2013 Donald Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellowships
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute opens its gates for proposals from people who have innovative ideas to improve the practice or understanding of journalism for the 2013/2014 class of Reynolds fellowships.
To help turn ideas into useful new tools, strategies, products or services, the RJI offers an annual fellowship program that gives individuals an opportunity to help nurture and grow innovative ideas — to build their expertise and the public’s knowledge in these areas.
Worth of Awards
For the RJI residential Fellow, Fellows will receive a $10,000 monthly stipend, plus a one-time $10,000 housing allowance.
For the RJI Non-residential Fellow, Fellows receive a $20,000 stipend for the year, plus research and travel support.
RJI is housed at the Missouri School of Journalism, providing all the resources of a major research university. In addition, Fellows will have access to RJI’s Futures Lab and Microsoft Application Development Lab, staffed with professionals in media and emerging technologies, and to rigorous and robust research resources. Each residential Fellow receives office space and a laptop computer, along with staff support including marketing, communications, event planning and video production. Non-residential Fellows receive all of the above except an exclusive office and laptop.
Eligibility
They are particularly interested this year in ideas on how to connect citizens with news and advertising more efficiently, to grow revenues, to engage communities or to ensure that the industry is taking full advantage of new and emerging technologies. However, proposals that offer the hope of strengthening the journalism-democracy relationship are also welcome.
Applications are welcome from individuals, inside and outside the media industries, who want to spend the next school year working with the organisation in developing new knowledge and new possibilities to enhance journalism practice. Between four and seven fellows are selected each year.
Applicants should also consider the opportunity to devote eight months to intense thinking, research and experimentation with a goal of advancing the practice of journalism in important ways.
Specifications
The awards are of two options:
1. RJI residential Fellow — Designed for persons, inside and outside media industries, who want to pursue solutions to journalism challenges or who have an idea that would explore new opportunities. Residential fellows spend eight months on the Missouri campus, taking advantage of the intellectual and technological resources of RJI and the University and interacting with Missouri faculty and students. Some examples include: Access to programmers and app developers, financial support to conduct market research, and hiring students to produce multi-media content.
Solutions, in the form of strategies, products or services, developed from these ideas would be shared with many news and news-related organizations. You must reside in Columbia for the duration of this fellowship.
It is open to anyone over the age of 18 and runs for eight months (two academic semesters)
Starting September 1, 2013.
2. RJI Non-residential Fellow — Designed for employees of a news, technology or related company who have ideas they can develop while continuing in their jobs. You must have permission from your company to join us. Your idea should also provide a direct benefit to your company and have a clear path to implementation. In addition, successful ideas, products or strategies should serve as a model for the industry. You do not need to live in Columbia, Mo., but will need to make occasional visits to consult with RJI leadership and staff.
This is open to anyone currently working for a media, technology or related company and runs for eight months (two academic semesters) starting September 1, 2013.
How to Apply
In a Word document, answer the four questions below and give some contact and other personal information. Your proposal will be judged by its potential for broad impact on the understanding and practice of journalism. Each answer for the four questions should not be more than 250 words. The questions are:
Are you interested in a residential or non-residential fellowship?
Describe the idea you would like to pursue.
Outline some of the key issues you would need to tackle to bring your idea to fruition.
Tell us what a successful outcome of your fellowship would be.
In addition, please include the following information at the top of your document:
Name, Address, Phone, Email, Education, Employer and/or related work experience.
Send the document with a short cover e-mail to Roger Gafke, RJI’s selection committee chairman, at [email protected]
Deadline: Considerations of applications for both categories will begin February 15, 2013
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