The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship

The KSJ Fellowship Program extends annual academic-year fellowships to the top 10 science journalists globally, welcoming applications from journalists across the world. This unique opportunity allows participants to immerse themselves in science, technology, health, environmental reporting, and the art of journalism, enabling them to specialize in a specific scientific area. As an international fellowship program, it provides journalists with an exceptional chance to study at some of the world's premier research institutes. Mid-career science journalists are strongly encouraged to apply for the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT, which aims to acknowledge journalists demonstrating outstanding professional excellence and achievements, showcasing a sustained commitment to their journalistic pursuits.                        

Diverse Program Offerings:

The fellowship program is structured with a blend of activities organized by the Knight Science Journalism staff and self-directed initiatives.

Seminars: Regular seminars featuring top researchers and media professionals enhance the fellows' time in Cambridge.

Field Trips: KSJ arranges several annual trips to locations of special interest to science and technology writers, including past destinations such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME, and the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA.

Skill-Focused Workshops: Recognizing the expanding array of storytelling channels available to journalists, the program includes workshops to equip fellows with enhanced technical skills. Previous workshops covered areas such as mobile video, still photography, digital editing, data journalism, and podcasting.

Course of Study: Fellows have the opportunity to audit courses at MIT, Harvard, and other local universities. While maintaining the requirement of one science course each semester, they enjoy significant flexibility in selecting their suite of courses, with approval required from the respective professors.

Social Activities: The program fosters a sense of community through various social events, ranging from welcome parties to holiday celebrations. Fellows consistently express that life in Cambridge and the camaraderie within the fellowship class are among the most rewarding aspects of their experience.

Eligibility Criteria for the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program 2024, USA:

• Applicants must be full-time journalists, whether freelance or staff. Part-time producers or writers are not eligible.
• Applicants must have at least three years of consecutive experience in the areas of science, technology, health, and environmental reporting.
• Applicants must be reporters, editors, writers, producers, filmmakers, illustrators, or photojournalists. Furthermore, it also includes work for newspapers, television, magazines, radio, and digital media.
• Applicants must not have completed any other four months or longer fellowship during the two years before applying for the 2024 Knight Science Journalism Fellowship in the USA.
• Fellows of the KSJ Fellowship at MIT will reside full-time in the Boston/Cambridge area for the MIT academic year, which runs from mid-August to May.

Benefits:

• Fellows receive a $85,000 stipend paid out in installments over 9.5 months.
• Relocation allowance.
• Basic health insurance for each fellow and their family.

KSJ Fellowship Required Documents:

• Professional Autobiography
• Resume or CV
• Research Project Proposal
• Five Work Samples
• Three Professional References

Application link: http://tinyurl.com/mryjtwym

Official website: http://tinyurl.com/2jhy58vj