Deadline: 2 May 2011
(This program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism -- in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on. Questions to Sandeep Junnarkar, Awards & Fellowships chair: awards at saja.org)
As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA and SAJA Group Inc are pleased to announce changes to its flagship SAJA Reporting Fellowship program (SRF), which will now provide greater flexibility while streamlining the application process.
Journalists will have two opportunities each year to apply for the fellowship, once each fall and spring, which we envision allows them to pitch more timely under-reported pieces. The spring round 2011 opens April 18, 2011.
The application process has also been simplified. Journalists will now submit a short application that asks for their pitch and credentials. If the application is approved by our judges, SAJA will ask for more details about the project.
With those changes in mind, SAJA and SAJA Group Inc. announces a call for submissions for the SAJA Reporting Fellowship. Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.
A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA's discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.
These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last five years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000. "The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA's core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group's Awards & Fellowships chair and professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. "This is going to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what's going on in South Asia today."
In the 2011 spring period, the fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.
SAJA will start accepting preliminary proposals on starting April 18-May 2. After reviewing the proposals and credentials, we will inform applicants whether we are interested in a full proposal. The deadline for the complete proposal, with supporting materials will be May 15, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
To be eligible for this year's fellowship, applicants must:
* Have demonstrated experience in completing high-level, comprehensive journalistic projects.
* Produce content in the English language.
* Be able to publish or broadcast the finished work in North America (U.S. and Canada).
* Applicants need not be based in North America, but the final work MUST be published in a U.S. or Canadian media outlet.
* Be willing to work with an editor, chosen by SAJA, who will oversee the successful completion of the project.
* Be available to discuss the project at SAJA events, including but not limited to the annual SAJA convention and/or panel discussions.
* In addition, the news organization(s) that publish(es) or air(s) the finished work(s) must agree to provide a prominent credit to SAJA.
Preliminary proposals must include the following (Deadline to apply: May 2 @ 11:59 pm ET):
* Working Title (10 words or less)
* Project idea (100 words or less).
* Why is it important to cover this story now? (75 words or less).
* Your credentials--why are you the right person to cover this story? (75 words or less).
If approved, you will be asked to submit a full proposal.
The complete proposal (Deadline to submit: May 15 @ 11:59 pm ET):
* Project Proposal which describes the thesis of the project and explains why it's an important story. What is the news hook? Why should a news outlet publish, broadcast or post this story?
* A preliminary list of people to be interviewed.
* A DETAILED budget that spells out what expenses the fellowship funding will cover and how the rest of the project will be funded.
* A realistic timeline that shows SAJA's deadlines (see below) will be met.
* A resume and three work samples. We're looking for applicants with a successful track record in producing print, broadcast, radio, photographic or multimedia pieces. The applicant must provide the work samples either as URLs, attachments, or by cutting and pasting to the application. Broadcast applicants can also provide digital samples.
* Support letter(s). If the applicant is an employee of a U.S. or Canadian media outlet, a letter of support from the editor/employer/supervisor. The letter must show that the applicant's employer will give the applicant the time to report, produce and complete the work to meet our deadlines, as well as allot time for the fellow to speak about the project at SAJA events. The letter must show the company's willingness to share publication rights with SAJA after an initial, exclusive first-run period is over. The letter MUST also contain contact information for the employer.
* If the applicant is a freelancer, the proposal must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* Even a South Asia-based freelancer must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* An employee of a South Asia-based media company must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* A list of at least three references.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Timeline for the Fellowships is as follows:
Disclaimer:
1. All decisions are final and subject to the discretion and judgment of the judges and the SAJA board.
2. SAJA board members and members of their families are not eligible to apply.
3. SAJA is not responsible for any financial or legal liabilities (or any other liabilities) that arise from the actions of the fellow(s).
4. SAJA reserves the right to amend or extend deadlines or changing other procedures relating to the fellowship program.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL:
After reading this page carefully, fill in the online form at http://bit.ly/srf2011spring.
Questions to Sandeep Junnarkar, SAJA Administrative Director: awards at saja.org
Contact Information:
For inquiries: awards at saja.org
For submissions: click here
Website: http://saja.org
(This program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism -- in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on. Questions to Sandeep Junnarkar, Awards & Fellowships chair: awards at saja.org)
As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA and SAJA Group Inc are pleased to announce changes to its flagship SAJA Reporting Fellowship program (SRF), which will now provide greater flexibility while streamlining the application process.
