Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East 2024

Following Yahia’s untimely death in the summer of 2023, Springer Nature and the Knight Science Journalism Program worked together to create a fellowship in honor of his remarkable contributions to science journalism.

The Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East is designed, through a combination of study and specialized training, to help reporters and editors from the region to further develop a successful career in science journalism.

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.

About Knight Science Journalism (KSJ)

  The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT seeks to advance science journalism in the public interest by nurturing and enhancing the ability of journalists to accurately and thoughtfully illuminate science and its intersection with human culture. Launched in 1983 under the guidance of founding director, Victor McElheny, the program is among the most distinguished journalism fellowships in the world, housed in MIT’s acclaimed Program in Science, Technology, and Society, located in the MIT School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. The KSJ vision was recognized early as... read more

Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism

Aim and Benefits of Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism

• $40,000 stipend for the semester
• MIT health insurance
• $5,000 stipend to help with start-up housing costs
• Full access MIT benefits such as subsidized public transportation, access to museums and other programs in the area
• Connections to a thriving community of science journalists

Requirements for Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism Qualification

• Journalists based in Africa and the Middle East with at least three years’ experience reporting on science, health or environmental issues in the region.
• Applicants may be reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism

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.

Documents Required for Application

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.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

The fellowship will open for applications between February 1, 2024 and March 1, 2024. A panel of judges will review the submissions, interview finalists, and announce a final selection by mid-March.

For more details, visit KSJ website.