Category Archives: Awards/Grants

GRADUATION: The Year-end Awards & Grading

Awards/Grants, FAQ, Graduation, Greatest Hits, M.S. Program

GRADUATION: The Year-end Awards & Grading

This information is for M.S. Students primarily.

We received the following question from a student:

Today in REPORTING, we had a guest speaker whose bio mentioned that she received the “Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, won for graduating first in her class…”

Since we don’t receive grades, I’m wondering how this designation of “first in class” is decided.

Good question. Here’s the answer:

The Journalism School has a Pass-Fail system of formal grading. It aims at encouraging students to perform as well as they can, without competing with classmates. In most courses, students receive written evaluations of their work from the instructors. Copies of these evaluations are kept in the DOS Office. As part of that evaluation process, we use an informal system of additional grading, which permits each instructor to designate one or two students as having completed a course “with honors.” Students are informed of the honors designation via the written evaluation form.

That designation, in the individual classes, is “honors in class,” and you will see it – if you get it – in the written evaluation form you receive (It will not appear on your official transcript). If you receive two or more “honors in class” in our six-credit courses (Reporting, Master’s Project, S&P 1, S&P 2) AND one or more in a three-credit module (Written Word, Image & Sound, Audience & Engagement), you will “graduate with honors.” 

At graduation, the honors list is announced, recognizing students for superior performance in multiple courses; the faculty determines the honors based on the number of honors-in-class designations. The faculty also awards more than a dozen special prizes at graduation, including five Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships for overall performance during the academic year.

Except for a few prizes for which students can submit stories to be judged, the rest of the prizes are decided by faculty, without input from the students.

We hold briefing sessions close to Graduation to explain the procedures.

Part-time students are eligible for the awards and are tracked during their entire academic career here (though the prizes are typically given out the year they graduate).

Please direct all questions to Dean Huff – mgh2@columbia.edu.

M.S. Master’s Projects Grant

Awards/Grants, Grants, M.S. Program, Master's Project

The Dean of Students Office is pleased to offer a limited number of small grants for M.S. Master’s Projects.

These grants of up to $250 per project are for a limited number of projects.

Grants are made for verifiable travel-related reporting expenses such as research trips in the Tri-state area, and, an occasional trip to, say, Washington, D.C. (remember, your primary reportage is meant to be near the NYC area). These are not cash advances, but reimbursements for money spent with approval from the Dean of Students Office and grants coordinator, Evelyn Corchado.

Students will be required to submit receipts for their expenses and to complete paperwork in order to receive a check.

If an approved grantee ends up not using as much of the funds that were originally approved, he/she will be reimbursed for actual expenditures and the remaining money will go back in the pool.

Here is the timeline for the process:

  • Nov. 16: M.S. Master’s Project stipends application opens.
  • Dec. 8:  M.S. Master’s Project stipends application closes.
  • Dec. 16: Students are notified via e-mail if they were approved.
  • Dec. 16: Approved students may begin submitting their receipts
  • May 1: Last day to submit receipts for final stipend reimbursement

PLEASE NOTE: Right now we are unable to consider any projects other than those due fall/spring (we will open up the process again for Summer 2017 projects).

Small MP Grant Application

 

ICJF Seeking Entries

Applications, Awards/Grants

The International Center for Journalists, with the support of S&P Global is launching a new reporting contest to give journalists the opportunity to report on the accomplishments and tribulations of being a minority woman entrepreneur.

The program will offer grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to up to ten successful applicants. Selected applicants will receive the funds needed to cover the costs of their projects and advice from expert media mentors to support their projects’ development. The top three published stories will also receive cash prizes ($1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place).

When do story projects need to be completed by?

All story projects must be completed between December 1, 2016 and February 15, 2017.

