The Daily Plan-it / Dean of Students Blog, Columbia J-school

SPJ is seeking nominations for its annual Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award as well as the Student of the Year Award.

FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR

The Teacher of the Year award recognizes outstanding work in the classroom and continued service to the profession, for his/her talents as a teacher, mentor and journalist.

Past winners are…
2012: SANDY PADWE [not eligible]
2011: KEVIN COYNE [not eligible]
2010: MICHAEL SHAPIRO [not eligible]
2009: PAULA SPAN [not eligible]
2008: BRUCE PORTER [not eligible]
2007: ROBIN REISIG [not eligible]
2006: RICHARD WALD
2005: JAMES W. CAREY
2004: KEVIN COYNE
2003: DAVID KLATELL
2002: LYNNELL HANCOCK
2001: MARGUERITE HOLLOWAY
2000: SANDY PADWE
1999: MICHAEL SHAPIRO
1998: SIG GISSLER
1997: SAMUEL FREEDMAN

ELIGIBLITY: Any professor at the Journalism School is eligible, EXCEPT of the winners from the last
six years so recipients from 2007/2008/2009/2010/2011/2012 can NOT receive this year’s award.

Preference will be given to full-time faculty and visiting professors who have made a real commitment of their time to the school and the students.

You may nominate ONE person for consideration by the SPJ Board. Please fill in the ballot below and write no more than 100 words with the reason you are nominating this professor — bullet points are OK.

Provide specific examples of this person’s qualities — teaching AS WELL AS service to the profession.

FOR STUDENT OF THE YEAR
The Student of the Year award recognizes dedication in academic work AND student activities. A student whose energy and talent make him or her an example of a superior Columbia Journalism School graduate. Someone who has helped make the year better for his/her class.

Only students graduating in May 2013 (full-time or part-time) can be nominated BUT all students can participate in the nomination process.

As in every year, the class president (this year it’s Kimberly Brooks) is NOT eligible for this award.

Please write the reasons you are nominating this student. 100 words max — bullet points are OK.

Both awards are NOT a popular vote. You are suggesting names for the SPJ Board to consider.

DEADLINE: Monday, May 13 at MIDNIGHT

Winner announced at the Boat Cruise on Monday, May 19, 2013.

Questions about the awards: Rebecca Castillo, rc73@columbia.edu

IMPORTANT: Many of the nominations are eloquent and compelling — but only the eventual winner knows he/she was even nominated. You will receive a copy of your input via e-mail after you finish filling in the form. Please consider sending a copy to your nominee so that he/she knows you appreciate him/her.

HOW TO VOTE: Fill out your ballot at: http://www.formsite.com/columbiaspj/teacher/index.html

We are very pleased to announce the formation of a new co-working, incubator space for this summer, Columbia Entrepreneurs Lab (CEL), located on the Morningside campus. If you are committed to entrepreneurship we encourage you to apply.

CEL will host up to 30 individuals or about 15 to 20 teams. This is a dedicated co-working environment offered free of charge to admitted entrepreneurs. It is the aim of this incubator to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across campus by providing practical resources and mentorship to burgeoning Columbia entrepreneurs who are committed to their ventures.

APPLY HERE TODAY.

Application Requirements:

• CEL applicants may apply as individuals or as formed teams. Space will only be supplied for up to three members per team.
• You must apply with at least a well-articulated business plan if not a prototype or minimal viable product.
• All teams must include at least one currently enrolled student (undergraduate or graduate) who will be returning to campus during the 2013-14 academic year.
• In addition to the one currently enrolled team member, seats in the incubator can only be offered to team members with a Columbia affiliation (i.e. student, alumnus or staff).
• The details of the program are being finalized but CEL members will be expected to meet with mentors, define and report in on milestones, work full-time on their ventures, make significant progress and offer something back to the other teams in the program.

Please visit here to apply. Applications are due Wednesday, April 24 at 5 p.m.

If you have questions, please submit to Ashley Zwick az2335@columbia.edu and Chris McGarry cm3014@columbia.edu.

This information is for M.S. Students primarily. Because of its small size - and the fact that, as a new program, it has fewer alumni able to endow prizes - the M.A. program’s main prize is for the Master’s Thesis (and will be explained closer to graduation), though some categories that accept student submissions are open to the MA students as well.

We received the following question from a student:

Today in RW1 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.

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 (some electives excepted), students receive written evaluations of their work from the instructors. Copies of these evaluations are kept in the DOS Office.

In RWI, written evaluations are issued at midterm and at the end of the semester. These preliminary evaluations indicate students’ early progress and, if necessary, serve as a warning if any students are in danger of failing. Students who are not doing passing work are placed on probation. If a student’s work is passing at midterm but deteriorates after the midterm evaluation, the instructor will give written notice of possible failure and inform the faculty.

RWI is the most important fall course. The decision to pass or fail a student in that course is determined solely by the instructor(s.) No grades of incomplete are allowed in RWI. Other required courses, including Skills courses are important, too. Inattention can result in failure. The faculty reserves the right to dismiss a student who fails the same course twice or two courses, regardless of the credit points of the courses.

