Deadline: 1 March 2019
The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is currently accepting applications from journalists from the mainly developing nations of Africa, Asia (including Pacific Island nations), Latin America and the Caribbean to cover the United Nations General Assembly for approximately 10 weeks beginning in September each year.
The fellowships offer a unique opportunity for promising young journalists from developing countries to observe United Nations deliberations and to report on its proceedings for news media in their home countries.
Over the past five decades, fellowships have been awarded to hundreds of journalists from the developing world. These awards require the presence of the selected journalist in New York during the first few months of the General Assembly session and should be regarded as an opportunity for news organizations and journalists to provide their audiences with special assignment news coverage from U.N. headquarters.
Successful applicants must obtain a leave of absence from their employers. By endorsing the application of a staff journalist for a fellowship, the editor undertakes to meet all telephone or other transmission charges and to publish or broadcast copy filed by the reporter. Applicants must be between 25 and 35 years of age and currently employed as professional journalists for print, television, radio or internet media organizations. Both full-time and freelance journalists are invited to apply.
Funding Information
The Fund will provide: round-trip airfare to New York; accommodations; health insurance for the duration of the fellowship, and a daily allowance to cover food and other necessities. The Fund will not be responsible for other expenses of a personal nature, such as telephone calls.
Eligibility Criteria
The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists fellowships are open to individuals who:
- Are native to one of the mainly developing countries of Africa, Asia (including Pacific Island nations), Latin America and the Caribbean. For 2019 only, the Fund will not accept applications from the countries of the 2018 fellows – Argentina, India, Kenya and Yemen – in an effort to rotate recipient countries.
- Currently live in and write for media in a developing country.
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35.
- Have a very good command of the English language since United Nations press conferences and many documents are in English only.
- Are currently employed as professional journalists for print, television, radio or internet media organizations. Both full-time and freelance journalists are invited to apply.
- Have approval from their media organizations to spend up to three months in New York reporting from the United Nations.
- Receive a commitment from their media organizations that the reports they file during the term of the Fellowship will be used and that they will continue to be paid for their services.
Documentation Requirements
Please include all of the following documents with signed application. Applications WITHOUT the following documents will NOT be considered.
- Copies of representative selections of work, such as newspaper clippings, audio tapes, video tapes or internet submissions. The selections must be work produced in 2018 or 2019 — not earlier. Entries with insight and originality will be considered most favorably. Investigative work is welcome.
- Applicants do not have to write reports in English. French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian are acceptable. For newspaper clippings not in English, include an English translation or summary.
- If the reports applicants wish to submit with their application are posted on the Internet, please provide the url addresses.
- For audio tape and video tape submissions, include a written transcription or a summary in English, even if the originals are in English.
- Video submissions should be in DVD or CD (preferably NTSC) format. Radio applicants should send a CD with MP3 formatted files.
- Signed letters from two individuals who supervised applicants and can comment on applicant’s journalism experience and qualifications.
- Endorsement of the Fellowship application from the editor or director of the news organization that presently employs applicants. This endorsement must be originally signed and should:
- Grant applicants a leave of absence from their current duties in the event they are awarded a fellowship.
- Agrees to continue paying applicants for their services during the term of the Fellowship and agrees to use the reports they file from the U.N.
- States plans for using the reports applicants file during the fellowship.
- Summary statement. On a separate sheet of paper, explain in not less than 300 words why applicants are applying for this Fellowship and what they expect to gain from the experience.
- Two recent photographs (passport size or larger). Place these photos in a separate secure envelope and affix them to the front of their application. Do not staple the photos directly to the application form.
- A copy of applicant’s passport. Applications without a passport will NOT be considered.
NOTE: Applicants and/or their employers are required to provide equipment necessary for the applicants to efficiently and effectively report from the United Nations. Such equipment should include a laptop or notebook computer, digital camera (if appropriate), audio/visual recording and equipment needed for transmission, especially for TV. Selected journalists must be prepared technically to file their news stories over WIFI, whether broadcast or print, and arrive with a computer enabled for WIFI.
How to Apply
To get clarification on application procedure, please send an email to the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit http://unjournalismfellowship.org/