Gordon N. Fisher/JHR Journalism Fellowship for Sub-Saharan African Journalists.

by lanredahunsi January 7, 2014

written by lanredahunsi January 7, 2014 2 comments

Application Deadline: January 15th 2014

The Gordon N. Fisher/JHR Journalism Fellowship at Massey College in the University of Toronto

is an annual opportunity for an African journalist to participate in the William Southam Journalism Fellowship Program.

Funded by the Alva Foundation in memory of the former president and chief executive officer of the Canadian newspaper and communications company, Southam Inc., the grant allows the Fellowship to be held annually at Massey College and the University of Toronto under the auspices of Journalists for Human Rights.

The Fellowship

The Fisher Fellowship runs in tandem with the William Southam Journalism Fellowships and takes place over one academic year–September to May– at the University of Toronto.

Fellows are able to choose from a wide range of university courses and activities, are free to audit any graduate or undergraduate courses and have access to the University’s many facilities.
Fellows live at Massey College, a multi-disciplinary graduate residential college in the University of Toronto. There are no educational prerequisites for a Fellowship, nor do Fellows receive credits or degrees for work done during the academic year.

The program typically requires auditing at least two academic courses a semester; one academic course must be taken in full and all assignments completed.

The Fisher/JHR Fellow meets regularly with his or her Canadian counterparts in informal seminars to discuss contemporary issues with speakers from a wide variety of professions.
They also participate in full in any trips organized as part of the program.

To obtain the maximum benefit from the program, Fellows agree to refrain from professional work, including writing and broadcasting, during the period of the Fellowship. Personal holidays and travel are restricted to University holiday periods

The Fellowship underwrites:

(1) an eight-month stipend that will replicate the successful applicant’s salary along with any costs associated with the program. The first monthly installment will commence with an end – September payment and conclude with the end – April payment;

(2) all university fees;

3) travel expenses up to the cost of economy air fare to and from Toronto for the Fellow;

(4) travel expenses for organized trips during the program;

(5) a winter clothing allowance

(6) a book allowance

Application Criteria

Open to journalists from Sub-Saharan Africa, with preference given to candidates from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Tanzania , DR Congo, and Liberia
8 years’ experience working in media
Currently full-time as a news or editorial employee at a newspaper, radio station, television station, magazine or news service. Freelance journalist s who have been working consistently in the media over an eight-year period will also be considered
Proficiency in English
Three letters of reference

Application Process

Deadline for submission is no later than January 15th, 2014. Applications will only be considered when all of the following completed documents are submitted: