Journalism scholarship for Virgina H.S. senior

The Intermarkets-Lucido Journalism Scholarship provides $5,000 to "an outstanding Virginia graduating high school senior who will be majoring in journalism and who promotes and understands the importance of non-biased journalism in the United States media."

The application is due April 30th.

-Mark Grabowski

Mini-internship opportunity for Fall '08

The Society for Professional Journalists is looking for 12 interns to cover its upcoming annual convention in Atlanta. The interns -- reporters, photographers and designers -- will "staff The Working Press, a daily tabloid newspaper that covers the SPJ National Convention." Professional journalists oversee the publication and provide editing and feedback. It's a great way for college students to quickly get lots of work samples.

This year's convention is set for Sept. 4-6 in Atlanta. Interns will need to arrive in Atlanta by noon Wednesday, Sept. 3, and the internship ends Sunday, Sept. 7. Accommodations, mentoring and other perks will be provided. The application deadline is April 19.


-Mark Grabowski

Arizona Daily Star intern coordinator offers advice

Leslie Anne Newell and I were fellow cub reporters at the Arizona Republic nine years ago. She's since reported around the country and is now assistant city editor at the Arizona Daily Star, a 110,000 circulation day paper in Tucson. She also directs the internship program there. Here's her advice to young journalists:

"Networking is incredibly important for young journalists. Companies are looking to cut every corner they can right now, which means not paying the fee to post on journalismjobs or other sites that also charge for the ad. With the state of the industry, companies also aren't hiring as often as they used to, which means fewer jobs for new grads. For both of those reasons, it's incredibly important for students/recent grads to get every foot in every door that they can. They're more likely to hear about positions. But on another hand networking isn't any more important than it ever was. I think managers have always relied on it to some degree. For example, I hire upward of 20 interns a year and I can't tell you how much more it increases a candidate's stock if someone I know sends me a good word about her/him. If a colleague comes back from a conference and gives me a folder on a good candidate, that goes to the top of the pile. If I see a professor at the UA whom I really respect is listed as a reference on a resumé, that also goes to the top. Young journalists cannot do too much right now to make sure they're putting themselves out there. And don't forget to tell them that means follow-up notes to every conversation they have with anyone who might help them."

-Mark Grabowski

N.J. Event: Covering tragedy

WHAT: "Knocking on Death's Door," a panel discussion on covering tragedy. Co-sponsored by Monmouth University and the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists.

WHO: Victims' families and journalists who often interview victims' families. Panelists include Rutgers journalism professor Ron Miskoff, Newark Star-Ledger reporter Susan Livio, Asbury Park Press reporter Ed Johnson, Phyllis Matthey-Johnson, Diane Gruskowski and Robin Turner.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Magill Commons, Rms. 107 & 108; Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, N.J.

For more info, contact Professor Mark Grabowski at mark@cubreporters.org

$1K awards for stories on women's health research

The Society for Women's Health Research is offering $1,000 awards for media coverage of women's health findings. Deadline is April 4, 2008.

-Mark Grabowski

Internship/job-finding tips

Graduation and summer are both fast approaching. If you're in college and reading this blog, that means you're likely either looking for an internship or first job.

The Society for News Design offers some straight-talkin' tips. They're obviously aimed at designers, but it's nonetheless relevant for all journalists. There's also a handy worksheet to keep track of where you applied.

$10K prize for journalism about Asia

The Asia Society is offering a $10,000 prize to a writer who has produced the best example of journalism about Asia in print or online during the calendar year. The deadline is March 14 to apply for the Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia. For more info on the "Oz Prize," click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Share your journalism job search experiences

I'm looking for quotes from young journalists.

I'm writing a column for the young journalists section of Quill on the importance of networking in the job search.

As with virtually every field, many journalism job openings don't seem to be advertised. I know of one editor, for example, who said she won't post jobs on popular websites because she doesn't want to have to sort through hundreds of resumes. So, the only way to find out about some jobs is through word-of-mouth: by attending conferences, keeping in touch with editors, getting heads-ups from friends at other media outlets when a co-worker leaves (and they'll probably fill the position), etc.

Do you have any comments, anecdotes or experiences to share relating to this? If so, please e-mail me ASAP at mark@cubreporters.org.

Thanks.

-Mark Grabowski

Another fellowship in investigative journalism

The Center for Public Integrity and American University, both in D.C., are offering an investigative journalism fellowship. Fellows enroll as full-time students at the School of Communication, earning a master's degree in journalism, while pursuing investigative projects at the Center for 12 to 20 hours each week. The fellowship provides a full tuition scholarship plus a stipend of $24,000. Candidates must have at least four full years of professional experience. Applications are due by March 15, 2008. The fellowship starts in August 2008. Download an application by clicking here.

