Fellowships and Academic Awards

American University School of Communication (SOC) is the only professional school in Washington, DC that brings journalism, film and public communication together, with an international perspective and a focus on new media -- digital, interactive, and social media.  

SOC offers prestigious merit-based awards to full-time graduate students in partnership with the organizations listed below. MA candidates receive a scholarship for a designated number of academic credits plus a stipend and an opportunity to pursue professional projects with some of the country’s finest media organizations. Meet the fellows.

• Fellowships for Graduate Journalism Students
  

• Fellowships for Graduate Film and Media Arts Students
  

• Fellowships for Graduate Public Communication Students
  

• Fellowship for Graduate Political Communication Students
  

Journalism Fellowships

The Washington Post

The Washington Post is one of the world's premier news organizations, in print and online. The newspaper maintains an array of bureaus around the world, reports on all aspects of national politics and the federal government, and covers greater Washington, an increasingly diverse region that includes the nation's capital and its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, including both state capital bureaus. With a population of about 5 million, the region boasts the highest per capita income in America and features rich ethnic and racial diversity. With 60 reporters, The Post's Local staff is the region's dominant news gathering organization, in print and online. Post reporters cover government, politics, crime, social issues, transportation, development and education; they write feature and trend stories; they investigate major local institutions, and they blog, shoot video, chat online and work intensively with databases.

Meet Washington Post fellow Luz Lazo and see her work

The Washington Post is looking for graduate fellows with:

• Two-to-five years of newspaper experience, doing high-caliber work
• Experience in reporting; background in any of these topic areas is a plus: religion, transportation, education, law enforcement or government
• A career devoted to journalism with a focus on deep reporting and elegant writing
• Superb work ethic, willing to take direction, ability to multi-task
• Ability to blog, create other engaging digital content a plus
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required
  

Compensation: Full tuition remission and $30,000 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Application deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

Center for Public Integrity (CPI)

The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) is a nonprofit digital news organization dedicated to producing original, responsible investigative journalism on issues of public concern. Journalists, FOIA experts, researchers, and data experts conduct domestic and cross-border investigations into a wide range of topics, including: the environment, public health, government accountability, federal and state lobbying, and financial regulatory reform. Projects and stories are produced on the CPI website, as well as distributed through mainstream media outlets.

Meet CPI fellows Paul Abowd and Rachael Marcus and see their work

CPI is looking for graduate fellows with:

• Solid reporting experience
• Strong writing skills
• Experience and/or interest in investigative journalism
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required

Compensation: Minimum of 18 credits of tuition remission and $24,000 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Application deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

Bloomberg BNA

As we like to say, if you can report in Washington, D.C., you can report anywhere. And here is the perfect opportunity to cover the thought leaders who make this town work. Bloomberg BNA -- a leading source of legal, regulatory and business information for professionals -- is looking for graduate fellows. You'll be part of a network of more than 2,500 reporters, correspondents, and experts who deliver analysis, news and the information. And take note: Bloomberg BNA has three times been named to the FORTUNE list of "100 Best Companies to Work For in America." Coverage areas range from legal practice and tax and accounting, to employment, intellectual property and health care.

Meet BNA fellow Heather Caygle and see her work

Bloomberg BNA is looking for a fellow with:

• At least two years of journalism experience
• Ability to write for an work in a digital environment
• Interest in business-to-business or specialized reporting
• Basic understanding of how government works
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required
  

Compensation: Minimum of 18 credits of tuition remission and $24,000 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

The Investigative Reporting Workshop

The Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) at AU conducts significant, multimedia investigative journalism projects on a national and international scale. IRW mentors and enables the work of a new generation of investigative reporters while also enlarging the public space for leading journalists of our time to work with IRW as Senior Fellows or contract writers. IRW has partnered with PBS Frontline to expand its research and reporting.

Meet IRW fellow Lydia Beyoud and see her work

IRW is looking for graduate fellows with:

• Solid reporting experience
• Strong writing skills
• Digital journalism skill sets
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required
  

Compensation: Minimum of 18 credits of tuition remission and a stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

Film and Media Arts Fellowship

National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History (NMAH) has a track record of innovative and successful electronic outreach. Through innovative and appropriate uses of technology, the Department of New Media facilitates interaction with the museum’s exhibitions, collections, and programs, both inside and outside the walls of the museum. Integral to NMAH’s strategy is striving for excellence in leveraging museum collections and expertise to share timely, engaging stories about the American experience through digital media. Increasing capacity to use short-form online video to tell stories about American history, the national collections, and the staff who work there is an important part of this strategy. The SOC/NMAH fellow will work with the New Media department to conceptualize, develop, and produce short video pieces that can be posted on the NMAH website, shared via social media channels, and integrated into program and education materials.

