UC Berkeley offers fellowships for African journalists

The fellowships will each total US$36,000, including roundtrip airfare, professional stipends, and rent while in Berkeley. The initiative will also offer dedicated funding for both domestic US and Africa travel for research and reporting work.

The selected fellows will join the school's Visiting International Scholars Program and participate in a new journalism training initiative aimed at producing high quality coverage of agricultural development issues in Africa for dissemination in US, African, and international media.

Requirements:

At least five years experience in journalism in sub-Saharan Africa, in any medium including print newspaper, magazine, television, radio, documentary, or new media format such as blogging, podcasting, and other online publishing.

Applicants must demonstrate a proven track record of commitment to the truth-seeking craft, and a willingness to effectively investigate problems of food access and production on the continent.

A BA degree, at minimum, is strongly desired, along with experience and knowledge about agricultural issues in African countries.

Selected African fellows will enroll with other Visiting Scholars in background courses at Berkeley examining the global food crisis starting in late August 2009, while also contributing their knowledge about Africa and journalism to their US and international peers.

Applications must include a CV, three examples of work, and a one-page cover letter containing a statement of interest. Applications must be sent to Julie Hirano at .