The Arts and Culture Journalism Fellowship

Saw this listed on NYC Craigslist under writing jobs, thought it might be of interest to some of you post-grads out there.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/1072002541.html

Deadline to Apply: May 1, 2009
Location: San Francisco or telecommuting from anywhere in the U.S.

WireTap magazine, in partnership with The Nation Institute, is currently accepting applications for the new Arts and Culture Fellowship program. We encourage entry-level journalists to apply for this eight-month, subsidized fellowship to improve the coverage of independent arts and culture in America. Based at The Nation Institute and WireTap, the program seeks two reporters – one video- or photojournalist, and one writer – who are passionate about covering independent creative work, improving their reporting and criticism skills, and building relationships with other writers, editors and arts practitioners.

The Background

As journalism organizations across the country are forced to make staff cuts, substantive arts and culture coverage has sharply decreased. Remaining coverage tends to focus on pop celebrities or mainstream artists, leaving a new generation of creative voices disconnected from the general public.

The Arts and Culture Journalism Fellowship program will support the work of two entry-level reporters interested in covering emerging artists and small arts and culture organizations in America. The emphasis will be on independent, socially conscious work – including anything from young filmmakers or hip-hop musicians addressing social issues to after-school arts programs serving underfunded schools. We will encourage our journalists to explore questions like: What is the connection between the arts and social change? Where is the line between art and propaganda? Who decides what is “low” and “high” art? What is the relationship between “street” art and work in established galleries?

This part-time fellowship will run from May 15 to December 15, 2009. Each fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend as well as consistent mentorship and editorial support. Fellows are expected to work 2-3 full, workdays each week (about 20 hours), produce at least one monthly feature (written, podcast, video or photo slide show), one interview and four blog posts per month. Fellows will also attend a four-day journalism “boot camp” (all expenses paid) at the end of May in San Francisco or New York City. This training period will also provide an opportunity to meet the editors, as well as Arts and Culture Advisory Board members representing a broad range of artists. If the fellows are based in San Francisco or New York, they might be asked to work in our offices. If the candidates live elsewhere, this will be a telecommuting position.

The work of Arts and Culture Fellows will be published on WireTap magazine and The Nation Institute’s websites, and maybe syndicated in the publications of our partners, such as The Nation online, Mother Jones and ColorLines.

This fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Nathan Cummings Foundation.

About The Nation Institute and WireTap Magazine:

Founded in 1966, The Nation Institute has a fundamental commitment to the values of free speech and open discourse. Through its many programs, the Institute works to strengthen the independent progressive press in the face of America’s increasingly corporate-controlled flow of information. For more information, visit: http://www.nationinstitute.org/.

Founded in 1998, WireTap is an independent news and culture web magazine that generates and amplifies daily content by young people from diverse backgrounds. WireTap is committed to training young journalists and providing a daily platform for young activists, social entrepreneurs, and artists across the country. For more information, visit: http://www.wiretapmag.org.

Who should apply?

• Applicants who can demonstrate at least two years of continuous commitment to general reporting or arts criticism
• Applicants who have at least three strong samples of published reporting or criticism in a school, community, independent or mainstream publication
• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, but are not required to hold a journalism degree.

Who should not apply?

• Individuals, who are above 30. (Apologies, the purpose of this fellowship is to support young, entry-level candidates.)
• Individuals, who have worked more than three years as full-time Arts and Culture writers, producers or editors.
• Current freelance or full-time Marketing and Public Relations workers. (It’s OK, if you did that in the past.)

What to include in the application:

• A resume that includes your mailing address, phone number and email address
• Three professional references, including titles and contact information
• A 500-word, typed statement of why this fellowship would be of value to you. Please incorporate a description of your journalism experience and philosophy, and identify at least two artists and two cultural organizations in the state of your residence you would like to cover, if selected for this fellowship.
• Three published samples. All samples must be dated. At least one must be arts and culture-related. All audio, photo or video work should be mailed. Online articles can be emailed.
• Please do not send complete books, magazines, newspapers or works-in-progress. All materials should be copies. Materials will not be returned.

Deadline

Completed application forms must be postmarked on or before May 1, 2009. Notification emails will be sent by May 20.

Email / Mail Materials to:

Attn: Arts and Culture Fellowship
WireTap Magazine
222 Sutter Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108

Email: jobs@wiretapmag.org

No phone calls and no office visits, please.