IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2021 for Journalists

Deadline: 25 February 2021
Open to: women journalists from any country around the world whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues
Benefits: monthly stipend

Description

Applications are open for the IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2021. The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship gives academic and professional opportunities to women journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting.

Since 2005, the IWMF has selected one Neuffer Fellow each year to complete a seven-month Fellowship focused on human rights and social justice issues. The Fellowship was created in memory of The Boston Globe correspondent and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award (1998) winner Elizabeth Neuffer, who died while reporting in Iraq on May 9, 2003.

Those selected for the Fellowship spend a fall semester at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and The Boston Globe. During their time in Cambridge, Neuffer Fellows audit a variety of classes, attend seminars and events, pursue independent research and gain newsroom experience.

Neuffer Fellows are also able to audit classes at other local universities including Harvard. After the fall semester, those selected for the Fellowship spend two months in New York City interning for the The New York Times. With the knowledge they gain from these academic and professional opportunities, fellows return to work as journalists in their home countries where they advance Elizabeth Neuffer’s work in the fields of human rights and social justice.

Eligibility

  • Open to women and non-binary journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues.
  • All applicants for the Neuffer Fellowship must be working journalists with at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience. Internships and journalism-related work completed as a university student do not count as professional experience. Applicants may be affiliated or freelance journalists.
  • Journalists from any country around the world are eligible to apply. However, applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently in order to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship.

Benefits

  • Neuffer Fellows receive a fixed monthly stipend to cover their living costs. The IWMF also arranges and covers the cost of housing in Cambridge and New York City for the fellow.
  • The IWMF purchases round-trip economy airfare from the fellow’s place of residence to Washington, D.C., as well as transportation between the Fellowship cities.
  • The fellow receives health insurance during the program.
  • The Fellowship does not include a salary.
  • For fellows residing outside of the United States, the Fellowship also covers the costs of applying for and obtaining a U.S. visa. The fellow is fully responsible for any additional incidental expenses and other costs.

Note: Due to COVID-19, the 2021-2022 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship may take place in-person or virtually. The IWMF and its partners reserve the right to determine the format of the Fellowship prior to the Fellowship start date.

How to apply?

A complete application will include the following information:

  • Biography
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Statement of interest
  • Fellowship goals
  • Two work samples covering human rights or social justice issues (links preferred)
    • If work samples are not in English, applicants must upload their own translations along with a professional translator’s assessment of their accuracy. Alternatively, applicants may have their work samples translated professionally.
  • Two letters of recommendation (in English)

For more information, please see FAQs and visit the official website..