The Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW), a nonprofit newsroom based at SOC, publishes stories about about government and corporate accountability, on topics ranging widely from the environment and health to national security and the economy. IRW has partnerships with The Washington Post, PBS FRONTLINE  and other news organizations. The Graduate Fellow will have opportunities to do research and reporting for one or more major investigations during the academic year. 

Qualifications

• One to three years of reporting experience
• Strong writing skills
• Data journalism and/or visual journalism skills

Eligibility

• Applied and accepted into MA in Journalism and Public Affairs
• Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
• U.S. citizen, International student, or permanent resident

How to Apply

Candidates must secure admission to the the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs at ApplySOC and select an interest in The Investigative Reporting Workshop Fellowship as part of the application. By selecting an interest in The Investigative Reporting Workship Fellowship, a corresponding supplemental item of the same name will appear in the application portal after interested students are admitted.

If admitted to the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs, fellowship candidates will have a maximum of 5 business days to submit additional supplemental fellowship application items in the ApplySOC portal, 'Supplemental Items' tab. Please prepare your documentation early.

Once admitted, please upload the following fellowship application materials as one complete pdf document:    

(a) Cover letter, no more than two pages, describing your interest in and qualifications for The IRW Fellowship. 

(b)  Resume

(c) Up to three samples of work (provide links to your work in one pdf document). 

(d)  Two additional letters of recommendation, addressing your professional qualifications and the ways in which you would benefit from the fellowship. 

If you plan to apply for more than one Journalism fellowship, you may use the same letters of recommendation; however, please inform the recommender to NOT list a specific Fellowship in the letter, but state the recommendation is for a School of Communication Journalism Fellowship. 

Compensation

The fellow will earn an $10,000 stipend and work as a graduate assistant for 10 hours per week. The student is responsible for their tuition, students fees, and health insurance. 

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ESPN and American University are partnering on a new fellowship program that will allow early-career journalists to earn a Master’s degree while working in ESPN’s Investigative and Enterprise Journalism Unit. Our mission is to train and develop future investigative journalists and leaders by providing tools, opportunities and experiences to help build a pipeline of well-rounded, creative and diverse investigative journalists.

The AU fellow will not only work on investigative and enterprise journalism but be a part of the unit for the duration of the fellowship. The fellow will have access to the roughly 50 journalists and managers in the unit and will meet and be mentored by journalists in various areas, including sourcing, reporting, data journalism, freedom of information requests and challenges, and how to protect their own health when confronting challenging circumstances during reporting and post-publication.

In addition to allowing the graduate student a chance to develop their own research and reporting, the fellow will learn more about how reporters and managers prepare their work for audio, digital, television and streaming properties. Should pandemic circumstances allow, the fellowship will include access to ESPN’s Washington, D.C., offices and include a trip to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT, to meet with senior leaders. ESPN investigative reporters routinely publish and air groundbreaking investigative journalism, and the unit has won multiple Peabody, duPont, Emmy, IRE and Murrow awards, to name a few. The year-long fellowship begins in September, but student begins academic program in end of July.

Qualifications

• Two to five years of print or digital investigative journalism experience or two to five years of investigative work in a different field, doing high-caliber work. Applicants will be considered from any journalism or related background, such as a small TV station, a digital news site, a nonprofit, a police or justice beat at a small newspaper. Applicants from a campus newsroom will be considered if there is indication of strong investigative abilities.
• Prior work in or an embrace of reporting on systemic and social inequities is highly favored.
• Well-rounded, creative and diverse applicants are encouraged to apply.
• A focus on deep reporting and clear writing is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams, a collaborative work ethics, a willingness take direction, and an ability to multitask is necessary
• Experience in reporting on or background in sports is a plus but not required as much as ESPN’s work in this unit transcends the sports industry and involves government, political, justice, education and health coverage areas.

Eligibility

• Applied and accepted to the AU MA in Journalism & Public Affairs
• Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status

How To Apply

Candidates submit a complete application to the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs at ApplySOC and select an interest in the ESPN Investigative Journalism Fellowship. By selecting an interest in the ESPN Investigative Journalism Fellowship, a corresponding supplemental item of the same name will appear in the application portal after you have been admitted to the master’s program.

The fellowship is open until filled with priority shown to fellowship applications submitted in the ApplySOC portal by March 8.

Please upload the following fellowship application materials as one complete pdf document:    

(a)  Cover letter, no more than two pages, describing your interest in and qualifications for the ESPN Investigative Journalism Fellowship

(b)  Resume

(c) Up to three samples of work (provide links to your work in one pdf document)

(d)  Two additional letters of recommendation, addressing your professional qualifications and the ways in which you would benefit from the fellowship 

The fellow will earn a $35,000 stipend and receive 18 credits of tuition remission for the 33 credit MA in Journalism and Public Affairs degree. The student will work 10-20 hours weekly for the news organization and 37.5 hours a week over the summer. The fellow will be responsible for student fees and health insurance. 

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This scholarship was established in 2005 in honor of renowned newsman Ed Bliss, Jr. As a pioneer in journalism, he served as editor to Edward R. Murrow and founded the journalism program at American University. His life and dedication to excellence in journalism inspired many School of Communication students who now hold key positions in print, broadcast, and interactive journalism. Each year, this prestigious scholarship is awarded to an outstanding graduate student with financial need who exemplifies Ed Bliss's passion for journalism, embodies his respect for journalistic values, and embraces his commitment to excellence in writing.

Robert Bunnell, MA ’82, attended American University as a visiting student his senior year and completed his graduate education here in 1982 before his early death at age 38. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming graduate student in Journalism and Public Affairs with both financial need and academic merit.

Pauline Frederick Robbins was a trailblazing female network news correspondent who graduated with a bachelor’s from American University in 1930. Pauline worked for NBC for 21 years and helped further the role of numerous women in the field of news broadcasting. This scholarship is awarded to a female graduate student in broadcast journalism who shows outstanding potential in and passion for the field of radio or television broadcasting.

Spring award presented to graduate student for excellence in print journalism, who have demonstrated superior journalistic skills, a thoughtful approach to important issues covered by the press, and dedication to the highest standards of a free and responsible press. Student submissions (composition on American press's freedom and responsibility and resume) judged by selection committee consisting of SOC Dean and faculty members. Entrants will be judged on their professionalism, academic performance, spirit of leadership, quality of written submission, and other achievements while in the graduate program.

Submit a 750 word essay on What is the biggest challenge facing a free press in the USA today in terms of journalists being able to fulfill their professional responsibilities? Information of how to submit your essay will be updated annually.

The Lorraine Chichowski Journalism Scholarship Fund will be a current-use, restricted scholarship awarded annually to a graduate student enrolled full-time in an academic program within the division of Journalism at American University. The scholarship will be awarded annually in the amount of $2,500.00 by the Graduate Admissions Office of the School of Communication, in accord with the University's financial aid policies to students who meet the university's requirements for need-based assistance. Scholarships awarded by the fund will be applied to the cost of attending the university. In accord with university policy, the scholarship will be renewed from year to year. If, in a particular year, there are no qualified applicants, the university may choose to award the scholarship in a manner consistent with the donor's original intent.

This scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the MA in Journalism and Digital Storytelling program with outstanding record of achievement in their career, the academic arena, strong recommendations and financial need.