Program Dates:
November 7 – 27, 2016: Call for project proposals.
November 27, 2016: Last day to submit project proposal.
December 5, 2016: ICFJ announces selected applicants.
December 5, 2016 – January 31, 2017: Selected applicants conduct research, reporting, and create multimedia/interactive content. Selected applicants receive funds and advice from mentors.
February 1 – 15, 2017: Projects are published and/or broadcasted.
February 15, 2017: Last day to submit published and/or broadcasted stories. Final financial reports are due.

What kind of story projects are we looking for?

Applicants can pitch story projects ranging from one woman’s story to nationwide trends on the issue. Applicants can focus their project on any geographical area in the United States.

What makes a successful application?

Successful applicants will take a fresh look at the role minority women play in business across the United States. They will use graphics, social media, web interactives, new technology (such as 360 video) or other innovative tools to bring more media attention to minority women business owners.

What costs do the funds cover?

The funds are meant to cover costs associated with your story project. This includes all costs incurred in designing, developing and implementing your project. The applicant can use funds to cover the costs of designers and tech support, as needed. The funds do not cover salary or honorarium for the applicant. The applicant must submit a detailed budget. Budgets must be realistic and reasonable. Successful applicants will have to submit a final financial report at the end of the reporting period.

Interested journalists can apply here.

Call for Entries: Richard J. Blood Award

Awards/Grants, Graduation Awards, M.S. Program

The Richard J. Blood Award For Excellence in Reporting

DEADLINE: Noon, Monday, April 18

  • Seeking an unpublished investigative, hard-news or news feature story of
    publishable quality, that was completed while at the J-School. Please, no profiles.
  • Submit one article of no more than 1,500 words. Please double-space
    entries, and note the word count alongside the headline.
  • A winning entry will overflow with voices, specifics and solid
    attribution. Less is more: Leave in only the details that move the story
    forward. Make your copy lean, your prose sing and soar.
  • Particular attention will be given to rigorously reported stories
    that have the potential to improve social conditions – stories that alert
    the community to a danger, explain human behavior, entertain, inform and
    educate.
  • You are strongly encouraged to review the article with your
    instructor, incorporate any reporting/editing suggestions and rewrite it
    before submission. The award is $500.
  • Please complete this form http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Blood/ and attach
    your submission by noon on Monday, April 18.Please note that the competition is for unpublished work, but articles
    that have run on the ColumbiaJournalist.org ARE eligible.

    We will announce the winner on Journalism Day

    This award is administered by the M.S. Class of 1995 Blood Award committee: Stephanie Argy, Raney Aronson, Ellen Butler Bikales, Maria Sanminiatelli and Erin Texeira

    *This award is among graduation prizes awarded each year. Details and application instructions (for those that require submissions) will be distributed at a later date. This one, however, is judged by an alumni committee so has an earlier application deadline

MEMO: Opportunity – Earth Institute Student Advisory Council

Awards/Grants, M.A. Program, M.S. Program, Major memos, Part-time Students, Stipends

Dear Students,

Two Journalism School students are eligible to serve on the Earth Institute
(http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/) Student Advisory Council whose
role is to develop student and academic activities for the campus around the
issues of earth systems science and sustainable development.

You will serve for one academic year and will receive a $500 stipend.

Members of the Council will assist in the development of events including:
panels, seminars, exhibits, and media screenings. Members will help to
foster relations between student groups, departments, and schools on campus.
They will also advise and assist in the development of professional
resources that will help students gain experience in the field.

If you are interested in joining the council, please complete the
application form at  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/earthinstitute/

DEADLINE: Monday, September 15, 10 a.m.

Surface Magazine Photography Contest

Awards/Grants, Contests, Fun Stuff, M.A. Program, M.S. Program, Outside Events

Surface is pleased to announce our 14th annual Avant Guardian photography contest showcasing the top up-and-coming photographers.

Ten finalists—chosen by our editors and a star jury including Iwan Baan, Johan Lindeberg, and Offset’s Keren Sachs—will have their work published in our October 2014 issue and be featured in an exhibition. Complimentary studio time at Splashlight will be available to each winner for producing a shoot for the magazine.

