The nationally acclaimed Carnegie-Knight News21 program, created by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is open to all journalism schools in the United States. Applications for the 2023 program are now open.
During the spring semester, students take part in a News21 issues seminar taught by the News21 executive editor. The seminar immerses students in the topic to be investigated by News21 in the summer and students do preliminary reporting. Fellows from schools outside of ASU participate in the seminar via Zoom. Non-ASU students may take the course for credit through their universities or monitor the course without enrolling. However, all fellows must fully participate and complete all work to the professor’s satisfaction. This year, the course will take place from Jan. 12, 2023, through April 27, 2023. It is held on Thursdays for three hours, within the window of 10:30 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. Arizona time.
During the summer, fellows work full time out of a digital newsroom at the Cronkite School for 10 weeks, typically beginning in mid to late May and ending in late July or early August. Fellows receive a $8,000 stipend plus up to $3,000 for travel expenses. The cost of housing is not covered, but the Cronkite School will make arrangements for housing near ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus.
Students work under a team of veteran, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism leaders to produce deep, multimedia reporting on a topic of national impact. Previous investigations have focused on hate groups, drinking water, police reform, health disparities, juvenile justice and gun rights, among other topics.
The total cost to participating schools is $12,000 per fellow. This covers salary and travel stipends for fellows.
Applications should come from the school’s dean or director, not from individual students, by Nov. 18, 2022. The application packet must include:
Applications should be emailed to Cronkite School Senior Associate Dean Rebecca Blatt at rebecca.blatt@asu.edu.
Candidates are judged on the following criteria: quality of journalism (demonstrated storytelling and reporting skills); strength of recommendations from their schools; multimedia skills; investigative reporting skills; ability to work as a member of a team in an open, collaborative environment; and commitment to journalism as a career. Demonstrated special skills such as web development, design, photography, videography or data analysis also may weigh in the decision.
Students may be asked to participate in a Zoom or phone interview before final selections are made.
Schools and students will be notified of selection decisions in mid-December.
Some schools have used existing scholarship or special funds to support their fellows while others have garnered new support through naming opportunities. In the latter circumstance, the supporter will be credited in the byline or credit line for the student’s work. Scholarship funds may be available through News21. For more information, contact Senior Associate Dean Rebecca Blatt at rebecca.blatt@asu.edu.
Since 2011, fellows have come from 42 large and small universities in and out of the U.S. They include American University, ASU, DePauw University, Dublin City University, Elon University, Florida International University, George Washington University, Hampton University, Louisiana State University, Marquette University, Morgan State University, St. Bonaventure University, Syracuse University, University of Alabama, University of Florida, University of Maryland, University of Oklahoma, University of Oregon, University of North Carolina, University of North Texas, University of British Columbia and University of Mississippi, among others.
The benefits of News21 to the fellows are clear: Students receive an unparalleled experience working one-on-one with some of the best journalism minds in the country on in-depth and digitally innovative projects. They and receive national distribution and recognition of their work. Past News21 fellows have an employment placement record – both qualitatively and quantitatively — that far exceeds the national averages and the placements of peers within their institutions.
The benefit to participating schools is equally striking. The News21 program, with its focus on depth, innovation, experiential learning and coverage of important national projects, has permeated throughout the 12 original News21 schools. Those deans and directors report a dramatic transformation of their curricula in recent years, due in large part to the lessons learned in News21.
Contact Senior Associate Dean Rebecca Blatt at rebecca.blatt@asu.edu
