SPJVA Today

Virginia SPJ,SDX Educational Foundation
and Society of Professional Journalists, Virginia Pro Chapter

$1,500 FELLOWSHIPS SUPPORT
SUMMER NEWSROOM INTERNSHIPS

Two $1,500 cash fellowships that support summer newsroom internships are available to rising juniors or seniors at an accredited Virginia college or university.  The internships must be at least six weeks’ full-time work at bona fide news organization approved by the foundation board of trustees.

The responsibility of securing a summer internship rests entirely with the student. Applicants are not required to have an internship pre-arranged in order to apply. The foundation may help students arrange an internship, but it cannot guarantee one can be found. Payment of the fellowship stipend to the student (or internship provider, if required) can be made in advance, upon formal confirmation of the internship by the host news organization and approval of the internship by the foundation trustees. The stipend will be paid regardless of any salary offered by the host news organization, and it can be used for living expenses or any other purpose related to the summer internship.

Applicants are not required to be journalism majors, but they must demonstrate intent to pursue a career in journalism (print, broadcast and/or online media). Both 2017 fellowship winners will be recognized at the annual George Mason Banquet, held annually to honor a Virginian who has supported freedom of the press and contributed significantly to journalism.

Applications are now being accepted and must be postmarked by March 13, 2017. Here is the application form. (The form is also embedded below.) Fill out the Word document, and then send it to:

Ms. Clissa England
SPJ Fellowship Chair
5803 Fox Hollow Dr.
North Chesterfield, VA  23237-3103

Fellowships will be announced in April 2017.

Internships must meet the following requirements:

• Internship experience should include writing for publication/broadcast.
• The internship must be offered by a bona fide news organization and last at least six weeks.
• The internship must be approved by the Virginia SPJ/SDX Educational Foundation board of trustees before payment of the fellowship stipend will be made.

Supporting materials:

• A poster explaining the fellowship program
• A letter to college journalists, students, professors and financial aid officers about the program

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