$50,000 journalism scholarship for high school seniors

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Awards "recognize outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated an interest in journalism and an abundance of free spirit." One female and one male high school senior are selected from each state and the District of Columbia to receive a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to attend a journalism conference in D.C. Of these students, two will be selected to receive $50,000 college scholarships. The deadline is October 15.

-Mark Grabowski

Aviation journalism scholarship

The National Business Aviation Association will award a $1,000 scholarship to a student who is either enrolled or accepted to an accredited college or university and plans a career in journalism, preferably with an aviation focus.

The application deadline is August 15.

New international journalism fellowship

The International Center for Journalists and the Media Development Loan Fund are partnering to offer a new international journalism fellowship -- the Knight-MDLF International Journalism Fellowship Program.

The program targets countries with emerging democracies. Fellows must speak the language of the target country. They must have at least 10 years’ news experience, the ability to plan a specific, detailed training project and the time to spend a year making it work.

MDLF will accept detailed proposals from clients by April 30 each year. MDLF and ICFJ will review the proposals to select those that meet the criteria. MDLF and ICFJ will announce the winners by July 31 of each year.

-Mark Grabowski

Columbia's career services dean offers job search advice

Don’t wait for editors to invite you to interview for a job opening, advises Ernest Sotomayor, assistant dean of career services at Columbia University’s journalism school.

Instead, invite yourself.

“If you travel across the state or country and take the initiative [to contact editors] and say you’re just looking to get a half hour of guidance or want to explore possibilities, they’re usually willing to sit down and talk with you,” he says.

Indeed, The Hill reporter J.T. Rushing took that approach and landed his dream job covering the U.S. Senate.

I recently interviewed Rushing, Sotomayor and others for an advice column I wrote on finding a journalism job in last month’s issue of Quill. Below is some additional advice Sotomayor offered that didn’t make it into my column.

• Get to know the people who hire at media outlets you’re interested in, and see if you can get your foot in the door by freelancing for them, he says. “A lot of it is getting to know recruiters, hiring editors – people in the organization that you can turn to for advice and counsel on what sort of jobs are available … what their needs are, how to freelance [for them].”

• “Look back to school,” he also recommends. “Alumni connections are always great… Journalism professors have worked all over the world, and they know people everywhere. A lot of people like to get recommendations from professors who can give them extra insight into a job candidate.”

• Finally, be open-minded. “It’s like being a reporter in the field writing a story. You spread your wings and look at different possibilities and keep your options open … How willing you are to get up and move from where you are is a factor. The smaller the size of the geographic territory for your job search is, the few possibilities there are … Just be open to a lot of different possibilities. The more things you’re willing to consider, the more opportunities you make available to yourself.”

-Mark Grabowski

Entry-level copy editor job at York Daily Record

The York (Pa.) Daily Record is seeking a copy editor, according to Kutztown U.'s Professional Writing blog. Recent grads are invited to apply.

Contact Janeen Jones, news editor of York Daily Record/Sunday News, at (717) 771-2036 or jjones@ydr.com.

-Professor Grabowski

3-week arts journalism fellowship

The USC Annenberg School for Communication and The Getty Foundation are offering a three-week arts journalism fellowship in November 2008. Six to seven arts journalists will be selected.

“Based in Los Angeles, the fellowship is a total immersion experience that includes attending as many as 23 performances, art exhibitions and architectural sites,” the announcement states. “Participants will visit private studios, rehearsal rooms, architectural firms and art schools providing many behind-the-scene opportunities to meet renowned artists, arts administrators and accomplished journalists face-to-face.”

The international program, now in its 7^th year, is available for mid-career arts editors, critics and reporters from print, radio, television and online who cover the performing and visual arts, architecture, literature, entertainment and pop culture. They can be generalists or specialists. Staff writers, editors and freelancers and self-employed Web journalists alike are welcome to apply.

The program covers most expenses, including: roundtrip travel to and from Los Angeles, hotel, most meals, reading materials, Internet access in your hotel room and transportation within Los Angeles.The application must be postmarked by June 16.

Visual journalism scholarships

The Society for News Design is offering a $2,000 scholarship to sophomores, juniors and seniors at any accredited four-year school worldwide who are interested in a career in visual journalism. Deadline: June 13.

Additionally, a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a junior or senior at Syracuse University. For more info about that, click here and scroll down.

-Mark Grabowski

L.A. event: Future journalism jobs

The Los Angeles Press Club this Thursday will host a panel on spotting the journalism jobs of the future -- online, radio, TV, trade magazine and even newspapers.

