Newsletter

Last Official Newsletter of 2023 🎉

Daniel says thank you for the past 12 months, and see you in 2024!

Last Official Newsletter of 2023 🎉

Hello folks and welcome to the last official newsletter of 2023! It’s been another eventful year, full of twists and turns, ups and downs. Overall it’s been fantastically positive — I’m on the cusp of moving to Spain to be with my beautiful partner and embark on a dream adventure, and have been absolutely blessed by my incredible friends and family who evoke so much experience and wisdom. Every so often, life places turbulent obstacles in the way, but it’s about becoming more resilient to solve these problems when they arise, so the good moments feel even better when they arrive.

In today’s final Journalism Awards, Events, Fellowships and Trainings Calendar of the year, we have a slight slowdown in the number of listings, which is completely normal for this time of the year. For the rest of December, I’ll be stockpiling new postings as they’re announced, so do look out for what I think will be a record-sized calendar update in early-January.

Until then, we do have a handful of new awards, events and fellowships for your perusal, most notably the James B. Steele Fellow in Investigative Business Journalism at Arizona State University, and the California Health Equity Fellowship at the University of Southern California.

And there’s also a last chance to apply to the USA Today 2024 Election Reporting Fellowship Program. I caught up with its managing editor, Madalyn Hoerr, to find out what the program entails, and exactly what type of applicants she’s looking for…

Thank you so much for all of your support this year, it’s a complete and utter fucking priveledge to serve you all each and every week. Long may it continue. 🥂

Have an amazing holiday season and I'll see you all again in January! 🙏💗

🚨 LAST CHANCE TO APPLY

Daniel: Hi Madalyn, thanks for having a quick chat with us. Start by telling us about your Election Fellowship Program, and which roles you’re still looking for journalists to fill? 

Madalyn Hoerr: The USA TODAY Network’s election reporting fellowship program is an exciting initiative that expands the coverage of the country’s largest news publisher at a critical time as we serve audiences with local, regional, and national election content.  

The fellows will have an opportunity to cover elections from key local races to the presidential race. The priority for these fellows will be providing statehouse and local election coverage that empowers voters to make informed decisions at the polls based on how people and policy may impact their lives. 

They will have the benefit of working independently in their states, but also have many opportunities to contribute to regional and national projects for USA TODAY. 

We are looking to fill election reporting roles in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. 

What are some specific traits you look for in the reporters you hire? 

We are looking for reporters who are infinitely curious, driven by breaking news and getting scoops, champions for truth, and team players — but ultimately, we need journalists who ensure their reporting reflects the diversity of the community for which they report, be it geographical or topical communities. They must keep what readers need at the front of everything they pursue.  

The fellowships are for approximately one year — are there opportunities for fellows to be kept on in permanent roles? 

At Gannett, we pride ourselves in having a strong recruiting pipeline and career development within our own network of news organizations, so standout fellows could expect to be top of mind for any openings they were qualified for at the conclusion of the fellowships. While we can’t guarantee anything, I can personally say that every day I interact with journalists who have advanced at Gannett for decades — and I am going on 12 years after starting in a part-time position. 

As it pertains to the general election itself, what are the most important issues to readers and voters, as we sit less than 365 days out from the 2024 U.S. General Election? And how do they compare with the central issues from four years ago? 

A year out, we are seeing a lot of attention on inflation and government spending, abortion legislation and foreign relations with Israel and Ukraine. But at this point four years ago, we didn’t know the COVID-19 pandemic was going to uproot everything that was normal and important in our daily lives. We know that what keeps people up at night will ebb and flow throughout the next year, and we're constructing our coverage teams in a nimble way to ensure we're accurately reflecting the mood of the voters.  

And lastly, journalism as a whole has been on a rollercoaster over the past couple of cycles, for a plethora of reasons. What lessons will you take forward from previous elections and how do you prepare your journalists for what’s to come? 

The lesson that resonates with me most is that voters want to feel seen and heard and get information quickly in a way that fits into their lives. It is our responsibility to create journalism — be it voter guides, explainer stories, social videos, newsletters, or in-depth reporting — that helps people understand what’s at stake in their own lives and why they should care. News organizations need to feel authentic and accessible — and be in the places readers are already spending their time — to break through news fatigue and misinformation. 

Our fellowship program will include an extensive training series on election basics, writing best practices, search optimization, social and vertical video storytelling and more. We empower all reporters in the USA Today Network with ongoing training to help improve their skills to meet audience needs and be prepared when the unpredictable happens. 

🚨 Premium Postings 🚨

🆕 James B. Steele Fellow in Investigative Business Journalism

This fellowship was created for the 2024-25 academic year to nurture a new generation of business journalists and provide them with the sophisticated investigative skills and business savvy they need to protect and inform their readers. The fellowship targets early-career journalists who are looking to jump-start their career as business journalists and is open to applications from the U.S. and abroad.

