Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies Pulitzer International Reporting Student Fellowship in Latin America and the Caribbean (Virtual for Summer 2021)
Sponsored by PLAC and Penn Global
Contact: Nancy Biller, Assistant Dean of Global Health Affairs, Penn Nursing, nbiller@nursing.upenn.edu
Penn Students: If you have any interest in journalistic story-telling – through print, video, or other means, you may be interested in applying for this terrific fellowship that is a collaboration between Penn and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. Winter break is a great time to consider this opportunity. Applications are due February 1, 2021. Click here to see what Penn Student Reporters have done in the past. Note that many had absolutely no prior journalism / reporting experience; one of the great values of the program is the mentoring you get from the Pulitzer Center / professional journalists. More information follows.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is an innovative award-winning non-profit journalism organization dedicated to supporting in-depth engagement with underreported global affairs through sponsorship of quality international journalism across all media platforms and a unique program of outreach and education to schools and universities.
The Pulitzer Campus Consortium is a network of universities and community colleges that support in-person campus visits by Pulitzer Center journalists and international reporting fellowships for students. Penn students have the opportunity to expand their global education by applying for one of these fellowships. Support is provided by the Pulitzer Center, Penn Global, the Middle East Center (MEC), the South Asia Center (SAC), and Penn in Latin America and the Caribbean (PLAC). All current full-time Penn students, undergraduate and Master’s-level, returning in the same full-time status in the fall, are eligible to apply.
WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE AND WHO IS A GOOD FIT TO BE A STUDENT JOURNALIST
Previous journalism is not a requirement but an open mind and a willingness to write, photograph and/or create videos is necessary. Pulitzer Center editors work closely with the fellows on storytelling strategies, reporting methods and travel logistics. Applicants should be committed to taking on the role of a journalist for the course of the fellowship for a minimum of 8-10 weeks. This means asking questions and going deep into stories. To get a handle on the differences between journalism and advocacy or public relations, carefully read the Pulitzer Center’s Ethics and Standards Policy. The fellows will participate in a Pulitzer Center-conducted workshop before beginning the reporting assignment. They also receive mentoring and editorial support while working on the project.
The strongest applicants will identify an untold story and present a clear, succinct plan for telling that story. Take a look at past reporting on the Pulitzer Center's site to get an idea of how journalists pitch their projects and to avoid pitching a story idea that has already been covered.
LOCATIONS THAT CAN BE USED FOR STORY FOCUS
Any country in Latin America or the Caribbean. Note that even though the 2021 reporting must be remote / virtual, the focus still has to be a country outside of the USA.
DELIVERABLES, DISSEMINATION, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
If you are awarded a Pulitzer Virtual International Reporting Student Fellowship, your project will have set deliverables (e.g. three blog posts, a narrative slideshow and a longer piece) agreed to by you and the Pulitzer Center and due by the end of August, 2021. Your work will be published on the Pulitzer Center site and possibly other outlets. You will also be expected to participate in outreach efforts for South Asia Center (SAC), Penn in Latin America and the Caribbean (PLAC) and Middle East Center (MEC) upon return to campus.
This Fellowship includes a $1,500 award ($1,000 from PLAC/Penn Global and $500 from the Pulitzer Center). Successful applicants must meet Penn Global and Pulitzer Center eligibility requirements. Upon award announcement, fellows will receive instructions on how to obtain PLAC/Penn Global grant of $1,000. Once deliverables have been satisfactorily completed, the Pulitzer Center will provide a final $500 award.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Follow instructions on the application form here and submit by February 1, 2021. Application form: Pulitzer Penn Intl Reporting Student Fellowship App PLAC 2021 (1).docx
QUESTIONS
Please feel free to contact Nancy Biller of Penn Nursing if you have any questions. nbiller@nursing.upenn.edu