Types of Fellowships

Journalists can provide their own funding, but study at the Reuters Institute is also supported by a wide range of Fellowships.

On this Page:

• Open Fellowships
• Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship
• Gerda-Henkel Fellowship for Journalists in the field of Humanities
• Wincott Fellowships for Journalists from Eastern Europe
• Sponsored Fellowships
• Donald McDonald Australian Broadcasting Corporation Scholarship
• Austrian Press Agency Alfred Geiringer Fellowship
• British Broadcasting Corporation
• British Council Chevening Scholarship
• Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellowship
• Mona Megalli Fellowship

Open Fellowships

Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship

The Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship Programme, founded in 1983, offers academic guidance for experienced journalists wishing to undertake research projects on a variety of subjects. Organised activities include lectures, seminars, study trips and social functions. Approximately 8 Thomson Reuters Fellows study each year on fully-funded Fellowships varying from three months (one term) to nine months (an academic year), drawn from dozens of countries around the world from both print and broadcast media. Mid-career journalists from any country in the world holding a minimum of five years experience of professional journalism are eligible.

Fellows have the status of Visiting Scholars at Green Templeton College, a small, post-graduate college with spacious grounds grouped around the eighteenth century Radcliffe Observatory. Facilities include a large common room, two tennis courts, a squash court and a bar. Fellows also enjoy access to Oxford University's facilities and resources, including the world-famous Bodleian library, the university computing service, access to most academic lectures and many of the social programmes. No academic credits or qualifications can be obtained through the programme although a certificate is awarded.

Gerda-Henkel Fellowship for Journalists in the field of Humanities

Since 2005, the Gerda-Henkel Foundation awards a journalism Fellowship within the Thomson Reuters Foundation Programme to journalists who work in the field of humanities, enabling established journalists to pursue their specialised interests with greater intensity and ease than is otherwise possible under the pressure of media deadlines.

The Fellowship offers a six-month study opportunity at Oxford University and covers the costs for travel, accommodation and tuition fees. During this period, the participants of the programme are expected to produce a substantial piece of writing in keeping with academic standards. Each Fellow will have to present a lecture on his/her research topic and will be assigned to an academic advisor who will support the fellow’s research work.

The research programme at Oxford can be used to establish a broad range of contacts with journalists from the British media as well as researchers and colleagues from international media organisations. The programme is complemented by seminars, lectures and study trips, and special events give the programme participants the possibility to meet well-known journalists and experts.

The programme is open to mid-career print and broadcast journalists from any country in the world who carry out research in the field of Historical Humanities, particularly in Art History, Modern and Ancient History, Legal History or Islamic History. Within these areas, the participants can freely choose their research topic, although it should ideally be connected with their professional activity. The usual age brackets at Oxford are 28 to 45, with a minimum requirement of 5 years’ experience of professional journalism.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Jonathan Curiel (2005-6): impact of Muslim architecture on churches and synagogues.
• John Dyer (2006-7): effects of Balkan politics on Bulgarian self-perception.
• Firas Saleh Khatib (2008-9): depiction of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the British press in 1948 and 2008.

Wincott Fellowships for Journalists from Eastern Europe

Wincott Sponsored Fellowships at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, for Journalists from Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
Since 1995 the Wincott Foundation has sponsored a programme at the University of Oxford, which enables practicing journalists from East and Central Europe, Russia and Central Asia to visit the UK for three months of study. The programme is run in cooperation with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Green Templeton College.

The Wincott fellows spend one term in Oxford, based at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism offices, where they join a diverse group of journalists from other parts of the world, on the Institute’s Journalism Fellowship Programme. The fellows attend regular seminars each week and occasional special lectures relating to journalism, and they are encouraged to attend other academic and social events at Oxford University. During their stay in the UK arrangements are also made for the fellows to visit the Financial Times and other media organisations such as Thomson Reuters and the BBC.

In addition, the fellows undertake a study project on a topic of their choice, leading to the completion of a 5,000-8,000 word paper at the end of their stay. Each fellow is assigned an academic advisor, usually an Oxford academic specialising in the Wincott Fellow’s chosen area, for the purpose of this project.

The programme normally involves two journalists each year. Preference is given to economic and business journalists. In 2010-11 the Wincott Fellowship will be awarded to one candidate from Russia, and preference will be given to a second candidate from Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan or Belarus.

To be considered, applicants are asked to submit a proposal which gives details of the proposed research topic.  This is normally related to the business or economic development of a country or of its media. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 17th March 2010, the selection taking place in the period from March to April, with the journalists taking up residence in Oxford in the following October, January or April. There is a minimum requirement of 5 years’ professional journalistic experience, and in order to take full advantage of the excellent facilities of the Institute and of Oxford University, a good working knowledge of spoken and written English is required.  All Institute and University/College fees will be paid by the Fellowship, and the fellows will also receive their travel costs and a small stipend to cover housing and living expenses.

For more information on how to apply, please click here

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Marta Durianova (2006-7): The process of the Euro adoption in Slovakia and other EU countries.
• Ekaterina Kravchenko (2006-7): Media ownership and its connection with editorial content and readership.
• Revaz Sakevarishvili (2007-8): The application and activation of cluster economic principles in Georgia.
• Maria Semenova (2007-08): The role of the Russian state in the globalisation of the Russian economy
• Suren Musayelyan (2008-9): Armenian economic reform.

