By Kira Zalan, JAWS Board Member
The Journalism and Women Symposium raises money each year to support our Emerging Journalist Fellowship program, which brings 10 women starting careers in journalism to the annual JAWS Conference and Mentoring Project (CAMP). (See last year’s fellowship winners.) At CAMP, they meet industry leaders, trailblazers, and have the opportunity to learn new skills and share their own. This year’s JAWS CAMP is in Palm Springs, California, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2014.
WHAT IS CAMP?
The annual JAWS CAMP focuses on strengthening core journalism skills, building personal brands and careers, developing strategies for success in our evolving media landscape, improving gender parity in newsrooms, empowering women in leadership and management, and encouraging a more accurate portrayal of the whole society. Participants enjoy a dynamic experience filled with inspiring speakers, motivating career development sessions, and rewarding networking and mentoring opportunities. It’s an experience that has helped launch countless careers, and it’s also ignited lifelong friendships.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Emerging Journalist Fellowships are open to professionals in the early stages of their careers. We are looking for journalists with at least one but no more than five years of professional journalism experience. Winners are selected based on a combination of merit, financial need, and their potential contribution to JAWS as an organization that supports diversity across race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, media platform, beat and location. Fellowships cover CAMP registration and travel expenses. In return, fellows will be asked to blog the weekend’s events for the JAWS website and to help JAWS spread the word about our crowdfunding fellowship fundraising campaign. Fellows also receive a complimentary one-year JAWS membership. Please note: the JAWS Emerging Journalist Fellowship is not currently open to undergraduate students. Graduate students may apply. We encourage undergraduates to become involved by joining JAWS at the student rate and attending other JAWS events and regional gatherings.
Application
To apply, please send the following, attached in ONE email, to . Include your first and last name in the subject line.
- A one-page résumé
- Two samples of your professional, published work in journalism. If print or online, please include both stories in a single PDF file, with links to the originals. If audio or video, please provide live web links to your work.
- Personal Statement (no more than 500 words) – Why is an organization like JAWS important to you? What will you contribute to the group? Would you be able to attend CAMP without financial assistance from JAWS?
- One letter of recommendation from a current or previous editor, producer or supervisor in journalism. We would prefer to receive the recommendation letter attached with the rest of your application. However, if your recommender would rather email the letter directly to the fellowship committee, please ask him/her to include your first and last name in the subject line.
Deadline to submit résumé, work samples and professional statement is June 1. JAWS can accept recommendation letters until June 6, although all documents submitted in one email is preferred by June 1.
If you have any questions about the fellowship or the application process, please contact Kira Zalan at .