Whether you want to be the next White House press secretary or a journalism student who wants to ask the difficult questions, one thing is sure: getting there whether via college or graduate school will be a lot simpler if you get some media scholarships along the way.
However, if you’re eligible for scholarships but do not have enough funds to cover your total cost of education, GAD Capital offers different types of loans that can assist you in filling the gap.
These five journalism scholarships are worth looking into.
Here are five organizations that provide journalism scholarships, as well as some suggestions on where to go for more:
- The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
Consider entering the SPJ Foundation’s essay contest if you’re still in high school but can think large. In 2021, candidates were asked to provide a 300- to 500-word answer to the topic, “Why must journalists aim to enhance diversity and representation in their coverage and newsrooms, and how may this be accomplished?”
Every year, three students compete for $1,000 (first place), $500 (second place), and $300 (third place) (third).
Try your shot at the Journalism Education Association’s Journalist of the Year Scholarships if you’re more a fledgling journalist than an excellent writer. You might earn up to $3,000 (first place) or $850 (second place) based on your clip collection (runners-up).
- National Press Club
The National Press Club, like the SPJ, is a professional organization that assists prospective members of the industry in financing their studies. There are three journalism scholarships for four figures available:
Journalism Diversity Scholarship: A $2,000-$2,500 grant, renewable for up to three years, for students who contribute to the industry’s diversity. Feldman Fellowship for Graduate Studies in Journalism: A $5,000 one-time stipend for those seeking a second degree in journalism.
Zimmerman, Richard G. A $5,000 scholarship for high school students interested in pursuing a career in journalism.
- The American Copy Editors Society
First-year College students, seniors, and graduate students interested in editing the written word take note: Six ACES journalism scholarships are available, valued at between $1,500 and $3,500.
The Bill Walsh scholarship, named after a former Washington Post employee, searches for a top student who is particularly interested in news editing. You must write 500 words explaining how you would manage newsroom turmoil as a rookie copy editor as part of the application.
Each of the six scholarship winners is also given financial help to attend the annual ACES conference.
4. The Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM)
The AWSM grants up to eight female students a $1,000 journalism scholarship each year and a sportswriting, broadcast, social media, or media relations internship at a top-tier sports media company such as ESPN or Sports Illustrated.
Any college student may apply for the scholarship/internship award, but you must first join AWSM and pay the membership cost.
5. National Press Photographers Foundation (NPPF)
If you prefer to convey tales via photographs or video rather than text, the NPPF offers a variety of journalism scholarships. Undergraduate and graduate photography scholarships, video and multimedia grants, and a grant for long-term visual journalism projects are also available.
Consider applying for the NPPF’s College Photographer of the Year International scholarship if you’re a current student with a strong portfolio. Every year, two winners are chosen, each getting $1,000 and $500.
More journalistic scholarships may be found here.
I was once in your position, entering journalism school and looking for financial assistance to help pay for my tuition. After months of applying, I got $11,000 in journalistic scholarships, but surprise none of the five specialist groups mentioned above offered financial help.
You, too, could discover success through receiving honors from your school, workplace, or based on your previous journalistic work. There are various reasons why you can be eligible for a scholarship.
Consider your ancestry or community as additional methods to stand out on journalism scholarship applications. Some organizations work to bring more diversity to a profession that currently lacks it.