Journalists will have two opportunities each year to apply for the fellowship, once each fall and spring, which we envision allows them to pitch more timely under-reported pieces. The spring round 2011 opens April 18, 2011.
The application process has also been simplified. Journalists will now submit a short application that asks for their pitch and credentials. If the application is approved by our judges, SAJA will ask for more details about the project.
With those changes in mind, SAJA and SAJA Group Inc. announces a call for submissions for the SAJA Reporting Fellowship. Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.
A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA's discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.
These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last five years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000. "The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA's core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group's Awards & Fellowships chair and professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. "This is going to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what's going on in South Asia today."
In the 2011 spring period, the fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.
SAJA will start accepting preliminary proposals on starting April 18-May 2. After reviewing the proposals and credentials, we will inform applicants whether we are interested in a full proposal. The deadline for the complete proposal, with supporting materials will be May 15, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
To be eligible for this year's fellowship, applicants must:
* Have demonstrated experience in completing high-level, comprehensive journalistic projects.
* Produce content in the English language.
* Be able to publish or broadcast the finished work in North America (U.S. and Canada).
* Applicants need not be based in North America, but the final work MUST be published in a U.S. or Canadian media outlet.
* Be willing to work with an editor, chosen by SAJA, who will oversee the successful completion of the project.
* Be available to discuss the project at SAJA events, including but not limited to the annual SAJA convention and/or panel discussions.
* In addition, the news organization(s) that publish(es) or air(s) the finished work(s) must agree to provide a prominent credit to SAJA.
Preliminary proposals must include the following (Deadline to apply: May 2 @ 11:59 pm ET):
* Working Title (10 words or less)
* Project idea (100 words or less).
* Why is it important to cover this story now? (75 words or less).
* Your credentials--why are you the right person to cover this story? (75 words or less).
If approved, you will be asked to submit a full proposal.
The complete proposal (Deadline to submit: May 15 @ 11:59 pm ET):
* Project Proposal which describes the thesis of the project and explains why it's an important story. What is the news hook? Why should a news outlet publish, broadcast or post this story?
* A preliminary list of people to be interviewed.
* A DETAILED budget that spells out what expenses the fellowship funding will cover and how the rest of the project will be funded.
* A realistic timeline that shows SAJA's deadlines (see below) will be met.
* A resume and three work samples. We're looking for applicants with a successful track record in producing print, broadcast, radio, photographic or multimedia pieces. The applicant must provide the work samples either as URLs, attachments, or by cutting and pasting to the application. Broadcast applicants can also provide digital samples.
* Support letter(s). If the applicant is an employee of a U.S. or Canadian media outlet, a letter of support from the editor/employer/supervisor. The letter must show that the applicant's employer will give the applicant the time to report, produce and complete the work to meet our deadlines, as well as allot time for the fellow to speak about the project at SAJA events. The letter must show the company's willingness to share publication rights with SAJA after an initial, exclusive first-run period is over. The letter MUST also contain contact information for the employer.
* If the applicant is a freelancer, the proposal must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* Even a South Asia-based freelancer must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* An employee of a South Asia-based media company must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
* A list of at least three references.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Timeline for the Fellowships is as follows:
- April. 18, 2011: Applications process opens.
- May 2, 2011: Preliminary application deadline.
- May 15, 2011: Full application proposal (By invitation only if your preliminary proposal is accepted)
- June 1, 2011: SAJA fellows announced.
- Between June. 1 - Sept. 1, 2011: Reporting completed.
- Oct 1, 2011: Finished project submitted to SAJA.
- Oct. 1 - 15, 2011: First-use period, for exclusive publication by the fellow's employer, or if a freelancer, by the media company with whom the freelancer is contracted.
- Oct. 16, 2011: SAJA disseminates the work widely, through the web, other media and panel discussions.
Disclaimer:
1. All decisions are final and subject to the discretion and judgment of the judges and the SAJA board.
2. SAJA board members and members of their families are not eligible to apply.
3. SAJA is not responsible for any financial or legal liabilities (or any other liabilities) that arise from the actions of the fellow(s).
4. SAJA reserves the right to amend or extend deadlines or changing other procedures relating to the fellowship program.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL:
After reading this page carefully, fill in the online form at http://bit.ly/srf2011spring.
Questions to Sandeep Junnarkar, SAJA Administrative Director: awards at saja.org
Contact Information:
For inquiries: awards at saja.org
For submissions: click here
Website: http://saja.org
