Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Reporting

  Eligibility & Application
  Current Year Fellows
  Former Fellows
  Environmental Justice Workshop
  Reporting by Diversity Fellows

 Environmental Reporting Fellowships (2001-2006)
 Blogs By Fellows

I was delighted with our Metcalf Diversity Fellow - he was engaged, up-to-speed, eager. He was able to start making a valuable contribution to our operation right away. Not only did we get a sterling candidate, but Metcalf staff was admirably supportive and engaged with the fellows. I was impressed.
                        Owen Thomas, Deputy Feature Editor, The Christian Science Monitor

Having Ambar [Espinoza] in the MPR newsroom helped us broaden and deepen our environmental reporting. The payoff was in the service to our listeners and improving our lead over our competition on this important beat.
                        Mike Edgerly, Deputy News Director, Minnesota Public Radio

This program has done a wonderful job of bringing diversity and more reporting help to our newsroom during a time when financial pressures are forcing us to cut back on our resources for covering the news.
                        Peter B. Lord, Environment Writer, The Providence Journal

The Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Reporting is a 42-week fellowship program that provides five traditionally under-represented racial and ethnic minority journalists with an opportunity to learn basic science, gain environmental research and reporting skills, and apply new knowledge and skills in a 38-week reporting assignment.

The Diversity Fellowships program consists of four weeks of independent study at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography with science faculty mentors, including an orientation and immersion workshop that integrates science and environmental justice issues; and 38 weeks of reporting on science and the environment with reporter and editor mentors. Fellows may work in radio, television, and print outlets such as The American Prospect; The Boston Globe; Chicago Tribune/chicagotribune.com; The Christian Science Monitor; EarthSky Communications; High Country News; Los Angeles Times; Minnesota Public Radio; National Geographic; NOVA Science Television; The Providence Journal; Sacramento Bee; Salon.com; PRI's The World; and Talk of the Nation: Science Friday.

The fellowship includes a $34,000 stipend paid over ten months and limited travel support.

The stipend does not include health benefits. The 2008-2009 Diversity Fellows will attend the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists, October 2008 in Roanoke, Virginia. Metcalf Institute will cover conference registration, travel and lodging. Fellows will be responsible for the SEJ membership fee ($25 for the first year) and out-of-pocket expenses.

Eligible journalists must have one to two years of journalism experience, U.S. citizenship, and a demonstrated interest in improving their environmental and science reporting skills.

The Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Reporting is funded by a grant from the Geosciences Division of the National Science Foundation (see news release).