  • Type: Fellowship
  • Stipend: Biweekly
  • By: Reynolds Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University
  • Where: Tempe, AZ
  • When: Fall 2024 - Summer 2025
  • Deadline: January 1, 2023

🆕 California Health Equity Fellowship

This fellowship starts with training week in Los Angeles and will provide interactive workshops and inspiring discussions by health policy experts, community health practitioners and leading journalists to help reporters understand how social, educational, economic and racial inequities — and access to health care — influence health and life outcomes. Fellows also are eligible to apply for five months of professional mentorship in engaged journalism and grants to support those creative efforts.

🗓️ Awards, Events and Fellowships Calendar 🗓️

đź’µ Fellowships đź’µ

🆕 McClatchy Data Fellow

McClatchy seeks recent graduates who are excited to use programmatic skills to help acquire, analyze and visually represent data as part of a team of investigative data reporters. They’re seeking self-starters who are excited to tackle new challenges and build new skills throughout their time with us.

  • Type: Fellowship
  • Salary: $850 per week
  • By: McClatchy
  • Where: Remote, U.S.
  • Rolling Deadline

Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists

This fund was designed to help women journalists by providing grantees support to: Expose under-reported but critical global issues; Undertake ambitious projects that challenge traditional media narratives; Develop field-based expertise and strengthen careers; Pursue training and leadership opportunities; Launch entrepreneurial news projects or acquire the skill to do so.

First Jobs Fund and Financial Assistance

Starting a new job in journalism can be expensive and challenging, especially if you’re burdened with debt from your studies. The Journalists’ Charity’s First Jobs Fund is designed to offer support as you start your career, helping you focus on what matters – being a great journalist during these challenging times. The cost-of-living crisis also means lots of journalists are struggling to get by, especially when the industry is still recovering from the challenges of the pandemic. If you’re finding it difficult to cope, they’re here to help with information, practical support, and financial assistance.

CatchLight Global Fellowship

The CatchLight Global Fellowship addresses a pressing need in the visual storytelling industry by supporting innovative leaders. CatchLight seeks visionary candidates eager to lead creatively, leveraging visual communication's power for social impact.

Journalist Bursary Programme

This opportunity offers two aspiring journalists funding for the NCTJ course with News Associates in London, as well as a contribution towards living expenses. The programme aims to provide a pathway for emerging voices in sports journalism.

Michael Jacobs Travel Chronicle Scholarship 2024

The scholarship, which reaches its tenth edition with the purpose of encouraging travel writing, will award $10,000 for a travel book or article project about Latin America or Spain, to be published in Spanish or English.

Health Innovation Journalism Fellowship

This fellowship is aimed at supporting in-depth, high-quality reporting on health innovation topics through professional fellowships. Throughout the duration of the fellowship, selected fellows will strengthen their skills to report on the latest developments in health and medicine.

Kim Wall Memorial Fund 2024

This grant will fund women or non-binary reporters covering subculture, broadly defined, and what Kim liked to call “the undercurrents of rebellion.” Kim wanted more women to be out in the world, brushing up against life, and the Kim Wall Memorial Fund honors this legacy.

Future Perfect Fellowship

Inspired in part by the philosophy of effective altruism — but not beholden to it or any other movement — Future Perfect strives to shine a light on neglected stories that have, or will have, a profound impact on the lives of billions of humans and animals. Vox is hiring three fellows to help ensure Future Perfect is telling the most important stories to its audience and approaching those stories with nuance and discernment.

FASPE Journalism Program

FASPE is an intensive, two-week study program in professional ethics and ethical leadership. The program begins by examining the actions and choices of German and international journalists in covering and supporting Nazi policies, and then draws on this historical example to help fellows grasp their role and responsibility as individuals with influence in their communities and to lead them to identify and confront the ethical issues currently facing journalists and media institutions at large.

IRE/NICAR Fellowships

The Investigative Reporters and Editors have a slew of fellowships and scholarships to various workshops and conferences, including their Data Journalism Bootcamp, and annual IRE and NICAR conferences.

A Writing Chance Grant

A Writing Chance is looking for 16 new fiction and non-fiction writers and journalists to be part of A Writing Chance 2024-25. The scheme aims to open access to the writing industries for new and aspiring writers from working-class and lower-income backgrounds and for those who face barriers due to intersecting challenges.

Global Health Reporting Fellowships

Pulitzer Center health-related journalism focuses on global health inequities, system failures, food security, and more. Applicants should consider enterprising and underreported stories about U.S. and global health system failures. They’re interested in a wide range of topics, such as chronic illnesses, outbreaks and epidemics, reproductive health, and public health systems.

Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program

The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT supports a global community of dedicated and thoughtful journalists specializing in science, health, technology and environmental reporting. They are looking for 10 fellows.

🆕 Global Journalist Fellowship

This Fellowship provides support to international journalists of all identities and backgrounds who enroll in a graduate program in journalism at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.

