Indigenous Scholarship to Columbia University Summer Investigative Reporting Course

After facilitating one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous journalists last year, Dart Centre Asia Pacific will create an ongoing scholarship for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island journalist to attend the prestigious Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Summer Investigative Reporting Course in New York City. The application deadline has passed.

Dart Centre Asia Pacific (DCAP) is committed to creating an ongoing scholarship for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island journalist to attend the prestigious Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Summer Investigative Reporting Course in New York City.

“DCAP recognises that colonisation has created a legacy of trauma for many First Nations people, and it has become daily fare for Indigenous reporters. The devastating consequences of intergenerational trauma are well documented,” said Dr. Cait McMahon, Managing Director of DCAP. “Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island journalism by the Dart Centre is entirely constant with our mission.”

The program runs from July 8 - 26, 2019. The scholarship will provide economy air fare, accommodation, course fees and a small contribution to living expenses. The first DCAP scholarship holder was Allan Clarke, who used his time at the Investigative Reporting Course to work on his Walkley award winning report on the unsolved death of Gomeroi man Mark Haines. The scholarship application deadline -- May 4, 2019 -- has passed.

To be eligible, applicants must be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island journalists with at least five years of reporting experience. The Summer Investigative Reporting Course is for journalists worldwide who report stories, as well as editors who manage investigative projects or teams. Workshops focus on developing a major project but lessons are intended to be used by journalists in their everyday reporting.

Journalists from every beat and media platform – newspapers, magazines, television, radio, wire services and digital news outlets – were encouraged to apply. Participants come from at least 12 countries each year, and cover topics ranging from politics and the environment to sports and the arts to local and international news.

A strong competence in spoken and written English is required. This workshop is not for beginners. It requires that participants have an extensive background in journalism. Participants should arrive with advanced skills in Excel and other database management programs to better utilize the data training.

Application requirements included a CV, a letter of support from a direct supervisor or manager (freelancers can submit a letter from an editor with whom they have worked), a short essay outlining experience and interest in the program, two work samples, and a complete story pitch. The application deadline has passed.

Dart Centre Asia Pacific’s scholarship provides roundtrip economy flights, accommodation, course fees and a small contribution to living expenses.

Dart Centre Asia Pacific reserves the right to hold over the scholarship in the event that no suitable applicants apply