Deadline: 31 January 2012
Open to: Non-US journalists with at least 5-year work experience
Fellowship: Lodging costs, round trip, daily per diem for food
Description
The WPI fellowship is offered to 10 journalists from countries around the world. It provides immersion into the governance, politics, business, media, journalistic ethics and culture of the United States for experienced international journalists, through a demanding schedule of study, travel and interviews throughout the country.
The 2011 program will begin in mid August and end in mid-October. The fellows will spend a month in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and then travel to several U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., for briefings, interviews and visits. They will returned to Minnesota for the final week of the program.
Journalism — in particular, the role and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy— is the primary focus of the WPI fellowship program. First-hand knowledge of the complexity and diversity of life in the U.S. is an equally important goal. Access is the key. Over the term of the fellowship, WPI fellows gain access to a broad range of individuals and institutions ranging from the world renowned to the ordinary.
Since 1961, over 500 journalists from 100 countries have benefited from the WPI experience.
Selection is a competitive process. Each year hundreds of journalists apply to the program. Fellows are picked by the WPI selection committee, composed of journalists and corporate communications specialists, all with international experience. Candidates are not considered if their application package is late or incomplete.
Fellowship
WPI pays all program costs, including transportation to the U.S. and back, all transportation within the U.S. related to the WPI program, and all lodging costs. In addition, a modest daily per diem for food is provided. Personal expenses, such as cameras, film, postage and clothing, are the responsibility of the fellows.
Eligibility
- At least five (5) years full-time employment in print, broadcast, or online journalism.
- 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.
- Those who supervise journalists are eligible providing that they also have at least five years as a working journalist.
- 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.
- Must be currently employed as a non U.S. journalist working outside of the United States.
- Fluency in both written and spoken English.
- Potential for leadership
Terms and Conditions of the Fellowship
WPI fellows are required to prepare for and participate in all briefings and all other scheduled WPI events. They must agree to stay for the entire program and to return to their home countries at the program’s conclusion.
WPI requires that fellows write for the WPI Web site, including the blog, WPI Reports, and submit up to three stories for WPI’s online partners during their fellowship. They are also encouraged to file for their readers, listeners or viewers back home.
During the online application process, you will need to provide the names and email addresses of three (3) references.
These letters should be in English and address your experience, qualifications, and potential.
One of the three recommendations should be from your immediate supervisor.
Work Samples
Please make sure that all samples contain the date on which they were published. Most, if not all, of your samples should have been published or aired within the last two years.
If your samples are not in English, please include an English summary of their contents
Work samples can be uploaded with the online application. Files with the following extensions are accepted: .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .doc. For photos or other artwork, .jpg/.jpeg, .gif, or .pdf files are accepted.
DVDs, audio/video files, or samples that exist only on paper and that cannot be converted to digital form can be sent to the address below. Please note that samples cannot be returned.
Application
Selection is a competitive process. Each year hundreds of journalists apply to the program. Fellows are picked by the WPI selection committee, composed of journalists and corporate communications specialists, all with international experience. Finalists for the fellowship will announced in early April.
During this online application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- Applicant information
- Employment history and education
- Two essays
- Color photo of yourself
- Work samples
- Awards, fellowships, and certificates
- Three letters of recommendation
Before applying, please review the eligibility requirements, terms of the fellowship, and the guidelines for work samples and recommendations.
All required information, including work samples and letters of recommendation, must be received by the World Press Institute by January 31, 2012, in order for your application to be considered.
