Journalism & Communications Scholarships

Journalists with at least five years of full-time professional journalism experience (internships do not count). The program is not open to PR, government communications, or degree-seeking applicants. Fellows spend nine months at Stanford with a $130,000 stipend plus tuition and health coverage. Apply through the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships site when the cycle opens.

Mid-career U.S. journalists employed as opinion writers or as reporters focused on analytical or public-service journalism may apply, including freelancers who devote most of their time or income to that work. Applicants need at least three years of relevant experience, strong writing and analytical ability, and a plan to publish within six to 12 months. Work must be in English. The SPJ Foundation fellowship provides up to $100,000 for study, research, and travel on a public-interest project. More than one fellow may be selected in a year, with funding divided at the judges' discretion. Fellows do not have to leave their jobs. Submit a cover letter with project purpose, timeline, and stipend plan; an editor endorsement (including for self-employed applicants); a one-page biography; and five samples of opinion or analytical writing.

Emerging and established writers who publish on contemporary visual art may apply for the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant. Projects may address general or specialized art audiences, including interdisciplinary criticism and experimental literary styles, as long as eligibility and publishing requirements in the annual guide are met. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or O-1 visa holders per that guide. Grants range from $15,000 to $50,000 across article, book, and short-form writing categories (and related supported project types stated in the annual call). Apply during the open period each year. Selection uses a two-tier process with evaluators and panelists experienced in contemporary arts writing. Launched in 2006, the program has supported hundreds of writers with direct funding for art writing.

Merit scholarship for incoming first-year Vanderbilt students planning a career in sports journalism. Applicants submit the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application through MyAppVU and include a response explaining how they will use their Vanderbilt experience to develop that career, plus up to ten published work samples, by December 1. The award provides twenty-five thousand dollars toward educational costs and renews for four years with satisfactory academic progress. Selection weighs academic achievement, leadership, and demonstrated interest in sports media.

The Humanities Scholars Program at UMBC provides four-year scholarships to first-year students majoring in humanities fields such as Africana Studies, Anthropology, English, Gender Women's and Sexuality Studies, Global Studies, History, and Media and Communication Studies. In-state students may receive $5,000 to $15,000 per year and out-of-state students $10,000 to $22,000 per year. Scholars take interdisciplinary seminar courses, may study abroad, and live in a scholars community. A separate application is due January 15, and students must also apply for UMBC admission by the early action deadline.

The Ocean State Media Scholarship offers up to $15,000 annually to Rhode Island residents and Bristol County, Massachusetts residents in Ocean State Media's market who demonstrate promise in journalism or media careers. High school seniors entering accredited four-year colleges and enrolled undergraduates may apply through the Rhode Island Foundation universal application with essays, transcript, resume, recommendation, and a work sample. Awards renew up to three additional years. The application opens each January with an April 13 deadline.

Forensic Scholarships at University of the Pacific support students who join the nationally ranked speech and debate team and have demonstrated high performance in forensics events. Awards are primarily merit-based and range from five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars annually, with exceptional cases reaching twenty thousand dollars. Students indicate intent to apply on their Pacific admission application and submit scholarship materials, generally by February 15, though applications are reviewed as received. Scholarships apply directly to tuition and renew annually for team members who continue to meet scholarship requirements. Contact the Director of Forensics at sfarias@pacific.edu for details.

The Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship at UC San Diego supports continuing undergraduates majoring in computer science, computer or electrical engineering, communications, political science/public policy, or related networked-systems fields who are connected to the LGBTQIA+ community and actively advocate for LGBTQIA+ issues. Continuing students apply through the annual Continuing Student Scholarship Application, typically due in early April. Preference is given to applicants with demonstrated academic merit, academic involvement, and financial need. If awarded, recipients may be asked to provide a public statement about their advocacy with consent. The award provides up to $12,000 for one academic year.

Full-time U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents at accredited four-year colleges, community colleges, portfolio schools, or art schools may apply if they identify as African-American/Black American, Indigenous American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, or Latino/Hispanic and study art direction, copywriting, production, editing, illustration, or marketing strategy/analytics. Two recipients each receive a $10,000 scholarship plus one year of mentorship from a Saatchi & Saatchi professional, including monthly virtual meetups and email and text access. Complete the Giving Back Fund application and submit a creative pitch as an unlisted YouTube video (three minutes maximum). Optional project samples may be included. Priority goes to students who demonstrate financial need. Recipients are selected by a panel of creatives, strategists, data analysts, and talent managers at Saatchi & Saatchi and partner organizations.

Undergraduate students of color in their third or fourth year (or graduating seniors whose internship follows graduation) with at least a 3.0 GPA who independently secure an on-site journalism internship at a Washington, D.C. news outlet may apply. One award per summer provides free housing through Washington Intern Student Housing and a $1,000 monthly stipend for roughly four months, valued at approximately $10,000 total. Complete the application with resume, transcripts, and an essay outlining journalism goals after securing the internship. The National Press Club and NPC Journalism Institute administer this scholarship honoring promising future journalists.