment to ethical, responsible journalism.
Gilbert Rios Memorial Award 5000 The Gilbert Rios Memorial Award is a $5,000 grant that is awarded to one male and female Puerto Rican/Latino college or university students in the New York City/New Jersey metropolitan area who intend to enroll in a full-time graduate program. Doctoral students are not eligible to apply for this award.
Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship 2500 The purpose of this scholarship is to honor Arab American students who excel in media studies (including journalism, radio, television, and/or film). Awards will be presented at the 2018 ADC's National Convention in Washington, D.C.
Radio Television Digital News Foundation Scholarships/Fellowships Variable Fellowships are open to professional broadcast or digital journalists with fewer than 10 years of experience. Scholarships are open to college students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. Winners must be officially enrolled, full-time sophomores, juniors or seniors in good standing. Scholarship and fellowship winners are also invited to attend the Excellence in Journalism conference.
CASW Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award 1000 This award is intended to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting and writing in any field of science. The winner will receive $1,000 and expenses to attend ScienceWriters2018 in Washington, D.C. The award is limited to non-technical, print, and online journalism.
Above the Fray Fellowship Up to $24,000 The Above the Fray Fellowship is designed to give a promising journalist the opportunity to cover important but under-reported stories internationally. The ideal candidate will be selected based on a proposal to report from a region lacking significant mainstream media attention. The Fellow will spend three months filing on-air and online stories for NPR.The Above the Fray fellowship is designed for those in the formative stages of their radio careers who have demonstrated an ability to report foreign stories independently. Applicants must have at least 3 but no more than 5 years of professional journalism experience, with some radio experience.
James Alan Cox Foundation Photojournalism Award 2500 The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists aims to provide financial support to student photographers, including a $2,500 scholarship that will be awarded to 1 graduate student, payable to their school, for video work. Scholarships will be awarded to those students whose work “tells a story”. This is a fairly broad topic and may include a variety of subject matter and approaches (breaking news, sporting events, etc.).
AndroidRooting Scholarship 1000 The application for the AndroidRooting scholarship is open, eligible applicants being all students who are currently pursuing a graduate or undergraduate program in Marketing, Communication, Electronics, and Technology. The winner will be chosen on the basis of their written skills, creativity, and ability to express themselves in a clear and concise manner. To participate, candidates will need to submit an essay on this topic: How will technology shape the future of humanity?
Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Awards Variable Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Awards are open to U.S. scholars who have recently completed their doctoral degree — typically within the five previous years. Postdoctoral awards are available in STEM fields, the arts, humanities, and social sciences. These grants present an excellent opportunity for recently minted scholars to deepen their expertise, to acquire new skills, to work with additional resources and to make connections with others in their fields. Grantees will be expected to engage with graduate students in the host country and to continue their specialized training in cutting edge research.
Knight News Challenge Variable The Knight News Challenge accelerates media innovation by funding the best breakthrough ideas in news and information. Winners receive funding and support from Knight’s network of influential peers and advisers to help advance their ideas.
Bitch Media Fellowships for Writers 2000 Bitch Media, an independent, nonprofit feminist media organization now in its 21st year, is pleased to offer the Bitch Media Fellowships for Writers, a series of three-month intensive writing fellowships whose goal is to develop, support, and amplify emerging, diverse voices in feminist, activist, and pop-culture media. We seek fellows who are passionate, engaged, and interested in developing their unique voices for these four fellowships: sexual politics, pop-culture criticism, technology, and global feminism. If you are a writer who has minimal publication experience, we strongly encourage you to apply.
College Photographer of the Year Competition Variable CPOY's greatest value is educational: it encourages photographers to sort through and evaluate their own work and assemble the best of it to show, both to peers and to the working professionals who donate their time to judge the contest. College Photographers of the Year have gone on to become outstanding professional photographers and leaders in the field of photojournalism.
Broadcast Education Association Scholarships Variable BEA is the professional development association for professors, industry professionals and students involved in teaching and research related to radio, television, and other electronic media. BEA administers scholarships annually, to honor broadcasters and the electronic media profession. Scholarships will be awarded for full-time degree work for the full academic year. The applicant should be able to show substantial evidence of superior academic performance and potential to be an outstanding electronic media professional. There should be compelling evidence that the applicant possesses high integrity and a well-articulated sense of personal and professional responsibility.
Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism Variable The Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism offers students hands-on training and mentoring by caring news veterans. The program’s aim is to provide training and support that will open doors to news and information careers and bring greater diversity to the newsrooms of the United States. Applicant must be a recent college graduate and committed to pursuing a career in journalism.
Bay Area Black Journalists Association (BABJA) 2500 Students must be enrolled in a Bay Area college or university. Students attending college out of state must have graduated from a Bay Area high school. Applicants must be studying one of the following journalism fields: television, radio, print or multimedia.
Association for Women in Sports Media 1000 Since 1990, AWSM has placed more than 140 female college students interested in sports media careers in paid summer internships working in broadcast production, broadcast reporting, print/digital reporting, magazine writing and public relations. All interns receive a $1,000 scholarship and complimentary registration and lodging at AWSM's annual convention.
President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 48200 The University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at UC.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans 25000 To be eligible for the Fellowship, you must meet all three of the following sets of conditions: New American status, you must not have reached or passed your 31st birthday as of November 1, 2018, you must already hold a bachelor's degree or be a college senior in good academic standing.
Pulliam First Amendment Award 10,000 The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation presents the Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award to honor a person or persons who have fought to protect and preserve one or more of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The honoree(s) also will receive transportation (airfare and two-night hotel stay) to the national convention.
American Copy Editors Society Education Fund $1,500-$2,500 The ACES Education Fund awards five scholarships each year: four scholarships of $1,500 each and one of $2,500. College juniors or seniors, graduate students and college graduates enrolled for at least one full term during the period summer 2016 through spring 2017 are eligible to apply. Applicants should have a commitment to a career in copy editing, exemplary work and academic achievement, and references from teachers and works supervisors.
UC Berkeley Big Ideas Contest Up to $300,000 The Big Ideas contest was created to provide funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have ‘Big Ideas.’ Enter a 3-page proposal of creative solutions to solve pressing social challenges to win awards up to $300,000, as well as mentorship from topic area experts.
New York Times Student Journalism Institute Variable During the program, students are working journalists supervised by reporters and editors from The New York Times. Students cover actual events in New York City. Opportunities for students include reporting, copy editing, still photography, web production, newspaper page design, video journalism and interactive graphics and data journalism.
George Bennett Fellowship in Writing 15570 The purpose of the George Bennett Fellowship is to provide time and freedom from material considerations to a person seriously contemplating or pursuing a career as a writer. It provides for one academic year a stipend, as well as housing and meals for this person and family, at Academy expense. As Writer-in-Residence the person shall live in Exeter and, in return for stipend and housing, shall make his or her self and talents available in an informal and unofficial way to students interested in writing, and, more specifically, to students in English classes and to members of student literary organizations.
Armenian Women - Not Just a Pretty Face 500 To promote awareness of the achievements of Armenian Women, Armenianwomen.org is offering a scholarship of $500 to eligible students after writing a 1,000+ word thesis for application.
Overseas Press Club Foundation Variable Graduate and undergraduate students studying at American colleges and universities or Americans studying abroad who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of 15 scholarships or fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation.
NPPF Scholarships 2000 NPPF scholarships are awarded to encourage those with the talent and dedication to photojournalism and who need financial help to continue their studies. Students’ portfolios compete for $16,000 in scholarships, as eight $2,000 scholarships will be awarded. Applications are open to both graduate and undergraduate students, and all scholarships are open to any applicant.
John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship $75,000 stipend and tuition JSK Fellows spend their time at Stanford engaged in exploring solutions to the biggest challenges facing journalism. They do this by spending a significant portion of their time together, exploring innovative ideas that fall within one of five topic areas that are the focus of our program.
Trudeau Foundation Fellowships Variable Each year, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation rewards outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled or about to be enrolled in a social sciences and humanities program and who are doing research in areas related to our four themes. This award, the most prestigious of its type in Canada, has continuously attracted thev ery best scholars in the social sciences and humanities, individuals with a passion for public engagement and who are likely to become leading national and international figures.
NPR Kroc Fellowship 40000 The NPR Kroc Fellowship identifies and develops a new generation of extraordinary public radio journalists. Over the course of a year, the three Kroc Fellows get rigorous, hands-on training in every aspect of public radio journalism, both on-air and online, including writing, reporting, producing and editing.