-Mark Grabowski

Paid blogging gigs

Fortune recently had an article on "Firms that actually pay bloggers (a bit)."

To find paid blogging gigs, I recommend checking out Craigslist (click on your location, and then "writing"), SunOasis and freelancewritinggigs.com.

Free NYU event: Covering the election

Covering the Election, 2008

In this, the most exciting election year ever, who was ignored, who got hammered, who will go all the way? And, no matter what happens, why is it always the media's fault?

WHEN: Thursday, March 13, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

WHERE: New York University, Abbe Bogen Faculty Lounge, 11th Floor, Kaufman Management Center, 44 West 4th Street (at Greene St.)

WHO:

• Jonathan Capehart, Editorial Writer/Editorial Board, The Washington Post
• Margaret Carlson, Columnist, Bloomberg News; Author, "Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made It to the White House"; former Deputy Bureau Chief, Time
• Bill Cunningham, Managing Director, Dan Klores Communications; former Communications Director, Michael Bloomberg for Mayor campaign
• John Heilemann, Contributing Editor, New York Magazine
• Joe Trippi, former Presidential Campaign Manager for Howard Dean 2004; Senior Advisor for John Edwards 2008; author, The Revolution Will Not be Televised
• Moderator: Charles Kaiser, author; and press critic, Radaronline.com

RSVP: visit www.cencom.org; e-mail info@cencom.org; or call (212) 686-5005.

Investigative journalism fellowship

U.C. Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program is accepting applications for three year-long fellowships. The training program aims to "develop a new generation of investigative reporters," so young journalists should consider applying.

It pays $45,000 and includes health insurance, office space, business expenses and travel funds.

"The graduate program in investigative reporting in the coming year will focus on corporate corruption, particularly the way some U.S. companies operate overseas," according to the announcement. "Entries for the 2008-2009 fellowships are urged to present detailed areas of inquiry within this broad subject area. Proposals could include print and broadcast components as well as multimedia projects for the Internet. Their findings will be published or broadcast for general circulation. Fellows will report on stories that serve the public interest and have been traditionally under-reported by traditional news organizations. "

For more info, click here. The deadline is April 1.

-Mark Grabowski

Free N.J. Event: Reporter offers advice to college journos

Alex Biese, an award-winning young reporter at the Asbury Park Press, will speak at Monmouth University in Northern Jersey on March 24.

Biese, a 24-year-old MU alumnus, will discuss life as a professional journalist, offer advice to college journalists, and provide tips on landing an internship or first job. A Q&A will follow.

The discussion begins at 2:30 p.m. in Room 135 of MU's Plangere Center, in West Long Branch, N.J. Click here for directions. For more info, contact Professor Mark Grabowski at mark(at)cubreporters(dot)org.

Orlando Sentinel hiring editor offers advice

I asked the Orlando Sentinel's staff development editor if he had any advice for young journalists. Dana Eagles suggests that college journalists create their own opportunities by offering to intern somewhere for college credit:

"It might be worth noting that some newspapers and magazines will allow students to intern part time for academic credit for a semester at a time. This can be an excellent way for younger students to gain some experience even if they don't qualify for a full-time, paid summer internship. For example, every semester we have four or five University of Central Florida students working for us part-time as interns in reporting, editing, photography and online producing. These arrangements might not be formalized in every case. The student might need to take the initiative to invent an opportunity, armed with information about what sort of credit his school is willing to give and how many hours of work are required to get it."

Eagles has also written a must-read article, "How to get a newspaper internship," that outlines how to go about finding and applying for journalism internships.

For more info on both paid and academic internships at the Orlando Sentinel, click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Find UK journalism jobs

Here's a website that lists journalism jobs in the UK.

Mark Grabowski

Scholarships to D.C. summer journalism program

The Institute of Political Journalism is still accepting applications for its eight-week program in D.C. -- and has scholarships available, as well.

Basically, IPJ hooks you up with a first rate full-time journalism internship (e.g. USA Today, CNN, White House press secretary's office, etc.). You also take two night classes (worth six credits) at Georgetown University. And housing is provided.

For more info, visit:
http://dcinternships.org/ipj/about/index.asp

The program costs a few thousands dollars, but, as I said, scholarships are available.

I did this same program when I was in college, and it was a lot of fun. More importantly, it really helped my career.

-Mark Grabowski

Scholarship to study journalism in Prague

A $2,000 scholarship is available for college students who plan to enroll in at least two journalism courses at NYU in Prague. Here's the kicker: All students except NYU students are eligible.

Mark Grabowski