• $10,000 Fellowship
• Applications Due March 1, 2014

The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is offering eight $10,000 postgraduate Food and Farming Journalism Fellowships in a new program established by Michael Pollan, the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley. The fellowship, a project of the Knight Center in Science and Environmental Journalism, is supported by a grant from The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation. 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.

In 2014 we will award eight journalists $10,000 to travel and report these stories.

In 2014, the fellowship will be open to both print and radio journalists; in future years, it will expand to include multi-media and video journalists. We will give preference to U.S. focused stories, but will also consider international stories with a strong U.S. angle or connection.

Online applications are due March 1, 2014, and should include a one-page pitch with a clearly defined story idea, not just a subject. The pitch should reflect some preliminary research, providing a clear sense of place, characters, narrative and reporting strategy. The application also requires a CV, two letters of recommendation and published clips. We will announce this year’s fellows by May 1, 2014.

Those interested in applying will need to be available the week of June 24-28, 2014 for a 4-day workshop at UC Berkeley with the 2014 cohort of fellows, fellowship director Michael Pollan, guest editors from national publications and managing editor Malia Wollan. Travel, lodging and meals for the meeting will be covered by the fellowship. During the first session, fellows will refine their story pitches with the help of the editors, and develop a reporting and publishing or broadcast strategy. Fellows will also have opportunities to meet with and interview faculty members and researchers doing work relevant to their stories at UC Berkeley.

Reporting and writing will then take place from June-October. Fellows will meet for a second four-day session in mid-November, during which time completed stories will be workshopped and edited; the editors will also assist fellows in placing their stories for publication or broadcast. Travel and lodging for the November session will also be covered by the Fellowship.

QUESTIONS? Contact us.