The Knight Science Journalism Program (KSJ) is a prestigious fellowship program based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1983, the program aims to promote excellence in science journalism by providing mid-career journalists with opportunities for professional development, training, and networking.
The KSJ Fellowship is open to journalists from around the world who cover science, health, environment, technology, and related fields. Each year, a select group of fellows is chosen through a competitive application process to participate in an academic year-long program at MIT.
During their fellowship year, KSJ fellows have the opportunity to audit classes at MIT, participate in seminars and workshops, and engage with leading scientists, researchers, and journalists. The program offers a unique blend of academic study, hands-on experience, and interdisciplinary collaboration, designed to enhance fellows’ understanding of complex scientific issues and improve their reporting skills.
One of the highlights of the KSJ Fellowship is the Knight Seminar, a weekly series of discussions led by prominent experts in various scientific disciplines. Fellows have the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge research, explore emerging trends, and engage in lively debates on topics ranging from climate change and artificial intelligence to genetics and public health.
In addition to academic coursework and seminars, KSJ fellows also have the opportunity to undertake independent research projects and produce in-depth stories on scientific topics of their choice. The program provides mentorship and editorial support to help fellows develop their projects and publish their work in leading media outlets.
The Knight Science Journalism Program plays a vital role in advancing the field of science journalism and promoting public understanding of science and technology. Through its fellowship program, KSJ equips journalists with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to produce accurate, insightful, and engaging stories that inform and inspire audiences around the world.
This new one-semester fellowship, hosted by the Knight Science Journalism Program (KSJ) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was inspired by the life and career of Egyptian science journalist Mohammed Yahia. The fellowship was created in partnership with Springer Nature, publisher of Nature Middle East, which grew to be an important contributor to science reporting in the region under Yahia’s leadership from 2010-2024.
The fellowship aims to enrich the training of a journalist from Africa or the Middle East so they can contribute to a culture of high-quality science and health journalism in those regions, as well as raising awareness of regional advances in the rest of the world.
This will be a one-semester fellowship, held in the fall of the academic year beginning in 2024, hosted by KSJ at MIT. The fellow will join other KSJ fellows in a program of study at MIT and other Cambridge/Boston area universities and in the program’s seminars, training workshops and field trips throughout the semester.
Eligibility Criteria For The Knight Science Journalism Program
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must:
- Be journalists based in Africa and/or the Middle East with at least three years’ experience reporting on science, health or environmental issues in the region.
- Be reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.
The applicant selected to participate in The Fellowship at MIT must meet the following expectations:
- Reside full-time in the Boston-Cambridge area for the MIT from August 16, 2024 to mid-December 2024.
- Attend field trips, seminars, and required training sessions arranged by KSJ.
- Develop a course of study that includes at least one science course. Fellows audit courses at MIT, Harvard and other area universities.
- Refrain from outside paid professional work during The Fellowship, unless written permission has been granted by the director.
Each applicant must submit the following documents:
- Statement of Purpose: Describe, in 500 words or less, why you want to participate in the Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East and how it fits with your professional goals.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Provide a brief overview of your education, work history, and professional honors. (Freelancers should include a list of freelance jobs completed in the past 12 months. Include each story, venue, and date of publication or broadcast.)
- Three Work Samples: Please provide three (3) relevant work samples. Choose samples that best illustrate your interest and abilities. Please include a translation for any work not produced in English.
- Letter of Professional Reference: Please provide at least one (1) letter of recommendation; additional letters are optional. The letter should come from an individual familiar with your work and should comment on your abilities and your commitment to journalism. Applicants will provide the name and e-mail address for their recommenders in the application form, and letter requests will be sent to the recommenders automatically.
The Application Process:
The following timeline is an outline of the application process, timing is subject to change:
- February 1, 2024: Applications Open
- March 1, 2024: Applications Close at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time. References are strongly encouraged to meet this deadline, but they are given a grace period until March 4th to upload their recommendation letters. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Early-March: Applications will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished science journalists and semi-finalists will be selected for video interviews.
- Mid-March: The recipient of the fellowship will be selected. Applicants not selected will be notified by this time.
- Mid-March to April: The recipient of the fellowship will be announced publicly.
Starting in mid-March: KSJ and MIT will work with the recipient on the visa sponsorship process for the start date of August 16, 2024 and end date December 31, 2024
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024.
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