Panelists include Nick Roman, managing editor of 89.3 KPCC News/NPR; Seth Lubove, Los Angeles bureau chief for Bloomberg News; and Susan Denley, director of Editorial Hiring and Development, Los Angeles Times. The panel will be moderated by Ezra Palmer, former managing editor at Yahoo! News and a founding editor of WSJ.com.

The event is free to members and students, $10 for non-members with prepaid RSVP and $15 at the door. Refreshments included. For more info, contact rsvp@lapressclub.org or (323) 669-8081.

-Mark Grabowski

Journalism fellowship to study 2008 Presidential Election

The East-West Center is offering a special Jefferson Fellowships program to provide journalists from Asia, the Pacific and the U.S. with “an opportunity to explore the important issues in this 2008 election, learn about the U.S. political process, observe this historic election and finally, discuss the outcome with U.S. analysts and one another.”

After one week of discussion sessions with regional experts and one another at the East-West Center in Honolulu, participants will travel to various areas of the United States to discuss election issues and attitudes with policymakers, business leaders, community activists and voters from a range of important constituencies such as recent immigrants, retirees, blue collar workers, factory owners, religious groups, African American communities, young people and women. Stops include Phoenix, Arizona; Erie, Pennsylvania; Cleveland, Ohio; and Washington, D.C.

The fellowship is open to working print, broadcast or online journalists from Asia Pacific and the United States. The deadline is June 4.

-Mark Grabowski

Hong Kong Journalism Fellowships

The East-West Center is now accepting applications for the Hong Kong Journalism Fellowships, scheduled for September 11 – 27, 2008.

These fellowships are designed to help American journalists better understand the diverse and complex political, economic, social and cultural issues of mainland China and Hong Kong through meetings with government, business, journalists, educators, students and others. Travel stops include the East-West Center in Honolulu, followed by a study tour to Beijing, Kunming, Shangri-La, and Lijiang on mainland China and Hong Kong.

The fellowship is open to U.S. journalists with at least five years of professional working experience in print, broadcast or online media.

-Mark Grabowski

Journalism scholarships in Texas

• Bess Whitehead Scott Journalism Scholarship: Grants $1,500 annually to a junior or senior college student pursuing a degree in journalism or a related field. Applicants must be currently enrolled at one of the following universities: Baylor University; Sam Houston State University; Texas A & M University; Texas State University; University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; or University of North Texas. Deadline: February 1. Click here for info.

• NETPA Scholarships: The North and East Texas Press Association will award two $1,500 journalism scholarships this spring to "college-bound graduating high school seniors and actively enrolled college students from the NETPA region pursuing an education in print journalism." Applications must be postmarked by March 7. Applications can be downloaded from the NETPA website. Mail completed applications to Randy Keck, The Community New, Box 1031, Aledo, TX 76008.

• Mark Holtz Memorial Sports Broadcast Journalism Scholarship: High school seniors living with a 75-mile radius of Dallas and intending to pursue a career in TV or radio sports journalism are eligible for this $2,000 scholarship sponsored by the Dallas Mavericks. Winner is recognized on court during halftime of a Mavericks game. Deadline: February.

• Bob Craig Memorial Scholarships: $2,000 scholarship available for both high school seniors and college students who are interested in journalism careers and live in areas served by West Texas Press Association member newspapers. For more info and to download an application, click here. Deadline is June 19.
  

Location: Texas

Journalism scholarships in Central Europe

• Graf und Graefin Arco Fellowship Fund: Covers full tuition costs for students from Central Europe studying at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism who demonstrate extraordinary promise, but require significant financial assistance to pursue their education. Click here for info.
  

Location: Central Europe

Journalism scholarships in New Zealand

• AUT University Scholarship: A full scholarship to study journalism at AUT University in Auckland is available for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents. Indian Newslink, a community newspaper, will pay the tuition fee, student services fee and Student Association fee for one student admitted every year into one of the university’s one-year postgraduate programs, including the postgraduate diploma in Communication Studies (journalism) and the Bachelor of Communication Studies (Hons). The first scholarship will be awarded this year, for a student to study in the 2010 academic year. Contact the university for more information.

Location: New Zealand

Journalism scholarships in Virginia

• Intermarkets-Lucido Journalism Scholarship: Provides $5,000 scholarship 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.

• Luke 1:3 Journalim Scholarhip: Patrick Henry College, a Christian college in Virginia, is offering a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for an applicant who plans to study journalism. Deadline: February 1.

