IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship for International Women Journalist, 2015-2016

The International Women’s Media Foundation is inviting applications for Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship from women journalists worldwide whose focus is human rights and social justice. This seven month-long program will run from September 2015 to March 2016. A stipend will be provided and expenses, including airfare and housing, will be covered. The fellow will be based at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a research associate during the first several months of the fellowship. During this time, she may conduct an internship at The Boston Globe. During the second portion of the fellowship, the fellow may conduct an internship at The New York Times while living in New York.
Study Subject(s): Fellowship is awarded to journalist whose focus is human rights and social justice.
Course Level: Fellowships are available for journalist to complete research and coursework at leading academic institutions and build reporting skills through internships at major U.S.-based media outlets.
Scholarship Provider: The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
Scholarship can be taken at: The fellow will be based at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a research associate during the first several months of the fellowship. During this time, she may conduct an internship at The Boston Globe. During the second portion of the fellowship, the fellow may conduct an internship at The New York Times while living in New York.
Eligibility: Applicants must be affiliated or freelance women journalists with at least three years of professional experience in journalism working in print, broadcast, or digital media. All nationalities are welcome to apply, but non-native English speakers must have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the program. Applicants must be able to demonstrate support from an editor or have a proven track record of publication in media outlets.
Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Journalist from anywhere in the world can apply for this fellowship.
Scholarship Description: The International Women’s Media Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2015/2016 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship. The fellowship is designed for a woman journalist from anywhere in the world whose work in print, broadcast, or digital media has focused on human rights and social justice reporting. This seven month-long program will take her to Boston and New York to study at MIT’s Center for International Studies and work for U.S. media outlets including The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Now in its 10th year, the fellowship was named for the 1998 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner and The Boston Globe correspondent Elizabeth Neuffer, who was killed in Iraq in May 2003. Created with Elizabeth Neuffer’s family and friends, the program aims to perpetuate her memory and advance her life mission of promoting international understanding of human rights and social justice while creating an opportunity for women journalists to build their skills.
Number of award(s): One journalist will be selected for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship each year.
Duration of award(s): The next IWMF Neuffer Fellowship runs from September 2015 to March 2016. The program will include both an orientation session and wrap-up debriefing in Washington DC. The fellow is expected to stay for the duration of the program.
What does it cover? A fixed stipend will be provided to cover housing, meals and ground transportation during the fellowship. Round-trip economy airfare will be covered from the fellow’s home country or city to Washington, D.C., and from Washington, D.C., to the fellowship city. The fellow will also receive health insurance during the program. The fellowship does not provide salary or honoraria. For fellows from outside of the United States, the fellowship also covers the costs of applying for and obtaining a U.S. visa. The fellow will be fully responsible for any additional incidental expenses and other costs.
Selection Criteria: The fellow will be selected by a committee comprised of representatives of the family and friends of Elizabeth Neuffer and members of the IWMF Advisory Council. Consideration of candidates will be based on their complete applications, the caliber and promise of their reporting on human rights and social justice issues, and their personal statements explaining how the fellowship could impact their career. Finalists for the fellowship may be interviewed by the IWMF and the selection committee.
Notification: All applicants will be notified about the committee’s selection by June.
How to Apply: Please submit the completed application form and all supporting documents via email, and include the subject line: “IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship: [Your Name].” Also be sure to include your name on each document. If you are unable to email application materials, you can also submit them by mail. The following items constitute a completed application:
1) Completed application form (including signature and date)
2) Two completed recommendation forms
3) English assessment form (for non-native English speakers only)
4) Current resume or CV
5) Samples of your work
Scholarship Application Deadline: The closing date for application is May 1, 2015.
Further Official Scholarship Information and Application