Meet NMAH fellow Areeb Zuaiter and see her work

The National Museum of American History is looking for a graduate fellow with:

• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage the production process
• Capacity to design and create products that meet Smithsonian educational and quality standards 
• High level of technical expertise
• Interest in research
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required

Compensation: $24,000 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Application deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

 

National Park Service

The National Park Service is one of the world's premier public land management agencies. The agency, within the Department of the Interior, maintains a headquarters office in Washington D.C. and Regional Offices around the US. With 84 million acres of National Park land, in 397 Park Units, our nation’s rich natural and cultural heritage is preserved and protected for current and future generations. This fellowship gives two students, each year, the opportunity to develop video stories of our National Parks. This partnership with AU SOC and its Center for Environmental Filmmaking (CEF) will give students an opportunity to explore media delivery systems for deployment to National Parks and the internet.

The National Park Service is looking for a graduate fellow with:

• Three-to-five years of communications and film-making experience, doing high-caliber work
• Experience in any of these topic areas is a plus: environmental, public lands, wildlife, climate change, youth, relevancy for diverse populations.
• A career devoted to film-making and story-telling
• Superb work ethic, willing to take direction, ability to multi-task
• Ability to blog, create other engaging digital content a plus
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required

Compensation: 9 credits of tuition remission plus a $20/hour salary (20 hours/week during school semester and 40 hours/week during summer).

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.  For more information please e-mail CEF Director Prof. Chris Palmer at palmer@american.edu.

Application deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

Public Communication Fellowships 

Outreach Strategies

Outreach Strategies (OS) is a mission-driven communications firm focused on promoting sustainability and positive environmental outcomes at the national and international levels. OS focuses on the nexus between communication and public policy in the areas of climate, natural resources, energy, water, food and agriculture.  The firm was founded in early 2009 by Tad Segal, a senior advocacy communications strategists with experience in a variety of environments, including large coalitions, agency, corporate, and government settings. The OS philosophy is to couple senior-level strategy with hands-on implementation by highly knowledgeable senior staff. 

Meet OS fellow Allyson Mawn

Outreach Strategies is looking for a fellow with:

• An interest in a career in public affairs communications
• Strong writing skills and multi-tasking abilities
• Knowledge of, or familiarly with, issues of sustainability, environment, natural resources, energy, food and agriculture a plus
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required
  

Compensation: 15 credits of tuition remission and $18,000 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

PunditWire

PunditWire, political commentary website for speechwriters sponsored by the School of Communication at American University, is seeking a graduate student fellow to serve as editor of the site. This unique opportunity will allow the student to get involved with a consequential political publication and connect with some of the top communicators and speechwriters in the country. The fellow will train the incoming editor at the end of their term.  

Please note that this is a 12 month position beginning on September 1 and is restricted to incoming Public Communication graduate students who have already received a research assistantship. 

Meet PunditWire fellow Aaron Rockett

PudintWire is looking for a graduate fellow with:

• An interest in politics
• Editing, writing, new media, and HTML experience
• Ability to manage and update the site, work with the writers, review and post all columns, respond to comments from readers, promote the site on Twitter and elsewhere, and reach out to political media

Compensation: Stipend of $4,500 in addition to current merit award package.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

 

C.Fox Communication

C.Fox Communications is a small, award-winning woman-owned business based in Silver Spring, MD which serves mission-driven organizations through the development and implementation of smart PR and marketing strategies that increase awareness, drive business growth and deliver client stories in a memorable way. Since April 2004, C.Fox Communications has been providing public relations and marketing services to organizations in a variety of industries including environmental, education, health and wellness, and support services. The agency supports nonprofit organizations, foundations, government agencies and businesses who share in a commitment to social good.

Meet C. Fox Communications fellow Eileen Collins and see her work

C.Fox Communications is looking for a graduate fellow with:

• Writing, editing, public relations and new media experience
• Ability to take on multiple projects and a strong attention to detail
• Strong project management skills
• An interest in issues-based public relations
• US citizenship or permanent resident status required
  

Compensation: 18 credits of tuition remission and $10,800 stipend.

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).

Political Communication Fellowship

James B. Simpson 

Endowed by the late Rev. James B. Simpson, author of Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations the Simpson Fellows will conduct projects related to the collection, archiving, and publication of notable quotations as specified in the fund, The recipients are required to entitle any published research: Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations: Notable Quotes Since 1950. The fellows report directly to and work under the guidance of the Director of the Political Communication MA program. 

Meet Simpson fellow Carissa Alaimo and see her work

Fellowship eligibility:

• Admission (or application) to the full-time MA in Political Communication program at SOC
• An understandig of the importance of quotations in contemporary communication
• Vision for a quotations project both in print and on the Web
• Working knowledge of the importance of interactivity and building community on the Web

Compensation: Tuition remission and $8,300 stipend. This award may be renewed for a second year. 

Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student in the corresponding master's program.

Application deadline: February 1, 2012 or until filled.

Download fellowship application form (PDF).