NILRR William B. Ruggles Journalism Scholarship 2000 The William B. Ruggles Right to Work Scholarship honors the esteemed Texas journalist who coined the phrase “Right to Work” and contributed greatly to the movement’s advancement. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded annually to the student who exemplifies the dedication to principle and high journalistic standards of the late Mr. Ruggles.
San Francisco Public Relations Round Table Scholarship 3000 Every year the SFPRRT awards scholarships to a select group of students in the public relations, communications, journalism, marketing and allied academic fields who have shown a strong interest and involvement in public relations beyond the classroom. We are particularly interested in rewarding students who are using their public relations, writing, and social media skills to benefit the public and worthy causes.
Mother Jones Fellowship Program $2,115 per month Mother Jones fellowships are full-time positions lasting six months. Those who are still in school or are only available part-time are not eligible to apply, nor can fellowships be used for course credit. There are five active fellowships at Mother Jones: Social Media Fellowship (SF), Editorial Fellowship (SF), Online Editorial Fellowship (SF), Editorial Fellowship (DC), Digital Media Fellowship (NYC or SF).After six months, fellows can apply to stay on for a six-month senior fellowship with an increased monthly stipend of $2,275.
The Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program Variable The Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program offers a crash course in investigative journalism, with openings in San Francisco and Washington, DC. This is a full-time opportunity, starting in June and lasting six months, with the possibility of an additional six-month extension. It also supports emerging journalists and media professionals, allowing them to make invaluable contributions to a high-flying news organization.
DAAD Graduate Scholarship for Study/Research in Germany Variable Research Grants for Doctoral Candidates and Young Academics and Scientists are awarded to highly qualified candidates who have completed a Master's degree or Diploma, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor's degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant-supported research, or those who have already completed a PhD, or to individuals wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany.
ZipRecruiter Scholarship 3000 ZipRecruiter is a job search board that is committed to helping students succeed by helping students find jobs/internships for free. Our scholarship will reward the most creative one-page submission about student's job/ internship opportunities in their hometown/college-town.
Fund for Investigative Journalism Grant Up to $10,000 The Board of Directors looks for stories that break new ground and expose wrongdoing – such as corruption, malfeasance, or misuse of power – in the public and private sectors. The Fund encourages proposals written for ethnic media and submitted by journalists of color.
Asian American Journalists Association Variable The AAJA offers multiple scholarships, internships, and grants.
Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism 500 Since 2004, the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism have recognized the best health reporting in print, broadcast and online media. Entries can include a wide range of health coverage including public health, consumer health, medical research, the business of health care and health ethics.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Variable Non-U.S. journalism and communication professionals can spend a year pursuing non-degree graduate-level study, leadership development and professional collaboration in the U.S. as a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow. In addition, fellows are encouraged to immerse themselves in American culture away from their host campus.
NAJA Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship 10,000 For the 2018-19 school year, the Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship developed four unique awards for students pursuing careers in journalism and media to be granted through diversity journalism organizations serving underrepresented communities: National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association, Native American Journalists Association and National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.
Society of Professional Journalists Funding Variable Available funding opportunities from SPJ include the EIJ News Internship (4/30/18), the Columbia Journalism School Student Fellowships (5/18), the Terry Harper Memorial Scholarship (6/05/18), the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program (6/05/18, and the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing (6/21/18).
South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) 2,000 SAJA has awarded a record $40,000 in scholarships to help graduate and undergraduate students pursue their education and future careers in journalism. Applicatons will be evaluated based on a demonstrated interest in journalism, written communication skills, interest and enthusiasm in joining the SAJA community, and serious reflection on what the applicant hopes to accomplish as a journalist. All applicants must show proof of admission to a North American educational institution in the fall of 2018.
SF Foundation's Community Leadership Awards 10,000 The San Francisco Foundation’s Community Leadership Awards honor individuals and organizations doing extraordinary work to address the Bay Area’s most pressing challenges. Individual nominees from all sectors — government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations — are eligible for these awards. Nominations for emerging and innovative leadership, as well as longstanding accomplishments, are encouraged.