Deadlines for the Master’s Project drafts are strictly enforced. The Faculty retains the right to fail or place on probation a student who fails to meet deadlines for the Master’s Project.

No student is permitted to graduate while still on probation.

At graduation, the honors list is announced, recognizing approximately 15 percent of the students for superior performance in multiple courses; the faculty determines the honors list by comparing and discussing each student’s complete record. The faculty also awards more than a dozen special prizes at graduation, including five Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships for overall performance during the academic year. These decisions are based in part on an informal system of 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. If you receive two or more “honors in class” in our six-credit courses (RW1, Master’s Project, seminar, workshop) AND one or more in three-credit elective, you are LIKELY to “graduate with honors” (but in the end, even that will not guarantee your graduating with honors if many more students received more overall “honors in class”).

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 Deans Sotomayor and Huff.

Attn: Students, Faculty and Staff
From: Harron Award Faculty jury

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 2013 (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.
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The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is accepting applications for the 2013/2014 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, designed for a woman journalist working in print, broadcast or digital news media to spend seven months in a tailored program that combines access to MIT’s Center for International Studies and media outlets including The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

Named for the 1998 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner and The Boston Globe correspondent, Elizabeth Neuffer, who was killed in Iraq in May 2003, this fellowship is open to women journalists worldwide whose work focuses on human rights and social justice. Created with Elizabeth Neuffer’s family and friends, it aims to perpetuate her memory and advance her life mission of promoting international understanding of human rights and social justice while creating an opportunity for women journalists to build their skills.

“The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship has opened a whole new world of journalism for me, and in the least, it has made me a better journalist,” 2012/2013 Neuffer Fellow Priyanka Borpujari from India told the IWMF. “This fellowship provided me the much-needed time and space to reflect on my work, and learn from my peers. It also gave me the chance to write for and speak to different audiences about India’s economic-humanitarian crisis,” she added.

To apply, visit iwmf.org/2013neuffer to start the online application process. Journalists working in the print, broadcast and Internet media, including freelancers, are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience in journalism.

Applications will be accepted until May 1, 2013, and the fellowship will run from September 2013 to March 2014.

For more information about this fellowship, go to iwmf.org/2013neuffer, contact Ann Marie Valentine (202-496-1992, neuffer@iwmf.org) and follow @IWMF on Twitter.

Founded in 1990 by a group of prominent U.S. women journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation is a Washington-based organization that believes the news media world-wide are not truly free and representative without the equal voice of women. The IWMF celebrates the courage of women journalists who overcome threats and oppression to speak out on global issues. The IWMF’s programs empower women journalists with the training, support and network to become leaders in the news industry.

Columbia Journalism Students are invited to attend a cocktail reception to announce the winner of The New York Public Library Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in the Sue and Edgar Wachersheim III Trustee Room at The New York Public Library.

The Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence honors journalists whose work has played an important role in drawing public attention to current issues, events, or policies. The Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence was established in 1987 through a gift from Joseph Frank Bernstein in honor of journalist Helen Bernstein (now Helen Bernstein Fealy).

The 2013 finalists are Katherine Boo (Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity), Rajiv Chandrasekaran (Little America: The War Within the War for Afghanistan), David Quammen (Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic), David E. Sanger (Confront and Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of Power), and Tom Wilbur (Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale).

To RSVP, email bernsteinawards@nypl.org by May 8, 2013.

We hope your job search is going well. Here are a few events and pointers that may help you:

1) Meet the Media: PolicyMic
When: April 17, Noon – 1 p.m.
Venue: 607B
Caira Connor, community manager, will talk about PolicyMic, a news and politics website geared toward millennials. It is “the fastest growing news and discussion platform with over 5 million monthly unique visitors” according to the Institute of Politics at Harvard. Conner will also discuss paid freelance and internship opportunities.

2) Meet the Media: Agence France Press
When: April 24, Noon – 1 p.m.
Venue: 607B
Magan Crane and Michelle Hoffman will be here to talk about the AFP operation across all platforms and also interview candidates for their multimedia and video journalism internships in Washington. All details are on JobNews for these positions – apply immediately, well in advance of their visit. Following their visit, both Magan and Michelle will interview candidates for their respective internship positions. They will also discuss other opportunities at AFP, including freelance gigs.

If you are interested in being interviewed for the internships on April 24, please send an email to Jacqueline DeLaFunte at jmd2221@columbia.edu by 10 a.m. on April 22.

Magan Crane is currently the Multimedia Desk Chief at Agence France-Presse in Washington. The multimedia team, along with desks in London and Hong Kong, links together the best of AFP content, including text, photos, videos and graphics for Internet clients. In addition, their team uses AFPTV production to create videos for the web. They also edit stories for mobile phones, public screens, tablet applications and manage AFP’s official social media accounts. Before moving to the multimedia service, Magan worked for several years as Duty Editor on the English Desk, working with senior editors to coordinate coverage of North and South America for an international audience. At AFP she has worked on a range of high profile stories from four U.S. presidential elections to the September 11 attacks to the death of Michael Jackson and a handful of Latin American coups. Prior to coming to AFP she was a newspaper reporter in Annapolis, Md. She is a 1998 graduate of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and earned a B.A. from the University of Oregon in 1994.

