The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional radio, television, print and web journalists, aged 25 to 35 years, from mainly developing countries for its 2019 fellowship programme.
The fellowships are available to journalists who are native to the mainly developing countries in Africa, Asia (including Pacific Island nations), and Latin America/the Caribbean, are currently working for media organizations and interested in going to New York to report on international affairs during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Beginning in early September, the fellowships will extend to late November and will include the cost of travel and accommodations in New York, as well as a per diem for the duration of the fellowship.
Applicants must demonstrate an interest in and commitment to international affairs and to conveying a better understanding of the United Nations to their readers and audiences. They must also have approval from their media organizations to spend up to three months in New York to report from the United Nations.
Four journalists will be selected after a review of all applications and the fellows will be given the incomparable opportunity to observe international diplomatic deliberations at the United Nations; to make professional contacts that will serve them for years to come; to interact with seasoned journalists from around the world; and to gain a broader perspective and understanding of matters of global concern. The programme is not intended to provide basic skills training to journalists as all participants will be media professionals.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists fellowships is open to journalists who have a very good command of the English language; are currently employed as professional journalists either as full-time or freelancers; and have commitment from their media organizations that the reports they file during the term of the Fellowship will be used and that they will continue to be paid for their services.
The Fund will not accept applications from the countries of the 2018 fellows – Argentina, India, Kenya and Yemen – in an effort to rotate recipient countries.
Applications for the fellowship must be accompanied with the following documents without which they will not be considered.
• Copies of applicants’ work, such as newspaper clippings, audio tapes, video tapes or internet submissions produced in 2018 or 2019, not earlier. Entries with insight and originality will be considered most favourably. Investigative work is welcome.
• Reports in French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian are acceptable. For newspaper clippings not in English, but applicants should include an English translation or summary. Applicants should provide the URL addresses of reports they wish to submit if they are posted on the Internet.
• Audio tape and video tape submissions should include written transcription or a summary in English, even if the originals are in English and video submissions should be in DVD or CD (preferably NTSC) format. Radio applicants should send a CD with MP3 formatted files.
• Signed letters from two individuals who supervised applicants and can comment on their journalism experience and qualifications.
• Endorsement of the Fellowship application by the editor or director of the news organization that presently employs applicants. This endorsement must be originally signed and should grant applicant a leave of absence from his/her current duties in the event he/she is are awarded a fellowship; agrees to continue paying the applicant for his/her services during the term of the Fellowship and agrees to use the reports the applicant files from the UN; and states plans for using the reports the applicant files during the fellowship.
• Summary statement explaining in not less than 300 words why the applicant is applying for this Fellowship and what he/she expects to gain from the experience.
• Two recent photographs (passport size or larger) which should be placed in a separate secure envelope and affixed to the front of application. They should not be stapled directly to the application form.
• A copy of applicant’s international passport; Applications without a passport will NOT be considered.
Please click here for the application in Word format and here for the application in PDF format.
An originally completed and signed application, along with all the documentation requirements, should be sent by postal or courier service (such as DHL, FedEx, Airborne) to:
Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists
512 Northampton Street, No. 124A
Edwardsville, PA 18704 USA
Please direct all questions to fellowship2019@unjournalismfellowship.org
The application deadline is March 1, 2019.