US Department of Education Variable The Education Department offers three kinds of grants: Discretionary Grants awarded using a competitive process, Student Loans or Grants to help students attend college and Formula Grants which use formulas determined by Congress and have no application process.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Variable AAUW has a long and distinguished history of advancing educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe. The AAUW offers multiple grants and fellowship opportunities.
Association on American Indian Affairs Scholarships Variable The Association on American Indian Affairs offers multiple scholarships.
Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship 20000 The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers nine to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on non-U.S. topics. Eighty fellowships are awarded annually. Fellowship amount vary depending on the research plan, with a per-fellowship average of $20,000. The fellowship includes participation in an SSRC-funded interdisciplinary workshop upon the completion of IDRF-funded research.
UC MEXUS Small Grant Competition 1500 University of California graduate students enrolled in a masters or doctoral level program and in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Each award is expected to advance applicant's research abilities or academic progress. All activities associated with the award must be overseen by a UC faculty sponsor, who also accepts responsibility for the administration of the support funds as the Principal Investigator.
Gates Foundation's Grant Program Variable Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems.
Dolores Zohrab Liebman Fellowships Variable Fellowships are restricted to graduate students who are United States citizens attending an accredited and designated institution of higher education within the United States. The program of study need not be limited to Armenian studies, and candidates can be of any national descent. Applications must be submitted through the dean of the university where the student is pursuing graduate studies. Please contact your school's financial aid or fellowship office for more information and to obtain an application.
Getty Images Creative Bursary Grant Rolling; ends 12/31/108 The Getty Images Creative Bursary fosters emerging creative photographic talent by supporting projects and productions for new commercial content that without funding, would otherwise not get off the ground. If you are a photographer who is either under the age of 30 or has been shooting for less than three years, you are eligible to apply for our Creative Bursary to help fund that ground-breaking new shoot, or your next commercial project.
Graduate Fellowship in Chinese Studies Variable The Center for Chinese Studies offers annual competitive fellowships for continuing UC Berkeley graduate students in Chinese studies.
Emma Bowen Foundation Fellowship Variable The Emma Bowen Foundaton is a nonprofit organization that is building a more diverse media and tech industry by recruiting promising students of color like you and placing them in multi-year paid internships at some of the nation’s leading companies.
PTTP Journalism and Research Initiative Grant 10,000 Three journalists will receive grants of $10,000 each to support their publications on the subject of technologies’ impacts on human relationships. Journalist applicants should be interested in exploring the academic study of religion and theology as resources in their journalistic work on technologies and human relationships. Applicants must be working journalists, staff or freelance, who publish regularly in print, digital forms, or across the airwaves. Advanced degrees are not required.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Variable The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs.  A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S. During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experience. Grant lengths and dates vary by country.
Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship Variable The Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and storytelling in one, two, or three countries on a globally significant theme. Utilizing a variety of storytelling tools - including text, photography, video, audio/podcasts, public speaking, maps, graphic illustrations, and/or social media - Storytellers will share their stories, and the stories of those they meet, and publish their work on National Geographic platforms, including a dedicated program blog. Stories deemed by National Geographic to be of interest or merit may be considered for publication on other National Geographic platforms. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated talent for storytelling (including but not limited to publications in print, online or multimedia platforms) and an academic or professional background relevant to their proposed project.
Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing 75,000 The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship was established to enable a mid-career editorial writer or columnist to have time away from daily responsibilities for study and research. The award allows Pulliam Editorial Fellows to take courses, puruse independent study, travel, and pursue other endeavors that enrich their knowledge of a public interest issue. The fellowship results in editorials and other writings, including books. Candidates must hold a position as a part-time or full-time editorial writer, columnist, or freelance writer, and have at least three years experience.
New York Times Summer Internship 10,000 The New York Times offers 10-week summer internships to undergraduate and graduate college students who have decided on careers in journalism.
J-SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

