Journalism fellowships for Indian
journalists have been scant for a while.
Nevertheless, here is one you can apply for: the Inclusive Media-United Nations Development Program Fellowship award for 2014 for professional
journalists in India.
The journalism fellowship is run by Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in Delhi and often offers
high-profile fellowships for media persons.The Inclusive Media platform is
prestigious and enjoys high-retention in the media industry. So, I say, go for it.
If you are selected for it, the impetus
from such a high-profile platform will definitely contribute to more than just
your professional standing. It will also contribute to your growth as a journalist and enhance your news reporting ‘mileage’ and industry-skills.
CSDS runs incentives primarily for
journalists whose work focus on issue-based beats such as policy, social
change, agrarian crises, rural development, and economy. If you have a
background in policy reporting, I say you should apply for the Inclusive
Media-UNDP Fellowship.
Coordinator of Inclusive Media Mr. Shambhu
Khatak emailed me yesterday informing that the fellowship was not accepting
previous winners this time. I won it in 2010.
Here are the details:
Inclusive Media-UNDP Fellowship 2014
Inclusive Media for Change invites
applications from journalists in English and Hindi for Inclusive Media-UNDP
Fellowships 2014. The Fellowships are given to increase and sharpen media
coverage of rural distress/ development and the issues of the marginalized
people. The fellowships are aimed at promoting democratic social change,
particularly through empowerment, participation and good governance.
The ideal candidates would be willing to
take time off from routine journalism and spend at least two to four weeks with
rural/ marginalized communities and write/ produce series of stories that
require wider coverage and public attention.
The fellowships will cover travel
and incidental expenses subject to an upper limit of Rs. 150,000. It intends to
cover costs of news gathering and logistics.
A total number of six fellowships will be
given for Hindi and English journalists.
The Inclusive Media-UNDP fellowships are
open to journalists working for mainstream newspapers/ magazines/ radio or TV
channels. Those working for well-known media websites are eligible to apply
though a maximum of one fellowship can be given for really well-known new media
platforms.
Freelancers can apply only if they can
produce letters of support from mainstream papers with an undertaking to
publish their output.
A jury of well-known editors and
development thinkers will select the fellows on the basis of brief project
proposals and story ideas. The projects should be about happenings/ positive
interventions/ alternatives and success stories on issues of livelihoods,
agrarian crises, hunger/ malnutrition, public health, and the MDGs.
An ideal
candidate will have genuine interest in rural development/ issues of the
marginalized people and will be willing to spend time in rural areas for field
work. The fellows will be given a chance to refine their project proposal after
their selection if the jury so recommends.
The applicant must get a supporting letter
from her/his media organization with an undertaking to publish the fellowship
outcome in their publications in a format of their choice (i.e., series of
reports, travelogues, edit/ op-ed articles, investigation, documentary film or
TV/radio packages). Entries without the editors' undertaking will not be
considered.
Last date for submission: 1 August, 2014.
Rules & Regulations
The applications for Inclusive Media–UNDP
Fellowships should include
- A cover letter and the candidate’s CV
(strictly within 3 A4 pages)
- A clearly defined project proposal with
clear title (Within 500 words)
- A break up of at least 5 story ideas based
on the project proposal (within 250 words)
- An idea of the geographical region selected
for field work, and a rough break-up of travel/ boarding requirements with an
approximate expenditure. (within 100 words)
- Please mention the places you want to visit
and a rough breakup of what you expect to be your expenditure. The Inclusive
Media Fellowships are intended to cover costs of news gathering and reimburse
expenditure and not meant to be salary or honorarium. So the actual expenditure receipts would be
reimbursed without TDS deduction wherever applicable and within reasonable
limits. The CSDS accounts department may make inquiries about actual
expenditure
- Two samples of published work (or Radio/TV
programs) in English or Hindi. For electronic stories, please use CD/ DVD and
post it to us clearly marked your name and the title of the story with a marker
on the CD
- A supporting letter from the editor
assuring leave for 2 to 4 weeks and agreeing to use the fellowship output in
the publication (Free lancers must procure a supporting letter from the editor
of a reputed publication/ channel agreeing to use the fellowship output)
- A letter of recommendation about the candidate’s past record, journalistic abilities and suitability for the project from an eminent journalist, editor or supervisor giving an idea of the candidate’s suitability for the Inclusive Media-UNDP Fellowships.
Fellowship Terms and Conditions
The verdict of the fellowship jury will be
final.
All payments will be subject to TDS rules
and will be made in at least two tranches.
The fellowship grant will be suspended or
withdrawn if the fellow fails to complete the project and publish its outcome.
The candidates are strongly advised to read the rules before applying.
The outcomes of the fellowships will also
be put on the website (im4change.org)
The application material and CVs must be
submitted before the last date in Microsoft Word format in English and Mangal
or Unicode in Hindi along with scanned copies of your clippings to:
im4change.csds@gmail.com
Application sent via emails will be
promptly acknowledged. Those sending emails please write
"Inclusive Media - UNDP Fellowship" in the subject line.
(Candidates applying in Hindi must note
that applications sent in fonts other than Mangal/ Unicode would be rejected)
However, if for any reason you cannot send
it by email, or if you want to send a hard copy as well as the email, please do
so by speed post or courier to the following address: (Please note that entries
which arrive after due date, for any reason whatsoever, will not be considered)
Inclusive Media - UNDP Fellowship 2014
Centre for the Study of Developing
Societies (CSDS)
29, Rajpur Road
Delhi 110054
Please visit these links: Details on the Inclusive Media-UNDP Fellowships 2014 and Rules and Regulations
I'd be glad to offer you assistance in setting up your project proposals and news pitches. Please use the contact form on the blog to get in touch with me (No, I won’t charge you anything! I just want to encourage journalists, especially entry-level and mid-career reporters mark a notch in their careers). I’d be glad to hear from you. All the best to you.
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