Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East

The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT calls for applications for the Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East. The fellowship was inspired by the life and career of Egyptian science journalist Mohammed Yahia. The fellowship was created in partnership with Springer Nature, publisher of Nature Middle East, which grew to be an important contributor to science reporting in the region under Yahia’s leadership from 2010-2023.

The Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East is designed, through a combination of study and specialised training, to help reporters and editors from the region to further develop a successful career in science journalism.

This will be a one-semester fellowship, held in the fall of the academic year beginning in 2024, hosted by KSJ at MIT. The fellow will join other KSJ fellows in a program of study at MIT and other Cambridge/Boston area universities and in the program’s seminars, training workshops and field trips throughout the semester.

Who can apply?

Journalists based in Africa and the Middle East with at least three years’ experience reporting on science, health or environmental issues in the region. Applicants may be reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.

What are the benefits?

• $40,000 stipend for the semester
• MIT health insurance
• $5,000 stipend to help with start-up housing costs
• Full access MIT benefits such as subsidised public transportation, access to museums and other programs in the area
• Connections to a thriving community of science journalists

How will the application process work?

The fellowship will open for applications between February 1, 2024 and March 1, 2024. A panel of judges will review the submissions, interview finalists, and announce a final selection by mid-March.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2024. To learn more about this opportunity and apply, please click here.