TDU – Nature India Media Fellowship in Science Journalism

IN Opportunities | 21/09/2017
 
The TransDisciplinary University is partnering with Nature India to launch a media fellowship for science journalism.
 
The TDU-Nature India Media Fellowship for Science Journalism will financially support – with a bursary of Rs 100,000 (including field travel expenses for the stories) – a group of selected Indian journalists to explore and report on scientific research as well as allied fields such as biodiversity, health and environment, through the lens of science. It will help the media fellows create a strong body of work by publishing or broadcasting stories in their respective media outlets.
 
These stories will have a nuanced focus on science while they look at issues such as biodiversity, health and/or environment and build upon the expertise available with the TDU and Nature India. They will, in turn, generate public discussion and understanding in these areas, hopefully leading to improved understanding of policy issues. The TDU and Nature India will have the permission to cross-post the stories arising from the fellowship on their individual websites.
 
The media fellows will be invited for a three-day orientation workshop at the TDU campus, where they will be introduced to some of the University’s research activities. They will also have time to discuss one-on-one with subject experts in their chosen topic and develop story ideas. There will be an expert coordinator for the media fellowship programme and experts from the TDU and Nature India will also be available for consultation during the fellowship period.
 
The cost for travel and accommodation for the media fellows for participating in the orientation workshop will be provided by the organisers.
 
Fellowship Themes: Applicants can choose one of the following themes for pursuing their fellowship:
  1. Pure and applied sciences;
  2. Biodiversity;
  3. Health; and/or
  4. Environment.
 
 
The media fellows can look at ongoing research at TDU on these themes and also elsewhere for their story ideas during the fellowship.
 
Bursary Amount: Rs. One lakh per Fellow for field travel, research and writing to be paid in two instalments, one at the beginning of the Fellowship and one on completion of publishing the required number of stories.
 
Eligibility: Professional journalists, including freelancers, in Print and New Media in English and any Indian regional language, with at least three years of demonstrated experience in writing on science, biodiversity, environmental, health or allied issues. Regional language Fellows will need to know some English for communication.
 
Duration of Fellowship: Three months, during which Fellows must complete their submissions.
 
Fellowship Criteria: Fellows must co-ordinate with TDU-Nature India for field visits/research and produce at least FIVE stories (1000 words or more each) on their selected theme.
 
 
Two short news items (500 words each) will constitute one story, and if a fellow opts to produce only news stories then TEN stories will be required for the fellowship. Similar guidelines will be issued for radio and television journalists.
 
Application Requirements:
  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Online link or scanned copies of three published stories on science relating to biodiversity, health, environment or allied areas. Scanned copies must have the publication title, date of publishing and byline.
  3. Regional language stories to be accompanied with a competent translation into English.
  4. A letter of support from an Editor that the Fellow’s work will be published. Freelancers too will need to provide this letter.
  5. One-page cover letter, outlining briefly why you have chosen your theme and what you intend to do with it.
Application Deadline: September 24, 2017. Selected applicants will be notified within four days.
 
Send Applications to: mediafellowships@tdu.edu.in