Michelle Hoffman is the North American editor of AFPTV based in Washington, D.C., a text reporter who is now immersed in video. She has spent the last nine years with AFP, split equally between print and video and served as the U.K. correspondent. Michelle has also written for The Economist, Newsweek and other magazines.

3) Marilyn Laurie Scholarship Fund Deadline:
The deadline for the Marilyn Laurie Scholarship fund has been extended to May 1. This scholarship is for students who accept low-paid post-graduate internships or fellowships and have a high level of student debt. For details on how to apply, go to JobNews.

4) Research position at the Columbia Global Center in Mumbai:
Research Assistant/Associate, Columbia Global Centers, South Asia, based in Mumbai, India. Apply at JobNews.

This research position is for a Columbia Journalism School Graduate who would work on issues and research questions relating to a global free press, largely emanating from President Lee Bollinger’s 2010 book entitled “Uninhibited, Robust and Wide Open - A Free Press for a Global Society.” This position is envisaged to be a multi-year appointment, with the first six months on probation and on successful completion, extended on an yearly basis.

Qualifications: M.A/M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and 2-3 years of work experience.

5) Architectural Record Summer Editorial Internship
Architectural Record magazine is looking for a full-time, paid summer editorial intern. (The internship is open to recent graduates including international students on OPT). Most of the duties are administrative, including obtaining photography, maintaining databases, helping put together presentations and awards submissions, doing research and helping editors with any projects as they arise. This is not a writing internship, although opportunities to write exist. Strong written and spoken communication skills are required, as are good organizational and multi-tasking skills. An interest in/knowledge of architecture and/or design is a plus. This is a great opportunity to work closely with an experienced editorial team for a magazine with a 100+ year history. To apply: Please send a brief cover letter, resume, and clips to: Beth Broome (Managing Editor) at elisabeth_broome@mcgraw-hill.com.

DEADLINE: Apply immediately.

J-schoolers may contact Laura Raskin, News Editor (J-2010 M.A. Arts and Culture) for insight on the internship and copy her with your materials. laura.raskin@gmail.com.

The Innovation Showcase is a public open house event where publications and the public are invited to the school to see and experience the original and innovative reporting, publishing and presentation work being done at the school, and we want *your* work to be a part of it.

The application is minimal: ~ 200 words describing your piece and how it is innovative, a link to the work (details below), and a faculty contact, if applicable. Works-in-progress are eligible for inclusion; just include a short description of how the final work will differ from the material you’re submitting on Monday. The deadline is Monday, April 15.

The showcase will be held on May 17 & 18, and master’s projects, class projects, and pieces developed at school-related events are all welcome. We are looking for a range of media: video, audio, text, photo and visualization. We want to have a little bit of everything, so don’t worry that your piece isn’t “innovative” enough: we’re ready to be convinced! Group and individual work is eligible, and students may submit as many pieces as they like.

Selected works will be installed in the lobby, Stabile Center, and World room between 9am and 5pm on Friday, May 17th, with an evening preview and reception for the Journalism School community from 5-7pm. The public open hours will run from noon - 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Applicants must be available to install and attend their work during these times.

If you have any questions, sem2196@columbia.edu.

Complete application Instructions
All applications materials must be submitted in a single email to cujinnovationshowcase@gmail.com no later than midnight on Monday, April 15nd. Each application must include:

The work to be considered. All text should be attached to the email as a pdf, while video and audio must be submitted as links to a streaming audio or video service. Photographs should be submitted as a link to a single album on a photo-sharing site, and must include captions. All work must be fully credited.

• A 200-word summary of the piece.
• A 200-word description of what makes it the project innovative, and how you intend to present or install it. Will you design an produce a printed booklet? Create a poster or other graphical piece? Mount a series of photographs? Consideration will be given to creatively presented pieces. Please note, however, that acceptance of the work does not guarantee a particular display space or format; final display decisions will be determined by the review committee. All applicants agree to abide by the committee´s decision in this regard, or the project´s acceptance may be rescinded.
• If the submitted work is not finalized: Include a 200-word description of additional reporting, edits or enhancements you would like to make to the work, if you do not consider it finalized or complete. Pieces may be accepted conditionally on this basis as long as all additional work will be completed by Monday, April 29, at which point a final decision will be rendered.
• Whether you would be willing to have only a portion of the work presented, at the suggestion of the review committee.
• A faculty contact, if applicable.

Applications will be reviewed by members of the full and part time faculty; applicants will be notified of their acceptance by Monday, April 22nd. If you have any questions about the submission process or requirements, please email sem2196@columbia.edu.

Students, check out these new jobs and internship gigs!

1. ARTIC CIRCLE ANYONE? The Norwegian Embassy in Washington and the US Embassy in Oslo have announced a five-week paid reporting internship in Kirkenes, Norway, the Arctic Circle. The Barents Observer is an internet-based news service in Kirkenes that reaches more than one million unique readers, one third of which are in Russia. The paper focuses on energy, security, business, nature and environmental science in the Arctic, culture, borders, and politics. The program pays for housing, roundtrip travel, a stipend of approximately US$1,700 and a visit to Observer’s bureau in Murmansk, Russia. All details and contact information for additional information is on JobNews. Applications due April 21.

2. Agence France-Presse is looking for an editor for the English-language news desk at its North American regional headquarters in Washington. A minimum of three years of experience reporting for an international audience is required along with the ability to translate into English from French. Spanish is also a plus because of news feeds that come to the desk from Latin America. Multi-media experience a plus. Apply by email by April 11 to chris.lefkow@afp.com, dave.clark@afp.com and mary-ann.campagna@afp.com. Here’s the full listing and links to apply: http://www.gorkanajobs.com/job/21623/agence-france-presse-editor-d-c-/. Note: AFP will be visiting the J-school in mid-April but that will be a separate visit and after this application deadline.

3. The deadline for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Reporting Fellowship and Playbill.com has been extended to next Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. Please read on for details. Playbill / Playbill.com is seeking an inaugural Eugene O’Neill Theater Reporting Fellow to work this summer covering events and people at the world-famous Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. Read about the O’Neill here. The fellowship will run from about June 8 - Aug. 10 to coincide with the summer theater season. The fellow would receive a $400/week salary and free room and board on the campus of the O’Neill Center for the duration of the fellowship. The substance of the fellowship is as follows: The O’Neill is a hotbed of theater, workshops and networking for those in the theater world; the fellow would be responsible for filing a daily “Report at the O’Neill” story or stories that would be published at Playbill.com daily. Stories would include breaking news, features, trends, profiles and enterprise. Because much of what happens at the O’Neill takes place in a workshop setting, stories would not include opinion writing, personal essays or reviews. The fellow would have daily unlimited access to rehearsals, and everything that happens off and on campus including late-night pub talks with artists, teachers, participants, interns and staff. To apply, please send Gina Boubion two (2) writing samples and a brief email cover letter explaining your background and interest in the arts, theater, or playwriting, by Wednesday, April 10 at 5 p.m. to gboubion@columbia.edu. Address your cover letter to Philip Birsh, president and publisher of Playbill, and please let Gina Boubion know it’s coming. Please note: A student who is awarded this fellowship would probably be eligible for Laurie Scholarship funding (see below).

4. The Laurie Scholarship deadline has been extended until April 15. If you have landed a modestly paid internship and can demonstrate financial need, you may want to consider applying for the Laurie funds. All details and application information on JobNews. These scholarships are primarily intended to provide support to graduates doing internships at high-quality news organizations that can offer significant editorial experience but only have the resources to offer limited compensation. The scholarships will not be awarded to any company that is not paying at least the state’s minimum wage to the intern. Students from both the M.S. and M.A. programs are eligible to apply for these funds. Past Laurie winners have used the scholarship to supplement their expenses at VTDigger, The Houston Press (a VVM-owned alt-weekly), Clarin in Buenos Aires, The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting and ZeitMagazin in Berlin, Germany. Students who land summer internships at other news companies would certainly be eligible if the company in question is offering substandard compensation.

5. Women’s Health Magazine is currently seeking a full-time intern to support our research department in New York City for summer 2013. Our intern’s primary responsibilities include researching and fact-checking stories, as well as assisting editors and the online team as needed. The ideal candidate is working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in journalism and possesses some magazine experience, impeccable attention to detail, excellent reporting skills, outstanding organizational skills, and the ability to independently evaluate the validity of source material. A robust understanding of science and experience reading and interpreting published research is preferable. This is a 10-week paid internship program (hourly wage) that will run from June through August. Interns must be credit eligible and unfortunately that means that international students don’t qualify. To apply. send cover letter with link to website or clips but avoid sending emails with large or multiple attachments because the Rodale system will not accept them. Put Columbia J-School/Women’s Health Internship Application in the email subject line and also, copy Jaqueline DeLaFuente in Career Services with your application jmd2221@columbia.edu. Application deadline is April 19 but apply IMMEDIATELY: Lisa Ann Smith/Research Chief/Women’s Health magazine/email: lisa.smith@rodale.com. Lisa is J-2005!

6. Reminder: The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting summer fellowship application deadline has been reopened and extended until April 15. As many of you know who attended the information session with John Christie and Naomi Schalit, this is an outstanding opportunity to do substantive investigative reporting under the guidance of two superlative, veteran investigative journalists, build your clip portfolio, live in a beautiful place for the summer and get free room and board including homecooked meals and plenty of lobster. We highly recommend this opportunity! We have also extended the application deadline for the Laurie Scholarships for this position so if you apply and have financial need, we encourage you to apply for the additional funds. All details are available on JobNews including an appraisal of this fellowship from 2012 Stabile graduate Matt Drange, who is now a staff reporter at Bay Citizen/Center for Investigative Reporting. Nat Herz, New York World reporter/J-2012 has an inside track on this position can tell you more and is happy to have an information session or answer individual questions. natherz@gmail.com. One way or the other, nothing beats summers on the river in Maine.

Students: Investigators and Lobster Lovers, Theater Mavens, Financial Writers, Laurie Scholarship Funds and more….Check out these jobs and special internship opportunities and APPLY IMMEDIATELY. All details on JobNews.

MSN Money is hiring in NYC. Looking for a business editor with strong web production and social media skills, junior to mid-level full-time position. Send resume, cover letter and clips to Amey Stone, Managing Editor and J-School grad: ameys@microsoft.com. Career Services is asking for additional details and posting on JobNews but go ahead and apply.

This tip thanks to J-s\School grad Antoine Gara! The Deal is hiring a healthcare M&A reporter, which means looking at the pharmaceuticals/life sciences industry from the vantage point of mergers and acquisitions: http://corporate.thestreet.com/healthcare-reporter. For the right person, this is an interesting job especially given the size of acquisitions and the prospect companies like Pfizer return to M&A or continue corporate dismantlings. In addition, our healthcare reporter Adam Feuerstein at TheStreet, which is the non-subscription part of the company, is one of the industry’s top reporters and has won many SABEW awards for exposing financial misrepresentations in the pharma industry.

Playbill / Playbill.com is seeking an inaugural Eugene O’Neill Theater Reporting Fellow to work this summer covering events and people at the world-famous Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. Read about the O’Neill here. The fellowship will run from about June 8 - Aug. 10 to coincide with the summer theater season. The fellow would receive a $400/week salary and free room and board on the campus of the O’Neill Center for the duration of the fellowship. The substance of the fellowship is as follows: The O’Neill is a hotbed of theater, workshops and networking for those in the theater world; the fellow would be responsible for filing a daily “Report at the O’Neill” story or stories that would be published at Playbill.com daily. Stories would include breaking news, features, trends, profiles and enterprise. Because much of what happens at the O’Neill takes place in a workshop setting, stories would not include opinion writing, personal essays or reviews. The fellow would have daily unlimited access to rehearsals, and everything that happens off and on campus including late-night pub talks with artists, teachers, participants, interns and staff. To apply, please send Gina Boubion two (2) writing samples and a brief email cover letter explaining your background and interest in the arts, theater, or playwriting, by Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. to gboubion@columbia.edu. Address your cover letter to Philip Birsh, president and publisher of Playbill, and please let Gina Boubion know it’s coming. Philip Birsh would like to come on campus next week to interview candidates.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting summer fellowship application deadline has been reopened and extended until April 15. As many of you know who attended the information session with John Christie and Naomi Schalit, this is an outstanding opportunity to do substantive investigative reporting under the guidance of two superlative, veteran investigative journalists, build your clip portfolio, live in a beautiful place for the summer and get free room and board including homecooked meals and plenty of lobster. We highly recommend this opportunity! We have also extended the application deadline for the Laurie Scholarships for this position so if you apply and have financial need, we encourage you to apply for the additional funds. All details are available on JobNews including a very enthusiastic endorsement of this fellowship from 2012 Stabile graduate Matt Drange, who is now a staff reporter at Bay Citizen/Center for Investigative Reporting.

Nat Herz, New York World reporter/J-2012 who happens to have the inside track on this position (these are his folks) can tell you more and is happy to have an information session or answer individual questions: natherz@gmail.com. One way or the other, nothing beats summers on the river in Maine.

Application deadlines for Al Jazeera programming and news division internships in NY and DC have been extended until April 15. Details on JobNews. Nominal stipend provided. You must apply directly to Al Jazeera as noted but also upload your resume to the posting on JobNews so Career Services is aware of your application. Questions? Career Services Administrator Jacqueline DeLaFuente is here to help you: jmd2221@columbia.edu. These internships are totally separate from the J-school/Doha fellowships.

The Laurie Scholarship deadline has been extended until April 15th. If you have landed a modestly paid internship and can demonstrate financial need, you may want to consider applying for the Laurie funds. All details on JobNews.

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism invites you to a special centennial event: the Hearst Digital Media Lecture, the annual lecture featuring our Hearst Digital Media Professional-in-Residence Amanda Cox, Graphics Editor at The New York Times. The evening includes introductory remarks and presentation of the Innovator Award by Mark Hansen, Director of the David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation.

Hearst Digital Media Lecture
Thursday, April 11, 2013
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Tacos and margaritas
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Program
8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Reception continues

RSVP to this free event here.

Professor Susan McGregor will be covering the application process and the kinds of projects that we’re looking to include in this year’s Innovation Showcase at Monday’s info session.

2013 Innovation Showcase Info Session
Monday, April 1, 2013
12.30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Stabile Student Center

In general, the Showcase strives to feature innovative work in any medium, including print, video, photo, digital applications, reporting, etc. Any work that the student has produced during their time at the school is eligible. Students with questions about the appropriateness of a specific project are encouraged to attend an info session for guidance on how to submit. Details of the application process can be found here: http://towcenter.org/courses/innovation-showcase/

The 2013 Innovation Showcase will take place on May 17 and 18.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - Master of Science graduation award.

