The Knight Visiting Nieman Fellowships at Harvard offer short-term research opportunities to individuals interested in working on special projects designed to advance journalism in some new way.
Candidates do not need to be practicing journalists, but must demonstrate the ways in which their work at Harvard and the Nieman Foundation may improve the prospects for journalism’s future.
Eligible candidates include journalists, publishers, programmers, designers, developers, media analysts, academics and others with an idea to enhance quality, build new tools or business models or design programs to improve journalism.
There are 3 categories of fellowships available.
1. Knight Visiting Nieman Fellowships
Deadline: October 31, 2015 | Apply here
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Eligibility: Open to international and U.S. individuals who have a project proposal that is designed to advance journalism in some new way.
Dates: 12 weeks or fewer during the 2016 calendar year
Fellowship: While at Harvard, visiting fellows receive free housing and a prorated stipend for the length of the fellowship (~$1,600 per week)
Application components: Applications include biographical information, a résumé, a 500-word project proposal and 3 references, but no letters of recommendation
Location: Harvard University, USA
Projects may be related to research, programming, design, financial strategies or other topics. In addition to working journalists, those who should consider applying include publishers, programmers, designers, media analysts, academics and others interested in enhancing quality, building new business models or designing programs to improve journalism.
There is no fixed start date. The application asks candidates to list their preferred start date. If selected as a fellow, we will take that preference under consideration and will work with the fellow to determine the official start date.
Each year, Nieman will select a minimum of 5 fellows. Successful applicants will be invited to the Nieman Foundation for a period ranging from a few weeks to 3months, depending on the scope of the project. Visiting fellows will work with traditional Nieman Fellows, who spend a full academic year at Harvard. They also have access to the extensive intellectual resources at Harvard and MIT, and throughout Cambridge, including local scholars, research centers and libraries.
2. Nieman Fellowships
Deadline: December 1, 2015 for international applicants; January 31, 2016 for U.S. applicants (U.S. Citizens) | Apply here
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Eligibility: All applicants, including freelancers, must be working journalists with at least five years of full-time media experience. Journalism-related work completed as a university student does not count as professional experience. People who work in public relations or at organizations whose primary business is not the media are not eligible to apply
Dates: Academic year 2016-2017
Fellowship: Most Nieman Fellows receive a stipend of $65,000 paid over a nine-month period to cover living costs. The Nieman Foundation also provides housing, childcare, and health insurance allowances based on the number and ages of family members
Application components: Applications include two essays; a professional profile and study plan; work samples; and three letters of recommendation. The application will also require a résumé
Location: Harvard University, USA
Each year, up to 24 journalists working in print, broadcast, digital and audiovisual media will be awarded Nieman Fellowships (approximately half will be U.S. citizens and half will be international journalists). Those selected for the program spend two full semesters at Harvard auditing classes with some of the university’s greatest thinkers, participating in Nieman events and collaborating with peers.
Nieman Fellows are also able to audit classes at other local universities including MIT and Tufts. During their time at Harvard, Nieman Fellows attend seminars, shop talks, master classes and journalism conferences designed to strengthen their professional skills and leadership capabilities, thereby helping to fortify the news industry itself.
With the knowledge they gain on campus and the relationships they build, fellows often return to work as journalism entrepreneurs, industry innovators and top managers in their newsrooms.
3. Nieman-Berkman Fellowships in Journalism Innovation
Deadline: December 1, 2015 for international applicants; January 31, 2016 for U.S. applicants (U.S. Citizens) | Apply here
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Eligibility: Open to both U.S. and international applicants. Candidates should either be working journalists or work for a news organization in a business, technology, or leadership capacity. Freelance journalists are welcome to apply
Dates: Academic year 2016-2017
Application: See the Application Components for Nieman Fellowships. Nieman-Berkman candidates will complete either the international fellowship application or the U.S. fellowship application and indicate interest in being considered for a Nieman-Berkman Fellowship in the appropriate section.
Location: Harvard University, USA
Additional fellowship details: Each year, up to two individuals of the 24 selected as Nieman Fellows will be designated as Nieman-Berkman Fellows. See the Additional Fellowship Details for Nieman Fellowships.
Proposals from Nieman-Berkman Fellowship candidates may deal with any issue relating to journalism’s digital transformation. Examples include ideas for new revenue streams to fund journalism, the construction of new tools for reporting, or research into news consumption patterns. Candidates must explain how their proposals will benefit journalism.
In addition, Nieman-Berkman Fellows are full participants at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard. Read about the work of previous Nieman-Berkman Fellows, including Laura Amico, CEO of Glass Eye Media and co-founder of Homicide Watch D.C., and Borja Echevarría de la Gándara, vice president of digital for Univision News
All Nieman Fellowship applicants must complete an online application form. Candidates for full academic-year fellowships must submit the following information as part of their package two essays; a professional profile and study plan; work samples and four letters of recommendation. Candidates for the Knight Visiting Nieman Fellowship complete a streamlined application that requires only biographical information, a résumé and a project proposal. Questions about the application process may be sent to fellowship program administrator Nicole Arias.
Note: that candidates for the Nieman-Berkman Fellowship in Journalism Innovation should complete either the international fellowship application or the U.S. fellowship application and indicate interest in being considered for a Nieman-Berkman Fellowship in the appropriate section.
For more information, visit the official website or send your questions about the application process to fellowship program administrator Nicole Arias at nicole_arias@harvard.edu.
To apply online, please first sign up and create an account.
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