Apply Now for Religion Reporting Fellowships

The International Reporting Project (IRP) will offer up to nine fellowships to experienced professional journalists to report on topics related to global religion. These fellowships are open only to journalists who are citizens of the United States, Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand or the United Kingdom. Applications are now being accepted.

U.S. Religion Fellows

U.S. citizens will be awarded a reporting fellowship to travel to any country overseas for at least four weeks to report on religion-related topics. All travel must take place during the period between August 24 and October 18, 2014. The IRP will provide a stipend of $6,000 and purchase the US Fellows’ international air tickets. Following their trips, all US Fellows will be required to attend a four-day session in Washington, D.C., on October 19-23 that will feature short presentations and discussion of their stories. IRP will cover the costs of Fellows’ travel to Washington and accommodations in Washington.

International Religion Fellows

Non-US citizens will not be required to come to Washington. Their reporting will take place in their home countries in a three-month period beginning August 1 and ending October 31, 2014. The IRP will provide a total stipend of $6,000. Non-US Fellows who wish to travel to other countries for part of their religion reporting may use the stipend to help cover the costs of their tickets. But the main purpose of these fellowships for non-US Fellows is to produce stories about their own countries. Stories must be reported and published, broadcast or posted online by November 1 in order for Fellows to receive the final portion of their stipends. However, Fellows are encouraged to continue covering these issues after the IRP grant ends.

How to Apply

All applicants must fill out an application form in which they should write an essay of at least 1,000 words describing the stories they would produce during the fellowship. All essays must be in English. However, the stories and other updates produced by the international Fellows may be in English or in other languages. IRP encourages stories in a variety of media, including print, online, radio, television, photography, blog posts, social media and video.

Applicants may propose any stories that relate to religion, including its role as a source of tension or conflict, its relationship to politics, economics or access to health, housing or clean water, its impact on art and culture, religion and human rights, or other issues. All of the fellows’ stories will be republished on the IRP site and co-owned by the fellow (or his/her distribution partners, depending on agreements) and the IRP.

The Fellowships are intended for professional journalists who have worked for years as professionals and who have a record of outstanding achievement in reporting for influential media outlets. This fellowship is not intended for students or for recent graduates without much professional experience. A brief telephone interview with finalists will also be a part of the selection process.

The deadline for submitting the application form is midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on June 30.