🧠 Events and Training 🧠

Virtual Newsroom Visit to Alharaca, El Salvador

IPI’s Local News & Innovation Network is hosting a virtual newsroom visit to Alharaca, an independent El Salvador-based publication that works collaboratively at the intersection of journalism, art, academia, and new technologies. The newsroom visit is your chance to learn from their model as Alharaca’s team will provide valuable insights into their operations within a media landscape where independent journalists face increasing pressure.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: International Press Institute
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 12, 2023
  • Cost: Free
  • Registration

Artificial Intelligence in Journalism

This event is for journalists and journalism trainers who are keen to take advantage of the opportunities provided by generative AI but are also mindful about the implications to trusted journalism and quality standards.

  • Type: Event
  • By: National Council for the Training of Journalists
  • Where: London
  • When: December 12, 2023
  • Cost: Free
  • Registration

Managing Investigators: Protecting Your Team From Threats

Join IRE’s inaugural “Managing Investigators” lunch-and-learn webinar for a Q&A with McCurtain Gazette journalists, moderated by Kat Stafford. This management webinar series will continue in the spring and is free and open to any IRE member – especially those currently or aspiring to lead investigators.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: Investigative Reporters and Editors
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 12, 2023
  • Registration

How News Media Advertising Teams Can Tackle the Sustainability Agenda

What sustainability means for the news media business is the focus of this webinar. The sustainability agenda is rapidly evolving across the globe, requiring news media businesses to think about an increasingly broad range of expectations from customers, suppliers, regulators, and shareholders — from net zero to nature, geophysical risk to greenwashing.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: International News Media Association
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 13, 2023
  • Cost: Free
  • Registration

Beginner's Guide: Custom GPTs for Local News

This is a beginner’s guide to creating custom GPTs for local news publishers. It covers the following topics: What is a custom GPT and how is it different from ChatGPT?; How to set up and configure a custom GPT; Best practices and recommendations for setting up your custom GPT; Assistants API and automation; Additional resources and readings.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: Center for Cooperative Media
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 13, 2023
  • Cost: $0-$15
  • Registration

The Lowdown on Taxes for Freelance Journalists

A conversation with Matt Apodaca, a managing partner in NorthPoint Tax, Wealth & Business Advisory. Matt is known for his mastery of advanced tax preparation and planning for individuals, small businesses and ex-patriates. He’ll talk about U.S. income tax planning and preparation for freelance journalists in all media, focusing on deductions and income exclusions to maximize net income while minimizing taxes.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: Society of Professional Journalists
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 13, 2023
  • Registration

Video Monetization Opportunities for Journalism on YouTube

Join for an insightful webinar on navigating the landscape of Video Monetization Opportunities for Journalism on YouTube. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the world of video monetization for journalism and learn from a seasoned expert.

  • Type: Training
  • By: International News Media Association
  • Where: Online
  • When: December 28, 2023
  • Cost: Free
  • Registration

News Journalism Workshop

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking of a career change, this practical session is suitable for those looking to get into news, sport, online or broadcast journalism. At the news journalism workshops its editors will get you tackling a breaking news exercise and they’ll provide individual feedback on your stories.

  • Type: Webinar
  • By: News Associates
  • Where: Online
  • When: January 4, 2024
  • Cost: Free
  • Registration

Data Journalism Bootcamp - Google Sheets + SQL

Attend this in-person bootcamp at the University of Missouri to learn everything you need to know about Google Sheets and SQL to enhance your data journalism.

  • Type: Training
  • By: Investigative Reporters and Editors
  • Where: Columbia, MO
  • When: January 8-12, 2024
  • Cost: $500-$1,250
  • Registration

Radio Boot Camp

Sally Herships will introduce you to the basic principles and craft of reporting for the ear. Learn how to write with and for tape, how to use your voice as a tool and about the importance of the host intro, audio interviewing essentials and the basics of editing audio tape using Hindenburg.

  • Type: Workshop
  • By: The Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • Where: London
  • When: January 13-14, 2024
  • Cost: $325
  • Registration

🏆 Awards 🏆

Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting

This annual award honors investigative reporting that best promotes more effective and ethical conduct of government, the making of public policy, or the practice of politics. While the subject can address issues of foreign policy, a submission qualifies only if it has an impact on public policy in the United States at the national, regional or local level.

  • Type: Awards
  • Prize: $25,000 (winner), $10,000 (five finalists)
  • By: Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy
  • Deadline: January 10, 2024

🆕 2024 World Press Photo Contest

The annual World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year, selected by an international independent jury.

🆕 Solutions Journalism Network Awards

The Solutions Journalism Network’s awards program recognizes, amplifies and celebrates the best of solutions journalism. The five award categories are: General Excellence in Solutions Journalism; The Best of Solutions Journalism in Words; The Best of Solutions Journalism in Broadcast; The Best of Solutions Journalism in Audio; The Best of Student Solutions Journalism.

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