IRE makes available certain fellowships and scholarships to allow professional journalists or students the opportunity to attend training events they would not otherwise be able to attend. Fellowships typically include a one-year IRE membership, conference or seminar registration fees, and reimbursement for hotel and travel expenses.
IRE would like to thank The Chicago Tribune Foundation, the John S. & James. L. Knight Foundation, the Philip L. Graham Fund and the Ottaway Family Fund for their support of the minority fellowship program.
If you have questions or need more information about fellowships, please contact John Green, membership coordinator, jgreen@ire.org, 573-882-2772.
Freelance fellowship awards of $1,000 or more are available to assist in conducting investigative projects. These fellowships for journalists who make their living primarily as freelancers were created in 2008. Applications will be scrutinized by three experienced freelance journalists; they are ineligible for the award while serving on the committee. Proposals will be judged in part on the breadth, significance and potential impact of the investigative project. At the request of the donor, proposals dealing with whistleblowers, business ethics and/or privacy issues will receive priority; projects involving other topics will be given serious consideration by the committee as well. The freelance projects must be published or aired primarily in U.S. outlets. The annual application deadline is April 30; IRE will begin accepting applications Feb. 15. Winners will be announced at the annual IRE Conference. Download an application (.PDF)
The James Richard Bennett Scholarships allows a limited number of college students in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma or Louisiana to attend the annual IRE conference. The scholarships are made possible by a donation to IRE by Dr. James R. Bennett, professor emeritus of English, University of Arkansas. Apply.
The Philip L. Graham Diversity Fellowships minority fellowship program was established by the Philip L. Graham Fund and IRE to allow a limited number of professional journalists to attend IRE's conferences. These fellowships are aimed at increasing the diversity of IRE's membership. Applicants for this award should identify themselves with one of the following minority groups: Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan, Native American, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino. Apply.
The Jennifer Leonard Scholarships are available to women of modest means who are college students studying journalism or professional journalists with three or fewer years of working experience, to attend IRE's conferences. The scholarships were established by IRE member David Cay Johnston to honor his wife, the president of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and a national leader in promoting ethical standards for endowments. Learn more about Leonard and the scholarships. Apply.
The Ottaway Fellowships minority fellowship program was established by David Ottaway and the Ottaway Family Fund to allow a limited number of professional journalists to attend IRE's weeklong Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) Boot Camp series. These fellowships are aimed at increasing the diversity of IRE's membership. Applicants for this award should identify themselves with one of the following minority groups: Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan, Native American, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino. Apply.
Godfrey Wells Stancill Fellowships help a limited number of journalists working for newspapers with Sunday circulation under 50,000 attend IRE's annual conference. These fellowships were established by IRE board member Nancy Stancill and her family to honor the memory of her father, Godfrey Wells Stancill, former editor and publisher of the Suffolk (Va.) News-Herald. Apply.
