Fellowships for education reporting from Columbia J-school, deadline Jan 31

Hey folks. Columbia J-School offers three $75K fellowships for education reporters, educators, and researchers. Deadline Jan 31. Details here and below.
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How to Apply

Spencer Fellowship Application — Apply Online

The Spencer Fellowship for Education Reporting is open to journalists, educators and education policy researchers who want to develop a long-form journalism project to advance the public’s understanding of the American education system.

Three fellows will be selected for this highly-competitive program, which combines coursework in residence at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University and Teachers College, and hands-on advising from education writing experts.
Spencer Fellowship applicants are expected to submit the following for a complete package no later than Jan. 31.  Successful applicants will be notified in April.

  • A professional biography or resume.
  • Writing samples that demonstrate a passion for education research and writing, including newspaper and magazine clips, books, monographs, academic reports, or other writing samples.  Applicants with reporting experience in covering American education or American educators who are interested in journalism style writing are preferred. For broadcast applicants, please send links to audio or broadcast clips. We cannot duplicate DVDs.
  • An essay on a proposed long-form journalism project on a significant topic in education. The essay should explain how a greater understanding of education research would materially enhance the project and the candidate’s ability to cover education. Preference will be given to applicants who can show proof of publication of their work, either through a letter or commitment from a news organization or a book contract. The application should also include the commitment to cover education in the long term.
  • A list of possible coursework at Columbia and an essay explaining how the proposed coursework and education research would materially enhance the project.
  • An essay about an education trend you have observed. This trend does not have to be related to your project. It is geared to see how you are following education trends and policies.
  • At least three letters of recommendation, including, if possible, one from a publication that has shown interest in the project. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate a strong likelihood that their work may be published.
  • The application should also reflect a commitment to cover education in the long term.

There are no academic prerequisites. However, the applicant must have an interest in pursuing academic coursework in support of the project.

International journalists are invited to apply, but their projects must cover the American education system, and they must furnish a publication commitment that includes distribution in the United States.

The fellows will work with Columbia Journalism School faculty members who will serve as project advisers. The fellows may also work with professors in other departments at Columbia University on an independent study basis. A curriculum specialist will coordinate the selection of the fellows’ academic courses, preferably in the fall semester, either at Teachers College, the Journalism School, or elsewhere at Columbia.

Applicants with a full-time job should provide the school with a letter that approves leave of absence for the academic year, a commitment to publish the final project and guarantee of the reporter’s return to the workplace. In turn, the candidate should produce a signed agreement that he or she will rejoin the organization with a finished or nearly finished project.

Each fellow will be awarded a stipend of $75,000.  A modest travel expense account is in addition to the stipend.

Classes begin the day after Labor Day, with orientation the prior week. Classes end with J-School graduation ceremonies in mid May.

For more information, contact Associate Dean Arlene Morgan at am494@Columbia.edu or call 212-854-5377.

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