Meera Selva, Director of the Journalist Fellowship Programme, with our Journalist Fellows. Credit: Julia Massey Stewart/The Mango Lab
On 17 December our Journalist Fellows put on stage a live journalism show at the Royal Society. The event highlighted the incredible diversity of the group, the way they've benefited from our research, from each others' experiences, and from the supportive environment we provide. Their inspirational stories reminded us of the need for supporting more journalists operating under considerable pressure around the world.
That's why we are creating a new fund that will help more journalists join our flagship fellowship programme. In particular, we want to be able to support more journalists operating under considerable pressure, whether that comes from hostile governments, online attacks or warzones. The aim of the fund is to encourage people to stay in journalism, even in adverse conditions, and to raise awareness of the challenges they face worldwide.
All journalists who join the our fellowship programme come to find ways to meet the challenges facing the media head on. The programme gives them a chance to gain new perspectives, understand wider media trends and find solidarity among other journalists. They return to their newsrooms refreshed, with new tools to carry out their work.
We aim to raise £180,000 over three years to be able to offer at least two 6-month fellowships every year to journalists operating in adverse conditions. Eligible journalists must meet the criteria for our fellowship programme, so they are practising working journalists with a track record of exceptional professional success, who will contribute to and benefit from the community of journalists at the Institute.
All journalists who join the programme from abroad must leave the UK and return to journalism once the fellowship is complete. The goal of the fellowship is to support the journalist, and raise awareness of the topic both within the Institute and globally.
If you or your organisation would like to make a donation of any size to the fund, please contact Kate Hanneford-Smith, Director of Operations, kate.hanneford-smith@politics.ox.ac.uk
Alternatively, you can donate directly here.