The contest has helped launch the career of many celebrated talents, including Nicholas Duers, KT Auleta, Joshua Jordan, Mark Veltman, Vanina Sorrenti, and Sarah Silver, whose work you may recognize from the attached flyer (and our fashion editorial last fall:https://vimeo.com/78835771).  Know anyone that might be interested? Entries are due by July 24, under the following categories: Fashion, Architecture, Portraiture, Fine Art, and Technical/Still Life.

Visit our site for more details: http://www.surfacemag.com/avantguardian

Call for Entries: Robert Harron Award

Awards/Grants, Graduation Awards, Knight Bagehot, M.A. Program, M.S. Program, Major memos, Part-time Students, PhD
The Faculty is currently accepting nominations for the ROBERT HARRON AWARD.

The ROBERT HARRON AWARD is presented each year to the student (M.S. [FT or PT]; M.A.; Knight Bagehot; Ph.D.) who has demonstrated excellence in writing and reporting as well as exemplary kindness and courtesy to fellow students. It is popularly known as the “nice guy/gal” award.

The award was established in memory of Robert Harron, a former sportswriter and long-time assistant to the presidents of this university, through gifts from his many friends.

While all members of the School (faculty – full-time and adjucts, staff and students) may submit nominations, only students in the Class of 2014 (part-time and full-time, M.S., M.A., Knight Bagehot, Ph.D.) are eligible for the prize, which will be announced with other awards on Journalism Day (this is a separate prize from SPJ’s “Student of the year” and the other awards determined by the Faculty.

A committee will examine the nominations and use the input to pick the winner of the prize. Please understand that this is NOT a popularity contest, and you are not “voting.” You are providing background information on a particular student. The Faculty makes the final decision.

We are looking for concrete examples that describe, as much as possible, the spirit of the award (see first para above), with special emphasis on the exemplary kindness and courtesy to fellow students (while maintaining high academic standards).

Please complete with form (http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Harron/) with a paragraph about the person you are nominating.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Master of Science graduation award.

Alumni, Awards/Grants, Graduation Awards, M.S. Program, Major memos, Reporting

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Master of Science graduation award.

The Richard J. Blood Award For Excellence in Reporting

DEADLINE: Noon, Friday, April 18

Seeking an unpublished investigative, hard-news or news feature story of
publishable quality. Please, no profiles.

*       Submit one article of no more than 1,500 words. Please double-space
entries, and note the word count alongside the headline.
*       A winning entry will overflow with voices, specifics and solid
attribution. Less is more: Leave in only the details that move the story
forward. Make your copy lean, your prose sing and soar.
*       Particular attention will be given to rigorously reported stories
that have the potential to improve social conditions – stories that alert
the community to a danger, explain human behavior, entertain, inform and
educate.
*       You are strongly encouraged to review the article with your
instructor, incorporate any reporting/editing suggestions and rewrite it
before submission.

The award is $500

Please complete this formhttp://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Blood/and attach
your submission by noon on Friday, April 18.

Please note that the competition is for unpublished work, but that articles

that have run on theColumbiaJournalist.org ARE eligible.

We will announce the winner on Journalism Day

This award is administered by the M.S. Class of 1995 Blood Awardcommittee: Stephanie Argy, Raney Aronson, Ellen Butler Bikales, Maria Sanminiatelli and Erin Texeira

*This award is among graduation prizes awarded each year.
Details and application instructions (for those that require submissions) will be distributed at a later date. This one, however, is judged by an alumni committee so has an earlier application deadline.

Call for Entries: AAJA National Journalism Awards

Awards/Grants, Contests, M.A. Program, M.S. Program, Part-time Students, PhD, Student work

The Asian American Journalists Association is proud to announce the call for entries and nominations for the 2014 National Journalism Awards.

Award winners will be announced at the 2014 AAJA National Convention in Washington, D.C. at the Gala Awards & Scholarship Banquet on August 16. Submissions are made online.

Please note: this year they have added a Student Journalism category. See links below for more details: