Deadline: March 1, 2023
Applications for the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa & the Middle East 2024 are now open. This new one-semester fellowship, hosted by the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, was inspired by the life and career of Egyptian science journalist Mohammed Yahia. The fellowship was created in partnership with Springer Nature, publisher of Nature Middle East, which grew to be an important contributor to science reporting in the region under Yahia’s leadership from 2010-2023.
The fellowship is designed to enrich the training of a journalist from Africa or the Middle East so they can contribute to a culture of high-quality science and health journalism in those regions, as well as raising awareness of regional advances in the rest of the world. Following Yahia’s untimely death in the summer of 2023, Springer Nature and the Knight Science Journalism Program worked together to create a fellowship in honor of his remarkable contributions to science journalism.
Benefits
- $40,000 stipend for the semester
- MIT health insurance
- $5,000 stipend to help with start-up housing costs
- Full access to MIT benefits such as subsidized public transportation, access to museums and other programs in the area
- Connections to a thriving community of science journalists
Eligibility
- Open to journalists based in Africa and the Middle East with at least three years’ experience reporting on science, health or environmental issues in the region.
- Applicants may be reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.
Application
Each applicant must submit the following documents:
- Statement of Purpose: Describe, in 500 words or less, why you want to participate in the Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East and how it fits with your professional goals.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Provide a brief overview of your education, work history, and professional honors. (Freelancers should include a list of freelance jobs completed in the past 12 months. Include each story, venue, and date of publication or broadcast.)
- Three Work Samples: Provide three (3) relevant work samples. Choose samples that best illustrate your interest and abilities. Include a translation for any work not produced in English.
- Letter of Professional Reference: Provide at least one (1) letter of recommendation; additional letters are optional. The letter should come from an individual familiar with your work and should comment on your abilities and your commitment to journalism. Applicants will provide the name and e-mail address for their recommenders in the application form, and letter requests will be sent to the recommenders automatically.
For more information, visit Knight Science Journalism Fellowship.
