Scholarship Description
Graduate students studying at American colleges and universities, or Americans studying abroad, who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of 15 scholarships or fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation.
Winning an OPC Foundation scholarship or fellowship is more than a cash award. Winners are invited to join the Overseas Press Club family. They are encouraged to network and keep the organization apprised of their career moves.
Foundation fellowships pay for travel and living expenses for awardees to intern in foreign bureaus at such leading news organization as the Associated Press, Forbes, GlobalPost, Reuters and Wall Street Journal, among others, and at foreign English-language media companies like the South China Morning Post and Cambodia Daily. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers.
The judges require that applicants submit a Cover Letter, Resume and Writing Sample. The applicant’s name and school should appear at the top of each page. The Writing Sample of approximately 500 words should concentrate on an area of the world or an international issue that is in keeping with the applicant’s interest and experience. Judges prefer a reported story, especially one that demonstrates a journalist’s perspective or initiative. Winners have written on such diverse topics as playing black jack on the Trans-Siberian iRailroad, political activism in Morocco, and social upheaval in China. Essays that are exceedingly long may be disqualified. Because four of the 15 awards are reserved for international business or economic coverage, the Foundation invites applications from students who show a strong understanding of, or interest in, global economic issues such as trade, finance, emerging markets, immigration or environmental impacts. The substance of the essay may have appeared in an individual’s previously published work but should be reformatted to meet the requirements of the application. Do not send a clip or URL.
The Cover Letter should be autobiographical in nature addressing such questions as how the applicant developed an interest in this particular part of the world, a story pitch, or how he or she would use the scholarship to further journalistic ambitions. The judges respond well to applications showing strong reporting skills, color, and understanding or passion.
Winners will be contacted in December so arrangements can be made for them to attend the Foundation Scholarship Luncheon in New York City. Recipients are expected to attend. The Foundation will cover the cost of travel and hotel.
Year of Need: 1st Year Grad, 2nd Year Grad, 3rd Year Grad,
Type:
Num Awards: 1
Min Award:
Max Award: 3,000
Deadline: 2024-12-01
Website: https://www.overseaspressclubfoundation.org/scholar-awards
Sponsoring Organization
Overseas Press Club Foundation
40 West 45 Street
New York, NY 10036
Contact Person:
Phone: 201-493-9087
Fax: 201-612-9915
Web: http://overseaspressclubfoundation.org/scholarships.html
Email:
