John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships 2020/2021 at Stanford University, USA ($85,000 stipend & Fully Funded)

Each year, JSK bring together up to 20 fellows from around the world to work on ideas to address the most urgent problems facing journalism. If you aspire to be a leader who can help reimagine and transform journalism, you should apply for our program.

From September to June, JSK Fellows spend their time on individual and collaborative projects to address these challenges. Fellows also participate in special workshops and weekly events, explore the abundant resources on the Stanford campus and in Silicon Valley, and have the option of sitting in on classes.

Applicants should propose a project that is focused on addressing some aspect of  what we believe are the most urgent problems facing journalism:

• Challenging Misinformation and Disinformation
• Holding the Powerful Accountable
• Eradicating News Deserts and Strengthening Local News
• Fighting Bias, Intolerance and Injustice

You may also check:

• Jacobs Foundation Scholarships in youth and child development for study at the University of Oxford (Funded)
• Commonwealth100 Online Leadership Development Programme 2019/2020 for young people from Commonwealth Countries
• World Bank Group Summer Internship Program 2020 for young Professionals (Paid Internship)

Requirements

Experience

U.S. applicants typically have at least seven years of full-time professional experience; international applicants typically have at least five years of experience. We will consider less experienced applicants who have outstanding achievements. We do not require applicants to have a college degree.

Professional background

We consider applicants in these categories:

• Journalists employed by a news organization or freelance journalists.
• Journalism entrepreneurs and innovators.
• Journalism business and management executives.

Benefits

JSK Fellows are provided with several financial benefits, including a stipend of $85,000. In addition to this stipend, we provide an additional supplement for fellows with children. We also cover the cost of Stanford tuition and Stanford health care for fellows, spouses and children. We also help fellows find housing. 

Other benefits of a JSK Fellowship:

• Access to some of the world’s most innovative thinkers and organizations, from technology giants to hot new startups to Stanford’s 100-plus special institutes and centers.
• Opportunities to join classes taught by top Stanford professors and instructors in a wide range of specialties. It is common for classes to be taught by people who also work in the vanguard of their fields in the private sector.
• A rich intellectual and cultural campus life, including live theater, music and dance performances and special lectures and events.
• Fellowship social events where everyone can get to know one another.
• Spouses and partners are eligible to take some classes and attend many fellowship seminars. Fellows’ children attend excellent Palo Alto-area schools and are included in some fellowship social activities.
• Exposure to the incredible diversity of world views, experiences and cultural traditions that fellows from all over the world bring to the program.
• New friendships, professional connections and entrepreneurial skills that will continue beyond the 10 months fellows spend at Stanford.

You may also check:

• MIT Africa Empowering the Teachers Fellowship Programme 2020/2021 (Fully Funded to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA)
• Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) 2020 International Schools Essay Competition and Debate
• Government of Ireland (Masters & PhD) Postgraduate Scholarship Programme

Elements of a JSK application

• Application form
• 1-minute selfie video
• Three recommendation letters
• Three work samples
• Resume

Application form

Rather than lengthy, open-ended essays, we ask JSK Fellowship applicants to answer a series of questions that will help us learn about you and your reasons for seeking our fellowship.

Fellowship idea and professional goals

This section addresses the two primary dimensions of a JSK Fellowship: your idea for addressing an urgent problem in journalism and your goals for professional development and personal growth.

What idea to help journalism would you work on as a JSK Fellow? (up to 250 words)

Why is this idea important to you? (up to 250 words)

How would you use a JSK Fellowship to work on this idea? (up to 250 words)

By the end of your fellowship, what would you hope to have accomplished from your work on your idea? (up to 250 words)

What is one professional goal you would like to work on during a JSK Fellowship? (Tip: This goal should relate to your general professional development and should not focus on your fellowship idea.) (100 words)

Is there a second professional or personal goal you’d like to work on during a JSK Fellowship? (100 words)

What would you hope to learn from the other fellows in your group? (100 words)

What would you contribute to other fellows? (100 words)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY