Deadline: 1 December 2012
Since 1938 more than 1,300 journalists from 91 countries and territories have come to Harvard for a year of learning, exploration and fellowship. Nieman Fellowships are awarded to print, broadcast and online reporters, editors, photographers, producers, editorial writers and cartoonists with at least five years of full-time, professional experience in the news media.
Fellowships are open to both U.S. citizens and journalists from other countries. International Fellowships are reserved for citizens of nations other than the United States, the foundation awards up to 12 international fellowships each year.
Eligibility: The Nieman Foundation selects up to 12 United States and 12 International journalists for Nieman Fellowships each year.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must be full-time journalists (including freelancers) with at least five years’ experience. Journalists can work for news or editorial departments of newspapers, wire services, radio, television, web sites, online publications or magazines of general public interest. Photojournalists, editorial cartoonists, columnists and broadcast producers are also eligible.
Any journalism-related work completed as a university student does not count toward experience. People who work in public relations or at organizations whose primary business is not the media are not eligible.
If appropriate, the applicant’s employer should approve a leave of absence for the academic year (10 months).
Within the past two years, an applicant should not have participated in a fellowship or taken a leave of absence from work that lasted four months or longer.
There is no nomination process. Candidates nominate themselves by submitting an application and supplementary materials. There is no age limit. There are no academic prerequisites, and a college degree is not required.
STIPULATIONS:
After the candidates have been chosen, but prior to their confirmation as Nieman Fellows by the Harvard Corporation, each must agree in writing to the following four stipulations:
Funds from the original Nieman bequest are restricted to U.S. citizens. International candidates must find financial support from sources outside the Nieman Foundation; however, finding funding is not a condition of being awarded a fellowship. The Nieman Foundation will assist International Fellows to secure necessary funds.
This funding can come from many sources. Typically, candidates work with foundations and journalistic organizations in their own countries to find money to support a Nieman Fellowship.
The cultural-affairs offices of U.S. embassies are good sources of information about exchange programs and other options for funding.
The Nieman Foundation also works with several international foundations that provide stipendiary support to citizens of certain nations or regions of the world. In addition, the Nieman Foundation occasionally uses unrestricted funds to support international Nieman Fellows.
DEADLINES: International Fellowships: Applications must be submitted on or before Dec. 1, 2012 (except applicants for Canada, Philippines, South Africa and South Korea Fellowships).
REQUIRED WITH THE APPLICATION:
I. Two Essays
We require two essays: a Personal Statement and a Proposal for Study at Harvard. These essays are very important parts of your application. We carefully evaluate them to understand your accomplishments and potential. Both can be uploaded with the online application.
We are particularly interested in examples and details that show you have a significant capacity for growth and leadership. We also want to know specifically how a year at Harvard will help make you a better journalist.
II. Summaries
Upload one file that contains two summaries: 1) a professional profile; and 2) a study plan summary.
Work samples can be uploaded with the online application. Files with the following extensions are accepted: .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .doc, .wps, .lwp, .wks and .wpd. You can also upload a summary page that describes your samples.
DVD’s, audio/video files, photographs or samples that exist only on paper should be sent to the address below, where we will add them to any material you submit with the online application:
Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application
One Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-2009
U.S.A.
International applicants: most, if not all of your samples should have been published or aired between Dec. 1, 2011, and Dec. 1, 2012. One sample can be from before Dec. 1, 2011.
If you routinely work in more than one medium, you may submit samples from each as long as you follow the guidelines below.
Print Journalists
IV. Letters of Recommendation
Four (4) confidential letters of recommendation are required. These confidential letters should indicate how your abilities and experience make you an outstanding candidate for a Nieman Fellowship, and should describe your qualifications, your potential for professional growth and leadership, and the impact a fellowship might have on your career in journalism.
Letters of recommendation can be submitted via the online application and/or postal mail (to the Nieman Foundation at the address below).
Recommendations should be written by:
V. Leave of Absence Letter
The Nieman Foundation recognizes that news organizations are occasionally reluctant to grant leaves of absence to valuable staff members for long-term fellowships when staffing levels are tight. However, it is our hope that news executives recognize that the knowledge, broader perspective, personal development and leadership skills fellows bring back at the end of the Nieman year will benefit the newsroom.
We encourage news managers to work with fellowship applicants to help them shape their aspirations for a year at Harvard. We also encourage potential Nieman applicants to be upfront with their news organization’s leadership about their intentions, whether or not a supporting letter is forthcoming. In the absence of such a letter of support, however, a candidate is still eligible to apply for a Nieman Fellowship.
