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Nieman Foundation Visiting Fellowships

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard offers a special research and study opportunity: a short-term visiting fellowship for individuals to work on special projects designed to advance journalism.

Who should apply? Applicants need not be practicing journalists, but must demonstrate the ways in which their work at Harvard and the Nieman Foundation may improve the prospects for journalism’s future, whether related to research, programming, design, financial strategies or another topic. U.S. and international applicants are welcome.

Those who should consider applying include publishers, programmers, Web designers, media analysts, academics, journalists and others interested in enhancing quality, building new business models or designing programs to improve journalism. The proposed project may be completed during the time spent at Harvard or be part of a larger undertaking. All visiting fellows are expected to be in residence in Cambridge during their study and present their findings to the Nieman community at the end of their research period.

While at Harvard: Successful applicants are invited to the Nieman Foundation for a period ranging from a few weeks to several months, depending on the scope of the project. Nieman Visiting Fellows have access to the extensive intellectual resources at Harvard and throughout Cambridge, including scholars, research centers and libraries. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to work with the Nieman Fellows and the various standing and evolving projects housed at the Nieman Foundation (Nieman Reports, Nieman Journalism Lab, Nieman Storyboard, initiatives related to watchdog journalism and others).

How is this different from the other Nieman Fellowships? The Nieman Foundation selects 24 U.S. and international journalists each year to spend 10 months of study at Harvard, with work organized around the academic calendar. Those fellows are engaged in work both at the university and at the Nieman Foundation designed to enhance their expertise in specific subject areas and enhance their skills as journalists and as leaders.

The new Nieman Visiting Fellowship is designed for individuals who are working on shorter-term projects or inquiries who may not be able to spend an academic year at Harvard; who may or may not be journalists; and whose work in support of journalism or journalism models would benefit from concentrated exposure to the assets of Harvard and the Nieman Foundation.

Funding the Visiting Fellowship: As with other longer-term Nieman fellowships, a Visiting Fellow’s employer is encouraged to extend the employee’s salary and benefits during the period of study. If such funding is not available, a standard Nieman stipend will be provided to the Visiting Fellow and prorated for the length of the fellowship. The Nieman Foundation will also help candidates find temporary housing in the Cambridge area.

How to apply: The Nieman Foundation will offer up to three Visiting Fellowships each year. Fellows for the 2013 calendar year have been selected. Applications for the 2014 calendar year may be submitted in the fall of 2013.

Applicants should submit a proposal of up to 500 words as a Word file or PDF attachment. The proposal should describe your project or inquiry and how you plan to spend your time at Harvard; explain how the work will benefit journalism; and indicate the amount of time, up to 12 weeks, needed to complete the work.  Please also include the following information:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Citizenship
  • Email address
  • Skype ID
  • Organization (if applicable)
  • Work title
  • Three names of references and their contact information
Submit applications to nieman_applications@harvard.edu. For questions about the application process, contact Nieman Foundation fellowship program administrator John Breen at 617-495-2238 or john_breen@harvard.edu

There are no academic prerequisites and a college degree is not required to receive a Nieman Visiting Fellowship.