The Richard J. Blood Award For Excellence in Reporting

DEADLINE: Noon, Monday, April 15

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 form ( http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Blood/ ) and attach your submission by noon on Monday, April 15.

Please note that the competition is for unpublished work, but that 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 the 20 or so 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.

If you have interest in applying for any of the post-graduate fellowships that are offered by the Journalism School, here is the information on the positions with links to the applications. DEADLINE FOR ALL BUT THE BROWN INSTITUTE JOBS IS 5 P.M., FRIDAY MARCH 1. ALL APPLICATION SITES WILL CLOSE AT THAT TIME.

Several additional key points:

• You can apply for more than one position but we advise that you not apply to all simply as a way to boost your chances. Read the descriptions carefully for the skills you would need in each job.
• Finalists will be selected and only they will be interviewed in early March.
• Offers are expected to be made prior to Spring Break (by March 15) with students expected to decide within two weeks.
• If you are offered a position and accept, you will be expected to honor that commitment.
• International students are eligible to apply for any of these positions as long as they are eligible to obtain OPT following graduation.
• Post-grads in all of these positions will be employees of the university and will be entitled to vacation/holiday, eligibility to participate in health coverage and other standard Columbia University benefits during their employment year.
• Job descriptions are below. You must apply online at these links and submit materials by uploading them as instructed. Only students who are graduating or have recently graduated are eligible to apply.

Feel free to contact the faculty/editors listed with any additional queries.

• DMA: http://fs7.formsite.com/cu_jschool_careers/CUGSJ_DMA/
• NY World: http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/NYWorld
• CJR: https://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/CJRAsstEd/secure_index.html
• TOW Center: http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/TowDMA/
• Brown Center: http://www.stanford.edu/group/brown/cgi-bin/wordpress/?page_id=49

The New York World Scholars (6)
The New York World is hiring up to six New York World scholars for the 2013-2014 academic year. Both MS and MA grads can apply.

Scholars serve as full-time reporters covering city and state government in New York through accessible explanatory reporting and innovative digital media projects. Each scholar works with the New York World’s editors to develop an area of coverage and produce stories documenting the impact of government spending, services and powers on New Yorkers and their communities. Previous scholars have focused their reporting on the justice system, the urban environment, legislative redistricting, the city budget, public space, access to government data, and the conduct and ethics of public officials. Scholars also collaborate with students in the New York World workshop on joint reporting projects.

The New York World is both a public service and laboratory for innovation in digital media, in collaboration with the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and Brown Center for Media Innovation. The New York World works with partner news organizations to distribute stories to diverse audiences; the organizations include WNYC, Times Union, New York Observer, City & State, Amsterdam News, Thirteen/Metrofocus, Queens Chronicle and the Forward. These postdoctoral research scholars must be from the graduating class or recent alumni of the Journalism School, and at least one will be hired from the Stabile Investigative Program. They will be based at the school and paid a salary (of about $40,000 annually, pro-rated based on the length of their appointment); they will also receive a generous University benefits package. We expect most fellows will begin July 1, 2012 and will serve until June 30, 2014, with the possibility of renewals beyond that date.

We’ll be looking for people with these skills and interests:

• A keen understanding of and/or interest in the way city/state government and finances operate
• Digital skills, including data presentation, multimedia, interactive graphics and an understanding of digital design and functionality
• Fundamental values and skills in media law, sourcing, ethics, investigative and narrative techniques, aggregation and curation
• An eagerness to experiment in new forms of storytelling, presentation of information and audience engagement
• An ability to reach out to local communities and media, engaging them in efforts to shape coverage areas and publish relevant journalism.

To apply: Please upload a document that answers all of the questions below, and includes three links to relevant work you have done either in or outside the J-School.

1. What experiences have you had engaging with government and politics – as a reporter or in other capacities ­– and how can these be an asset for The New York World?

2. Please detail how you intend to develop your coverage of government to build an engaged and diverse audience.

3. How would you work with other New York World journalists to deploy data and digital media?

4. Detail three stories you intend to pursue as a reporter for The New York World.

– Alyssa Katz, Editor, The New York World aak2128@columbia.edu

Application: http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/NYWorld

Digital Media Associates (4)
We are looking for four DMAs who have, or are able to quickly learn, a variety of multimedia skills, including video, photo, audio, Web design and data. Both MS and MA grads may apply.

The associates work for 13 months alongside faculty in all the concentrations to assist with classroom training, facilitate technical workshops, and assist in various school-wide projects. Associates also work closely with the faculty and technology staff to integrate digital media instruction throughout the curriculum. Part-teaching assistants, part-technologists, ideal candidates are smart journalists with terrific reporting, writing, multimedia, editing and production skills. Additionally, they’ll need an engaging classroom presence. DMAs must be proficient in multimedia technologies, including video production, audio production, and photography. This position runs from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, pays $32,000 and includes a generous University benefits package.