Sponsored Fellowships

The following corporations and individuals fund journalism fellowships at RISJ exclusively for employees of their respective organisations:

Donald McDonald Australian Broadcasting Corporation Scholarship

Since 1999, the ABC has awarded an annual Scholarship to an experienced high-level ABC journalist to join the RISJ programme for three months (one term) via an internal selection process. It was renamed in honour of Donald McDonald AC on the occasion of his retirement in 2006 in recognition of his commitment to excellence in journalism. As ABC Chairman, Mr Donald McDonald AC was instrumental in the establishment of the Scholarship and provided ongoing encouragement and support for the programme and for the Scholars throughout the programme’s history.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Peter McEvoy (2006-7): development of public broadcast systems promoting journalistic accountability and responsibility.
• Elizabeth Jackson (2007-8): comparative study of European freedom of information models.

Austrian Press Agency Alfred Geiringer Fellowship

The Alfred Geiringer Foundation for the Further Education of Journalists, introduced in 2001 and sponsored by the Austrian Press Agency, aims to encourage the development of high-quality journalism in Austria. It is named in honour of Alfred Geiringer, who was forced to emigrate from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 but returned to Europe in 1946 as Reuters European Editor and played an instrumental role in founding APA as an independent, newspapers-owned co-operative. The Geiringer Fellowship, organised since 2002 jointly by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and APA, gives one highly-qualified journalist, selected annually from Austrian journalists at APA or its owner-media, the opportunity to spend three months (one term) studying at RISJ.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Alexandra Frech (2008-9): Polish migrant workers in the United Kingdom.
• Gianluca Wallisch (2005-6): Terrorism and the Media
  

British Broadcasting Corporation

The BBC offers a prestigious annual one-term Fellowship to experienced mid-career journalists from across the BBC News and Journalism divisions, which will provide them with the opportunity to study and research for 3-4 months a work-related project that will broaden their academic horizons as well as being of benefit to the BBC. The Fellowship can begin in October, January or April, and the successful applicant will be resident at Oxford during their period of study.

As well as being a great opportunity for an senior journalist to take time out from the day job and get new insights, the programme of research should be relevant to your work as a BBC journalist. Fellows are asked to produce a major piece of writing of between 8,000 and 10,000 words related to a specialist or topical subject or the changing nature of journalism. The programme brings together experienced journalists from around the world to study at RISJ, and Fellows will be able to use the university facilities available to them, including access to an academic advisor, seminars and other special events, to help them with their project.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• James Painter (2006-7): analysis of the boom in continuous news channels, specific focus on Telesur.
• Jeremy Hayes (2008-9): Freedom of Information Act 2000 and journalism in the UK.

British Council Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships, named after Chevening House in Kent, the official country residence of the Foreign Secretary, are prestigious awards available to international students in more than 130 countries for study in the United Kingdom. Each year RISJ normally awards two-term Chevening Fellowships to two Hong Kong journalists, as part of the 1000 Chevening Scholarships awarded globally, enabling them to meet and network with their peers in the unique learning atmosphere that Oxford provides. Fellowships are offered to mid-career professionals in positions of leadership and influence who are active in the field of the research subject. 

Fellows undertake an intensive 3-month (one-term) course, focusing on particular subjects aligned to the FCO's Strategic Framework, which offers dynamic training and professional development opportunities in the UK. Courses consist of high-quality content, with contributions from leading academics and experts in the field.  On completion it offers the opportunity for successful candidates to maintain international policy dialogue on the fellowship subject with UK Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates.

Candidates are selected by the British Embassy/British High Commission. The scheme is managed by the British Council, on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Applicants should refer directly to the British Council in Hong Kong for further information.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Margaret Ng (2006-7): tension between US and China in pursuit of global oil security strategy.
• Joyce Hor-Chung Lau (2007-8): The Narrowing Gap: how Hong Kong media is inching towards the China model.
• Wing Chung Law (2008-9): conventional printed media in the digital age.

Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellowship

The purpose of the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation is to advance and support excellence in research as a means of insuring the broad base, independence, and continuity of Finnish scientific work. The fields of particular interest for the Foundation are communications, the communications industry, and futures research. The Foundation also promotes and supports freedom of expression, including research into the history of freedom of expression, and it fosters educational and cultural activities in Finland. Since 2008-9, the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation has funded several Fellowships at RISJ as part of its annual provision of several million euros for different projects and special undertakings.

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Kimmo Lunden (2008-9): viability of business models for specialist print media.
• Annikka Mutanen (2008-9): journalism and faith.
• Salla Nazarenko (2008-9): how Abkhazia and South Ossetia are portrayed in the European, American and Russian press.

Mona Megalli Fellowship

The Mona Megalli Fellowship, established in 2008, is in memory of Mona Megalli, a distinguished Egyptian-American Reuters journalist who died in 2007 after a long illness. Having worked for large parts of her career as a journalist in the Middle East, Mona made a bequest to fund activities and initiatives designed to enhance the professional ethics of journalism in the region. This Fellowship is one of those initiatives.

The Fellowship is open to a practicing mid-career journalist from the Middle East region interested in researching and publishing material about professional standards and journalistic ethics in the region, how these impact on the practice of journalism there, and also what changes are needed or could be contemplated to improve the practice of journalism in the region.

To be considered, applicants are asked to submit a proposal which gives details of the proposed research topic and the planned output. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 27th January 2010.  There is a minimum requirement of 5 years’ professional journalistic experience, and in order to take full advantage of the excellent facilities of the Institute and of Oxford University, a good working knowledge of spoken and written English is required.  All Institute and University/College fees, will be paid by the Fellowship, and the fellows will also receive their travel costs and a small stipend to cover housing and living expenses.

For more information on how to apply, please click here

Recent Fellows and their projects:

• Amel Al-Ariqi (2008-9): difference of portrayal of Middle Eastern women in Arabic and English media.
• Mohamed El-Sayed (2008-9): impact of Islamic satellite channels on Egyptian society.