South Jersey Information Equity Project seeks local journalists and media makers for 2024 fellowship program
Applications are open until December 1, 2023
By Adrienne Bauldock and Cassandra Etienne
The Center for Cooperative Media’s South Jersey Information Equity Project (SJIEP) is now accepting applications for our third reporting fellowship cohort!
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The SJIEP fellowship supports journalists and media makers looking to cover stories that are important to Black communities in South Jersey. Originally focused on Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties, the project will extend its coverage to reach Cumberland, Salem, and Atlantic counties in 2024.
The increased coverage area now allows us to add three more fellows, bringing us to a total of eight reporters next year. If you want to share stories about local news and the developments, businesses, and residents making a difference in South Jersey — we want to hear from you!
SJIEP fellows will participate in a series of reporting and multimedia trainings, as well as mentoring and career development opportunities. They will also gain real newsroom experience by producing stories for our SJIEP media partners serving the communities of South Jersey, including Black in Jersey, Front Runner New Jersey, Scoop USA Media and our newest media partner, Atlantic City Focus.
The fellowship will run for six months — from January to June of 2024.
✍️ Each of our fellows will receive:
- Up to $6,000 in compensation for their participation
- Fellowship placement with one of our local media partners
- Guidance from partner staff and editors
- Monthly skills and professional development trainings
- Support and coaching from the Center staff and SJIEP journalism mentors
All of the published work by our fellows will be hosted on the SJIEP website. Each fellow will be expected to produce a minimum of 2 stories per month. Fellows will also participate in community convenings with residents to discuss ideas and information needs for their reporting.
The South Jersey Information Equity Project is generously supported by the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.
Eligible applicants must reside or work in BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, or GLOUCESTER, CUMBERLAND, SALEM, and ATLANTIC counties.
This fellowship opportunity continues the SJIEP’s project goals, which consist of addressing media inequity in South Jersey, specifically by seeking to improve the quality and quantity of news and information produced by and for communities of color.
The project was conceived by the Center for Cooperative Media in late 2019 through a partnership with the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.
Complete this form [NOW CLOSED] by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1st, 2023, to apply for the SJIEP fellowship. [APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.]
Click here to stay informed about upcoming events and to learn more about the project!
If you know someone who would be a great fit, please let us know and tell them to apply!
Questions?
For questions and additional information, visit the SJIEP website at sjiep.org or send an email to etiennec@montclair.edu.
Cassandra Etienne is the assistant director of membership and programming at the Center for Cooperative Media. Contact her at etiennec@montclair.edu.
Adrienne Bauldock is the project coordinator for the South Jersey Information Equity Project. Contact her at bauldocka@montclair.edu.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a primarily grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, the Independence Public Media Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