• Washington Post High School Writing Seminar and Scholarship Program: Washington, D.C. area high school seniors spend Saturdays in March learning about writing news and feature stories from Post reporters and editors. At program's conclusion, students write a news story and receive critiques. Top two students receive $2,500 college scholarship. Deadline: February 7.
  

Location: Virginia

Journalism scholarships in New York

• New York Financial Writers Association Scholarship: $3,000 scholarship for undergraduate or graduate journalism students in the Metropolitan New York area who are seriously interested in pursuing a career in business and financial journalism. Deadline: April 15.

• New York Women in Communication Inc. Foundation Scholarships: Various scholarships awards are available to high school seniors attending a NY, NJ, CT or PA high school and current undergraduate students from a NY, NJ, CT or PA institution, majoring in a communication related field. Deadline: January 15.
  

• David Rossie Journalism Scholarship: Graduating high school seniors from the Greater Binghamton area who planning to become journalists can apply for a $500 scholarship. The David Rossie Journalism Scholarship is offered by the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Deadline is April 15. For more info or an application, contact Jan Lesko at (607) 798-1112.

• Adirondack Community Trust Scholarships: Journalists and students from the Adirondack region can apply for scholarships and grants worth up to $2,000. Scholarships totaling $12,000 will be awarded to graduating high school students and college students studying journalism from the Tri-Lakes and Watertown area. Consideration also will be given to professional journalists interested in continuing education or appropriate projects. Grants presently range from $500 to $2,000. The awards are funded by the Adirondack Community Trust. Deadlines vary. Applications can be downloaded at www.generousact.org, or contact scholarship coordinator Andrea Grout at (518) 523-9904 or by e-mail at andrea@generousact.org.

Location: New York

Journalism scholarships in New Jersey

• Adele deLeeuw Scholarships: Seniors attending northern Jersey high schools can apply for a scholarship worth up to $5,000 to study journalism in college. Deadline is March 11. Only students from high schools in Plainfield, North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Warren Watchung, Edison, Scotch Plains and Fanwood are eligible. The location of the applicant's high school, not the applicant's residence, is the qualifying factor. For more info about the Adele deLeeuw Scholarships, contact scholarship administrator Sally Young at (732) 381- 6269.

• New York Women in Communication Inc. Foundation Scholarships: Various scholarships awards are available to high school seniors attending a NY, NJ, CT or PA high school and current undergraduate students from a NY, NJ, CT or PA institution, majoring in a communication related field. Deadline: January 15.
  

Location: New Jersey

Journalism scholarships in Missouri

• Northwest Missouri Press Association Scholarships: A $500 scholarship is available for current and prospective journalism students from Northwest Missouri. Both graduating high school seniors and current college students are eligible for the scholarship, which is being offered by the Northwest Missouri Press Association. For more info or to get an application, contact Atchison County Mail Publisher W.C. Farmer at (660) 744-6245.

• Adelante Fellowship: Scholarship for an early career journalist who is bilingual in Spanish and English and wishes to pursue a master's degree in journalism at the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism. The successful applicant will act as editor of the journalism school's award-winning bilingual publication, Adelante! Fellowship includes full tuition waiver and $10,000 stipend. Deadline: September 1.
  

Location: Missouri

Journalism scholarships in Mississippi

Two journalism scholarships available:

1. Hearin-Chandler Journalism Scholarship: $5,000 scholarship for "full-time journalism study, leading to a degree, at a regionally accredited institution."
   
2. John M. Will Journalism Scholarship: $3,000 scholarship for "full-time journalism study, leading to a degree, at a regionally accredited institution."

Applicants may be a high school senior, college student, or practicing journalist. Must be a resident of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Clarke, Conecuh, Washington, and Monroe counties in Alabama; Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in Florida; George and Jackson counties in Mississippi.

Location: Mississippi

Journalism scholarships in Michigan

• Detroit News Scholarships: Michigan high school seniors with "a demonstrated ability" in journalism, visual arts or other fields, can apply for college scholarships from the Detroit News. But hurry, the deadline to apply is tomorrow, March 13. Download an application online.

Location: Michigan

Journalism scholarships in Maryland

• Carroll County Times Scholarships: Carroll County Times offers a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who plans to enter the field of journalism. Applicants must be a Carroll County, Md. resident and must have applied to and/or been accepted as a full-time student to a journalism school or journalism program. Completed applications must be received by March 31 to be considered.