The J‑School admits applicants with a wide variety of Bachelor's degrees, from Anthropology to Zoology. An applicant with a technical or science background can approach reporting from a unique perspective. Your performance as an undergraduate is important, just as your commitment to reporting is important.

No specific prerequisite coursework is required beyond the successful completion of your bachelor's degree.

The admissions committee looks for your dedication to becoming the best reporter you can be. Applicants who demonstrate solid reporting skills and a strong work ethic are favored. The most impressive applicants report stories that have not been previously reported, provide significant value to the community, lack personal bias, show meticulous research, sharp interviewing skills, integrity, and good judgment. Many do this while having an unrelated day job. Research and expertise in technologies and specific topics (eg biochemistry, data visualization) are also impressive to the admissions committee.

If you have not done any reporting, then it is more difficult to be a successful applicant. However, the admissions committee looks closely at other qualifications and achievements that indicate you are a strong candidate. Also, those who produce journalistic work during the months before the deadline are impressive, and sometimes unpublished journalistic work can be as strong as published work. Finally, if you need more samples of work, one of the best ways to learn and improve your reporting techniques is to ask a journalist to mentor you. A good mentor will allow you to pitch him/her story ideas, show you storytelling techniques, and help you with the editing and connections you need to get your work published.

UC Berkeley requires that all US Citizens who apply to graduate programs have an Advanced GPA of at least 3.0. An Advanced GPA is all grades received after your first two years of college-level course work. This grade calculator from the Graduate School of Education can help you calculate your Advanced GPA. Your Advanced GPA is required to submit the application, however we do not require a GPA calculation worksheet. If your grade is not based on a 4-point scale, as is the case for most international students, please enter your undergraduate cumulative GPA, as determined by your institution.

 

Occasionally an exception can be made if professional experience outweighs the significance of an applicant's performance in college. There is a text box on the application that you can use to provide an explanation about your grades. You can use this to explain why your grades do not reflect of your merit for a Master of Journalism.

Applicants should have a BA or BS from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit transcripts for ALL college-level course work. Transcripts can be unofficial but must show degree conferred (if any), the institution’s name, and the applicant’s full name. Transcripts must be loaded into the online application as PDFs and must be legible. Hard copies will be required if admission is offered.

I took the GRE, should I submit my scores even though they are no longer required?

The GRE is important if you are applying for the FLAS fellowship or if you are applying for a concurrent program that requires it. Otherwise, you do not need to take or report a GRE score.

The GRE is important if you are applying for the FLAS fellowship or if you are applying for a concurrent program that requires it. Otherwise, you do not need to take or report a GRE score.

Your three work samples as a whole should highlight your ability as a reporter and storyteller. Please keep in mind that the Admissions Committee is looking for evidence that you have basic reporting skills, which include story identification, thorough background research, fact checking, cultivating appropriate sources and quoting them directly, and storytelling abilities.

Work samples can be unpublished and they can be in any format: print, video, or audio pieces, multimedia pieces, online projects like data-driven stories, in-depth interactive graphics or interactive documentaries, or other abstract new media forms, such as VR, apps, or similar projects.

Work samples can be uploaded as PDFs, image or audio files, or submitted as URLs. If submitting a URL, be sure to include any additional information needed to access the materials online (e.g. if password-protected). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure a working link and full accessibility to materials during the review period of the application. Be sure it’s clear that you are either the sole author/producer of each work sample, or specify exactly what your role was in creating the piece using the provided text box on the application.

International applicants can send work samples in another language, so long as an English translation, by the applicant, is provided.

No.

Undergraduates may enroll in the Summer Minor Program.  However, we do not offer graduate-level courses during the summer.

The program is a two-year, full-time Master of Journalism program. We only admit students each fall semester. For workshops and short courses, please visit Berkeley AMI which offers workshops and custom training programs for mid-career journalists.

All applicants will be evaluated equally by the admissions committee. You must be a student in our journalism program before being considered for advanced documentary coursework. Enrolled students can begin taking Introductory TV Production courses in their first semester. At the end of the second semester, the students who show the most dedication and merit have the opportunity to enroll in advanced documentary classes.

No. Please ask your three best recommenders to submit letters on your behalf. The admissions committee will not review more than three letters per applicant.

Your recommenders will be able to submit their letters after the December 1st deadline. However, please urge your recommenders to submit their letters as close to the deadline as possible so that we have them by the time your application is reviewed.

If your recommender does not have a work or corporate email address, using a personal email address (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) will be fine.

You only need to submit your work samples one time. The Journalism Program section allows you to submit work samples as PDFs or URLs. The Audio/Visual Uploads section allows you to submit audio and video files. The type of file or link you choose to submit is up to you, we have no preference.

Yes. Please fill out the Employment section as well as upload a resume on the Supporting Materials section. No other materials are required for the Supporting Materials section besides the resume.

Yes, all applicants are automatically considered for need-based and merit-based funding. All applicants will receive their admissions notice in February. If you are admitted into the school, you will also receive an email around the same time with information on your financial aid package. We also encourage all applicants to apply for outside funding at the same time they apply to graduate school.

This is an intensive full-time professional graduate program. It is basically impossible to work full time while in the program. It is hard to work at all during your first semester. After the first semester, the course schedule becomes a bit more flexible and it is possible to work part time. Some of our students freelance, some work on campus as Graduate Student Instructors, and some find other types of part-time employment. The Berkeley Advanced Media Institute and the summer journalism minor will sometimes hire our students to help with their courses. The J-School offers about 15 merit fellowships to second-year students, which you can apply for towards the end of your first year. These are some of the ways our students earn money while attending school, but none of these is guaranteed and you must apply for all of them.