The DMA provide training to faculty and students on new media technology including web publishing software. They assist instructors across the curriculum, as needed, with multimedia training and production, as well as manage digital production, including webcasting, of general school events; provide skills training for the MS students during August; assist in digital media and data classes, including the module courses that will be held in the spring. They also are called on to develop and disseminate information on best solutions to recurring problems. Candidates should have advanced technical skills in web development, Photoshop, web management, digital media production and use of data; willingness to learn and master new software; ability to present and teach and work in a collegial manner with students, faculty and administrators. They must be highly skilled at Final Cut Pro/Adobe Premiere, WordPress, and Social publishing platforms. Preference will be given to those with knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and HTML/CSS.

To Apply: Upload an updated resume, a 500-word essay explaining why you’d like to serve as a DMA and what you would offer our students, and at least three links to your best work samples.

– Duy Linh Tu, Professor, Head of the Digital Media Program dnt3@columbia.edu

Application: http://fs7.formsite.com/cu_jschool_careers/CUGSJ_DMA/

Columbia Journalism Review: Assistant editors (2)
CJR seeks two reporters who want to spend the next year honing their skills at the nation’s oldest and most respected media monitor. Both MS and MA grads may apply.

This is not an internship; our AEs are entry-level professionals. The AEs pitch, report, and write stories about journalism news and trends for cjr.org and the magazine, and also assist senior editors with other vital office tasks, including fact checking, social-media posting, and website maintenance. AEs are encouraged to voice their ideas and participate in all aspects of digital and print production. Predecessors in this job are scattered across the media universe, from The New York Times and Time magazine to Mother Jones and The New Yorker. Applicants must be members of the 2013 class at the Journalism School. The job, which pays $27,000 and includes benefits, begins July 1, 2013, and runs through June 30, 2014. Note: The CJR offices are no longer located in the Journalism School, but remain in a very convenient location at 729 Seventh Avenue (near 50th Street).

To apply: Please attach a resume, links to samples of your work, and a letter of interest that includes three short pitches for stories you think CJR should do.

– Cyndi Stivers, Editor in Chief, CJR cs2442@columbia.edu

Application: https://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/CJRAsstEd/secure_index.html

Tow Center For Digital Journalism: Associate (1)
The Tow Center is looking for an Associate to join the Center at an exciting time. We are seeking an Associate to help expand the Tow Center’s publishing, events and teaching activities. The duties will include helping develop, edit and commission for the Tow Center site, assisting to develop and maintain a social media presence, helping conceive and arrange speakers and events, and supporting the Director of the Tow Center and Tow professors in their teaching and publishing work. The Associate will also receive a secondary academic appointment and the opportunity to gain experience and explore an academic career. A passionate interest in journalism, technology and a familiarity with the issues and debates surrounding digital journalism are important. The Associate will be expected to take full part in contributing creative ideas to the Center and will need to be highly organized. Web production, multimedia and writing skills are of paramount importance. Candidates should feel comfortable with current web publishing technologies. An understanding of social media and a personal digital presence are also important.

This position runs from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, pays $32,000 over a 13-month period and includes a generous University benefits package. This Associate position for the Tow Center is open to both MS and MA graduates of the class of 2013.

Columbia University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a community diverse in every way: race, ethnicity, geography, religion, academic and extracurricular interest, family circumstance, sexual orientation, socio-economic background and more.

To apply: Please write a post of 300 to 400 words (with links) on an idea either for a Tow event, or a post about digital journalism for the Tow blog. Attach your resume and provide a link to your Blog/Web Site/Digital Presence.

– Emily Bell, Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism. ebell@columbia.edu

Application: http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/TowDMA/

Brown Institute for Media Innovation (2 Fellowships, 2 Magic Grants)
The Brown Institute is offering two kinds of funding: Fellowships and Magic Grants. Both would run from September 2013 through September 2014, with flexibility on what side of the summer we fund. Brown is a bi-coastal Institute that is half at Stanford Engineering and half here in the J-School. Its mission is to help co-evolve technology and storytelling.

We’re looking for students who have experience building, using or just imagining new forms of journalistic technology. We’re as interested in students who have a new story to tell, a new idea for some way to connect with an audience, but need help with the technology.

– Mark Hansen, East Coast Director, Helen and David Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation markh@columbia.edu

Applications for next year are not being accepted yet but read more about the program, the projects and what was required previously of applicants here: http://www.stanford.edu/group/brown/cgi-bin/wordpress/?page_id=49.

Institute for the Study of Human Rights 2013 Human Rights Essay Contest

Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights is pleased to announce the 2013 Human Rights Essay Contest. The contest aims to encourage and acknowledge students who have written exceptional academic papers that address issues related to human rights.
Cash prizes will be awarded to two graduate students and to two undergraduate students currently enrolled at Columbia University. Authors of outstanding papers may also have the opportunity to present at a student conference and publish their papers on ISHR’s webpage.

Topic: Papers may be written in any discipline or be interdisciplinary. They may be critical analyses, theoretical examinations, or research papers, as long as they address issues, ideas, and questions relating to human rights.

Length: Approximately 5,000 words, though substantially shorter papers will also be considered. Deadline for submission: Monday, January 28, 2013

Submission Guidelines: See guidelines and upload submissions here. Only one submission is allowed per student. Students do not have to be enrolled in a human rights program to participate.