• Washington Post High School Writing Seminar and Scholarship Program: Washington, D.C. area high school seniors spend Saturdays in March learning about writing news and feature stories from Post reporters and editors. At program's conclusion, students write a news story and receive critiques. Top two students receive $2,500 college scholarship. Deadline: February 7.
  

Location: Maryland

Journalism scholarships in Maine

• Bob Elliott Journalism Scholarship: High school students from the Portland, Maine region who are interested in journalism can apply for a $1,500 scholarship. WMTW-TV 8 The 2009 Bob Elliott Journalism Scholarship, funded by WMTW-TV 8 in Maine, is a one-time award to a graduating high school senior within the station's viewing area who plans to major in journalism, communications or a related area of study. Deadline is March 24. Download an application online.
  

Location: Maine

Journalism scholarships in Kansas

• Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials' Association Scholarships: Ten $500 scholarships are being offered to high school seniors and college freshman in Kansas who are majoring in journalism, communications or political science. The scholarships are being sponsored by the Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials' Association, the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office and Voters News Service. Deadline to apply is April 3. Applications may be downloaded online.
  

Location: Kansas

Journalism scholarships in Indiana

• Hoosier State Press Association Foundation Scholarships: High school seniors in Indiana can apply for a $1,000 scholarship to study journalism in college. To be eligible, applicants must have at least a 3.0 G.P.A., must be graduating in 2009 and must intend to pursue a career in journalism. The scholarship is funded by the Hoosier State Press Association Foundation. Apply by April 1. Download an application online.

Location: Indiana

Journalism scholarships in Ohio

• Hamilton Journal News/Middletown Journal Scholarships: Two newspapers in suburban Cincinnati are offering $2,500 journalism scholarships for college students from their coverage areas. The Hamilton Journal News and the Middletown Journal have each established $2,500 scholarships "to assist students in the completion of their education in career areas that serve newspapers. These areas include journalism, advertising, marketing, art, accounting and computer services." Applicants must be at least a college sophomore, demonstrate interest in pursuing a newspaper career, reside (or have parents who reside) in the communities served by the Hamilton Journal News and the Middletown Journal and have a minimum 3.0 GPA for at least the previous academic year.The filing deadline is May 8. Applications can be obtained from the Hamilton Journal News or the Middletown Journal offices or online at www.journal-news.com or 
www.middletownjournal.com. Send application and supportive materials, including college transcripts, one letter of recommendation and an essay to: James M. Cox, Jr. Foundation Scholarship, c/o Edwina Blackwell Clark, Southwest Group/Cox Ohio Publishing, 7320 Yankee Road, Liberty Twp., OH 45044.

• SPJ-Cincinnati's Annual Hall of Fame Collegiate Scholarships: Cincinnati Area journalism students can apply for a scholarship. (Amount is not specified.) The 2009 Annual Hall of Fame Collegiate Scholarships, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists' Greater Cincinnati Chapter, are offered to "Cincinnati metropolitan area full-time college and university upper-class undergraduate students with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and pursuing a career in journalism." Deadline is April 3. Download an application online.

• Akron Beacon Journal Scholarships: Six $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to college journalism, public relations and communications students from Summit, Portage, Medina, Stark and Wayne counties in Ohio."The applicant must be active in any facet of journalism and/or public relations," the announcement states. "Applicants must be in good academic standing at a college or university. The applicant should be a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior. Financial need will be considered." Scholarships are offered by the Akron Beacon Journal. Deadline to apply is March 2. Download an application online.
  

Location: Ohio

Journalism scholarships in Illinois

• Northern Illinois Newspaper Association Scholarships: High school seniors in Norther Illinois who plan to study journalism in college can apply for scholarships up to $2,400. "The scholarship awards will be presented to high school seniors who demonstrate the standards of honesty, integrity, attention to detail, hard work, creativity, and an understanding and commitment to quality community journalism," according to the announcement. "Students may be editors, writers, photographers, managers, marketing or advertising representatives or graphic designers at high school newspapers or professional news publications." Winners will receive cash scholarships from the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association, a plaque and announcement of the award in the NINA print and online newsletters. Students must attend high school within the northern Illinois region. The primary counties include Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, McHenry, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 13. Download an application online.

• Association for Women in Communications Scholarships: Students who either are from Central Illinois or attend college in the region can apply for a $2,000 journalism scholarship. The Association for Women in Communications, Springfield Chapter, is accepting applications for its 2009 scholarship until March 6. Junior, senior and graduate level college students are eligible. Applicants must be majoring in communications, journalism, public relations or related fields and have an above-average grade point average. Download a scholarship application online.

Location: Illinois