The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute is inviting proposals from individuals and organizations who wish to partner with them on innovative projects that strengthen journalism’s future.
RJI Fellowships are open to U.S. citizens and news organizations as well as international news outlets. They also welcome proposals from international journalists who plan to partner with U.S.-based news, technology and civil society organizations.
Projects often include devising new strategies or models to solve a problem, building new tools, creating a prototype or advancing a prototype so it’s ready for investment or launch. All projects will be completed and implemented in a newsroom within the span of the fellowship.
Three types of RJI Fellowships:
Residential
Residential fellowships are designed for individuals who want to collaborate with RJI staff, students and faculty on-site at their institute in Columbia, Missouri. Residential fellows spend eight months on campus at the Missouri School of Journalism to take advantage of the intellectual and technological resources of RJI and the Missouri School of Journalism. Resource examples include access to programmers and app developers, support to conduct market research, and paid students to produce multimedia content.
- Who Qualifies:Anyone above the age of 18
- Start Date: 1, 2020
- Duration:8 months (two academic semesters)
- Stipend:Fellows receive a $10,000 a month stipend and a one-time reimbursement for relocation costs up to $10,000
Nonresidential
Nonresidential fellowships are designed for entrepreneurial individuals with a strong interest in journalism and issues related to digital communications. Applicants fellowship can tackle something they are interested in pursuing on their own or something that could benefit a current employer. Successful ideas, products or strategies should serve as a model for the news industry or help the industry get smarter, faster and nimbler.
Applicants do not need to live in Columbia but applicants will need to make at least one visit to consult with RJI leadership and staff.
- Who Qualifies:Anyone above the age of 18
- Start:Starting date is negotiable
- Duration: 8 months
- Stipend:Fellows receive a $20,000 stipend, payable quarterly at $5,000
Institutional
Institutional fellowships are designed to unlock some of the thoughtful, meaningful ideas in their newsroom or company that for various reasons haven’t been able to be explored yet. RJI will collaborate with a leader at their institution or company who can develop the idea and lead a team that will make it a reality. That leader will be named an RJI Fellow but will continue working at his or her job. The stipend for this fellowship will be paid to the company or institution to be used for salary relief for the fellow, or for another purpose that the company or institution determines will best ensure the success of the fellowship project.
- Who Qualifies:Managers, executives or employees from institutions or companies
- Start:Starting date is negotiable
- Duration:8 months
- Stipend:$20,000 to the company or institution, payable quarterly at $5,000
For more information, visit https://rjifellowships.smapply.io/