Deadline: 15 January 2024
Applications are now open for the MIT Knight Program in Science Journalism 2024-2025 Every year, MIT's Knight Science Journalism Program offers academic year fellowships to 10 science journalists from around the world, giving them the opportunity to explore the science, technology, and art of journalism; focus on a science specialty; and learn at some of the world's best research universities.
While in Cambridge, fellows will undertake a research project that uniquely leverages the resources and connections available at MIT and the surrounding greater Boston area. The research project must be related to journalism. Previous fellows have used their time to: conduct research and reporting for a long narrative or series of stories; develop multimedia, video, and audio reporting projects; conduct research for a book proposal; and build in-depth knowledge of a new area of science, among other project activities. Regular meetings are held to monitor and assist with projects. Fellows give formal presentations on their projects at the end of the academic year; many projects are published as journal articles, books, videos, or podcasts after the fellowship ends.
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Benefits
- Fellows receive a stipend of US$$ 85,000 paid in installments over 9.5 months.
- Relocation allowance
- Basic health insurance for each scholarship recipient and their family.
Eligibility
The program was designed to recognize journalists worldwide who demonstrate a high level of excellence and professional achievement, as well as a long-term commitment to their craft. Journalists from all countries compete on a level playing field and are encouraged to apply.
To be eligible for a KSJ scholarship, applicants must:
- Whether they are full-time journalists, employees, or freelancers. Part-time writers or producers are not eligible.
- Have at least three consecutive years of experience covering science, health, technology, and environmental reporting.
- Whether they are reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.
- Not having completed a fellowship of four months or more during the two years preceding the application for the Knight Fellowship in Science Journalism.
Expectations
If candidates are selected to participate in the KSJ fellowship at MIT, they should meet the following expectations:
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- Live full-time in the Boston/Cambridge area during the MIT academic year, which runs from mid-August to May.
- Participate in field trips, seminars, and mandatory training sessions organized by the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program.
- Develop a course of study that includes at least one science course per semester.
- Refrain from engaging in outside paid professional work during the fellowship period, unless written permission has been granted by the director.
- Produce a well-developed research project during the school year.
Application
Each candidate must submit the following documents:
- Professional Autobiography: Describe, in 500 words or less, why you wish to participate in the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program and how it fits into your professional goals.
- Curriculum Vitae: Provide a brief overview of your education, work history, and professional honors. (Freelancers should include a list of completed freelance work in the last 12 months. Include each story, location, and date of publication or broadcast.)
- Research Project Proposal: Describe, in up to 500 words, a project you intend to develop during your fellowship year. The goal is for fellows to create a project that uniquely leverages their time and experiences at MIT, using the resources and connections available while they are here. The research project should be based on journalism, but it can go beyond traditional parameters and be created in any format: feature film, series of stories, multimedia, video, audio, installation, etc.
- Note: The research project may be a book proposal, but fellows may not sell the proposal during the fellowship year, nor may they arrive with a contract to write a book during the fellowship year.
- Five work samples: Please provide five relevant work samples. Choose samples that best illustrate your interests and skills. Please include a translation for any work not produced in English.
- Three professional references: Please provide three letters of recommendation. The letters should come from people familiar with your work and comment on your skills and commitment to journalism. Applicants will provide the names and contact information of their recommenders on the application form, and letter requests will be sent to the recommenders automatically.
