Do good. Have fun. And make the world a better place for all.
This is the credo of the Stone & Holt Weeks Foundation, which is named after two young young men who were victims of a tragic car accident in the summer of 2009. It was established by Linton Weeks, national correspondent for Digital News at NPR and a former reporter for The Washington Post, and Jan Taylor Weeks, an artist, teacher, and volunteer. The Foundation has held a number of events since it was founded in 2009, and they recently announced their call for applications for the Stone & Holt Weeks Fellowship, a six-month opportunity for an up-and-coming journalist to learn the skills of the trade before jump-starting a successful career in journalism.
The Stone & Holt Weeks Foundation awards one fellow a year, and gives them exposure to journalism in a broad, connected sense with two of the nation’s most prestigious news organizations. The awarded fellow will receive one-on-one mentoring from professional journalists at The Washington Post and NPR, as well as several training sessions in key areas of journalism like radio and digital production. This also includes coverage on the air, online, and in the field.
The fellowship consists of two parts: 12 weeks at The Washington Post and 12 weeks at NPR. The fellow will also receive a weekly stipend of $800 for the duration of the fellowship, but they will be responsible for any living expenses. Employment with either The Washington Post or NPR is not guaranteed after the fellowship. The Stone & Holt Weeks Foundation has confirmed two fellows in previous years: Nathan Rott in 2010 and Teresa Tomassoni in 2011.
To apply for the Stone & Holt Weeks Fellowship, visit http://www.npr.org/about/careers/fellowships/weeks.html and download and complete the application form. Applicants do not need to have journalism degrees or experience as a journalist, but you must have a bachelor’s degree (or have received one by July 15, 2012). You must also include two recommendations, two or more writing samples, a resume, and a copy of your academic transcripts.
All documents, including the application form, must be postmarked by midnight on April, 30, 2012.