Letters should be mailed directly to the Nieman Foundation at the address below and postmarked by the Dec. 1.
Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application
One Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-2009
U.S.A.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: nieman_applications@harvard.edu
For submissions: Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application, One Francis Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138-2009, U.S.A.
Website: http://nieman.harvard.edu/NiemanFoundation.aspx
Since 1938 more than 1,300 journalists from 91 countries and territories have come to Harvard for a year of learning, exploration and fellowship. Nieman Fellowships are awarded to print, broadcast and online reporters, editors, photographers, producers, editorial writers and cartoonists with at least five years of full-time, professional experience in the news media.
Fellowships are open to both U.S. citizens and journalists from other countries. International Fellowships are reserved for citizens of nations other than the United States, the foundation awards up to 12 international fellowships each year.
Eligibility: The Nieman Foundation selects up to 12 United States and 12 International journalists for Nieman Fellowships each year.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must be full-time journalists (including freelancers) with at least five years’ experience. Journalists can work for news or editorial departments of newspapers, wire services, radio, television, web sites, online publications or magazines of general public interest. Photojournalists, editorial cartoonists, columnists and broadcast producers are also eligible.
Any journalism-related work completed as a university student does not count toward experience. People who work in public relations or at organizations whose primary business is not the media are not eligible.
If appropriate, the applicant’s employer should approve a leave of absence for the academic year (10 months).
Within the past two years, an applicant should not have participated in a fellowship or taken a leave of absence from work that lasted four months or longer.
There is no nomination process. Candidates nominate themselves by submitting an application and supplementary materials. There is no age limit. There are no academic prerequisites, and a college degree is not required.
STIPULATIONS:
After the candidates have been chosen, but prior to their confirmation as Nieman Fellows by the Harvard Corporation, each must agree in writing to the following four stipulations:
- To return at the end of the sabbatical year to the employer who granted the leave of absence.
- To refrain from professional work during the period of the fellowship.
- To complete all the work in at least two academic courses of their choice: one during the fall semester, the other during the spring semester.
- To remain in residence in the Cambridge area while classes are in session and to participate in Nieman seminars and events.
Funds from the original Nieman bequest are restricted to U.S. citizens. International candidates must find financial support from sources outside the Nieman Foundation; however, finding funding is not a condition of being awarded a fellowship. The Nieman Foundation will assist International Fellows to secure necessary funds.
This funding can come from many sources. Typically, candidates work with foundations and journalistic organizations in their own countries to find money to support a Nieman Fellowship.
The cultural-affairs offices of U.S. embassies are good sources of information about exchange programs and other options for funding.
The Nieman Foundation also works with several international foundations that provide stipendiary support to citizens of certain nations or regions of the world. In addition, the Nieman Foundation occasionally uses unrestricted funds to support international Nieman Fellows.
DEADLINES: International Fellowships: Applications must be submitted on or before Dec. 1, 2012 (except applicants for Canada, Philippines, South Africa and South Korea Fellowships).
REQUIRED WITH THE APPLICATION:
I. Two Essays
We require two essays: a Personal Statement and a Proposal for Study at Harvard. These essays are very important parts of your application. We carefully evaluate them to understand your accomplishments and potential. Both can be uploaded with the online application.
We are particularly interested in examples and details that show you have a significant capacity for growth and leadership. We also want to know specifically how a year at Harvard will help make you a better journalist.
- Personal Statement: 1,000 words or less that describes your journalistic experience, career plans and aspirations. Why is this the time to have a transformative experience away from your work in journalism? What experiences in life and in journalism have shaped you? What personal and journalistic values and intellectual interests have influenced your aspirations to seek this fellowship? What motivates your commitment to journalistic excellence? What are your aspirations for your life ahead in journalism?
- Proposal for Study at Harvard: 500 words or less that describes how you plan to spend a year at Harvard. What are your thoughts about an academic concentration or field of study? It is not necessary to specify course titles, but please identify the resources at Harvard that would serve your aspirations for your continuing work in journalism.
II. Summaries
Upload one file that contains two summaries: 1) a professional profile; and 2) a study plan summary.
- Professional profile: Provide a short profile (no more than 100 words) that summarizes your professional career including your current position (work title/news organization, if appropriate); publications that you've written for and/or other news organizations that you've worked for; journalism awards you've won; beats and issues that you cover; special interests, etc.
- Study plan summary: Provide a brief summary (25-50 words) of your study plan.
Work samples can be uploaded with the online application. Files with the following extensions are accepted: .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .doc, .wps, .lwp, .wks and .wpd. You can also upload a summary page that describes your samples.
DVD’s, audio/video files, photographs or samples that exist only on paper should be sent to the address below, where we will add them to any material you submit with the online application:
Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application
One Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-2009
U.S.A.
International applicants: most, if not all of your samples should have been published or aired between Dec. 1, 2011, and Dec. 1, 2012. One sample can be from before Dec. 1, 2011.
If you routinely work in more than one medium, you may submit samples from each as long as you follow the guidelines below.
- Any printed samples, summaries and synopses submitted must be formatted to fit 8” x 11” (21.5 x 28 cm) sheets of paper.
- Your name should be included in the upper right corner of every item you submit (or on the backs of photographs).
- Do not send complete newspapers or magazines, books, scrapbooks, unpublished manuscripts, works-in-progress, irreplaceable material, elaborate presentations (e.g. spiral bindings or report covers) or “creative” displays (i.e. video presentations of still photographs).
- Please clearly date all your samples and do not send more than the requested number.
- If your samples are not in English, please include a summary of their contents in English. Supporting materials must also be in English.
Print Journalists
- Writers: Submit five (5) samples of published work. (Each byline counts as one sample.) If you send stories from a series, include a brief outline of the other stories in the series.
- Editors: Submit a statement describing your job. (This is in addition to your two essays.) You may include copies of published work along with a description of your role in these samples. For published work, follow the instructions for writers above.
- Photographers: Submit a portfolio with eight (8) samples of your work. These can include original prints, tear sheets, or a combination of both. Photographs must be 8” x 10” (20.5 x 25.5 cm) and may be in color or black and white. Do not mount your photos.
- Television and Documentary Filmmakers: Submit one DVD or CD with no more than 30 minutes of work. (If necessary, we will accept a VHS videotape.) Include a written synopsis of each work with a brief description of your involvement in each piece. If you work on programs that are longer than 30 minutes and feel an edited version isn’t representative, you may submit a sample of no more than 60 minutes. Your samples must have been broadcast or shown in a public venue within the past two years. We are flexible on the length of samples and the requirement that they be broadcast in the last two years. We realize that it is sometimes difficult to edit long pieces and understand the long lead time that goes into making documentary films.
- Radio: Submit one CD with work totaling 30 minutes. Include a written synopsis that indicates, by counter number or other measure, where each sample begins and briefly describes your involvement with each piece.
- Submit samples equivalent to five (5) print articles or 30 minutes of programming. Also include a description of your job, what your involvement was with each sample, and indicate if each sample was created uniquely for the Web or adapted from another media format.
IV. Letters of Recommendation
Four (4) confidential letters of recommendation are required. These confidential letters should indicate how your abilities and experience make you an outstanding candidate for a Nieman Fellowship, and should describe your qualifications, your potential for professional growth and leadership, and the impact a fellowship might have on your career in journalism.
Letters of recommendation can be submitted via the online application and/or postal mail (to the Nieman Foundation at the address below).
Recommendations should be written by:
- Two from individuals familiar with your work who can comment on your journalistic abilities and potential for growth and leadership.
- One from your immediate supervisor with an appraisal of your qualifications
- One from your organization’s publisher, editor, manager or director supporting your application and granting you a nine-month leave of absence if you receive a fellowship
V. Leave of Absence Letter
The Nieman Foundation recognizes that news organizations are occasionally reluctant to grant leaves of absence to valuable staff members for long-term fellowships when staffing levels are tight. However, it is our hope that news executives recognize that the knowledge, broader perspective, personal development and leadership skills fellows bring back at the end of the Nieman year will benefit the newsroom.
We encourage news managers to work with fellowship applicants to help them shape their aspirations for a year at Harvard. We also encourage potential Nieman applicants to be upfront with their news organization’s leadership about their intentions, whether or not a supporting letter is forthcoming. In the absence of such a letter of support, however, a candidate is still eligible to apply for a Nieman Fellowship.
Letters should be mailed directly to the Nieman Foundation at the address below and postmarked by the Dec. 1.
Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application
One Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-2009
U.S.A.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: nieman_applications@harvard.edu
For submissions: Attention: 2014 Fellowship Application, One Francis Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138-2009, U.S.A.
Website: http://nieman.harvard.edu/NiemanFoundation.aspx