Prizes: Two $500 prizes will be awarded to graduate students and two $250 prizes will be awarded to undergraduates. Contest winners will be announced in late March 2012.

Review Procedures: All papers will be reviewed anonymously by Columbia University students and faculty on the basis of their originality, intellectual rigor, relevance and contribution to the field of human rights, and clarity of expression. A Student Review Committee will select finalists and a Faculty Review Committee will choose contest winners from among the
finalists. Click here if you are interested in participating in the committee. Questions may be directed to: humanrightsed@columbia.edu

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:

Blog Editor: RightsViews

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights is looking for a graduate or undergraduate student with excellent editing skills and a flare for creative writing to be the new editor of RightsViews, ISHR’s blog. RightsViews is an ongoing conversation about developments in the human rights field amongst students and faculty from within Columbia University. It is a forum for opinion pieces, individual research, and perspectives from the field on a wide range of subjects related to human rights practice and policy: http://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/rightsviews/. This is a one-year work study position and will require a commitment of 5-10 hours per week (depending on the amount and nature of content).

To apply, please send the following documents to Janine White (jaw2195@columbia.edu) no later than January 31, 2013:
- Resume (one page)
- Cover letter (no more than one page) describing your vision for the blog – why do you want to take on this role? How you would develop content and visuals to improve RightsViews? Offer one new strategy for marketing the blog across Columbia campus.
- Writing sample (up to 1000 words)

The Associated Press Media Editors Association is offering a new contest for college students: The (New) Innovator of the Year Award.

The award recognizes innovation by university students in print, online, management, structure or other area that demonstrates a bold, creative effort to improve a news or information product and increase audience. Demonstrable success is not essential but could improve the entry’s standing.

Eligibility: The competition is open to any APME affiliate member who is either an enrolled student or faculty member.

Submissions: A total of 20 files can be uploaded with each entry. This can include a combination of documents, published pages and multimedia files, if applicable.

Online innovation: The entrant is responsible for making the site available to judges through a Web link. URL should be submitted with the application.

Print innovation: Submit electronic files of published tear sheets.

Online and print: Combinations are welcome, and should be submitted according to rules for both.

Management, structure or other: Explain thoroughly the innovation and how it improved or increased efficiency, effectiveness, coordination and audience or enhanced the newspaper’s competitiveness or ability to improve content. Provide examples of resulting content as appropriate.

Judging: A panel of APME board members will judge all entries and select three finalists. The finalists will be presented to attendees of the APME annual conference in Nashville, Sept. 19-21, and a vote of attendees will determine the winner. A representative of each finalist will be asked to present his or her newspaper’s entry at the conference. Attendance is not required to win.

To enter, go to https://www.omnicontests4.com/?comp_id=330

The Politiva.com Emerging Journalists Awards Contest is to recognize young journalist who are conducting investigative reporting on a variety of important issues.

If you are a Journalist age 18 to 30 you are encouraged to apply.

Each month there are 13 winners of $200 Apple Gift Cards.

Grand Prize: a 13.5 inch Mac Book Pro AND an I-Pod Touch *
2nd Prize: Apple I-Pad *
People’s Choice Contributor Winner: Apple I-Pad *

*For more information and contest rules click here.

Contest ends December 31, 2012.

The Religion Newswriters Association would like to invite student journalist to enter for a chance to be receive the 2011 Chandler Award; which is sponsored by Russ Chandler (former LA Times religion reporter).

The Chandler Award honors excellence in student writing with an emphasis on reporting skill and a grasp of religion issues that is fair, balanced and in accordance with journalistic standards. Students who have published three stories on faith, ethics or spirituality in the 2010-2011 academic year are invited to enter.

The deadline to enter is Monday, May 2nd.

First prize is $600, and winners also receive free travel to Durham, N.C. to claim their prize at the Religion Newswriters Association annual awards banquet and conference this September.

You can find contest details at www.RNA.org

They are also on Facebook at Facebook.com/ChandlerAward and Twitter at twitter.com/ChandlerAward

Women on Transatlantic Security
atlantic-community.org/index/Open_Think_Tank_Article/Empowering_Women_in_International_Relations

Atlantic-community.org is the first online think tank and social community for international relations, with more than 5,300 members from around the globe. Our mission is to give a voice to a new generation of thinkers and to contribute to a more diverse transatlantic strategic community. Since women are still underrepresented in positions of power, a key part of this mission is to support young women who are in the early stages of their careers by prominently featuring their ideas and providing networking opportunities.

All submissions that meet our editorial standards will be published. The three winners will receive cash awards.

Of course, we also publish thought-provoking op-eds from men (out of competition) and all students are invited to join atlantic-community.org for free.

Go Viral to Improve Health
IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Academy of Engineering
(NAE) of the National Academies invite college and university students to participate in an exciting new challenge to transform health data into effective, innovative new applications that take on the nation’s pressing health problems.

The Go Viral to Improve Health: IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge seeks creative and skilled undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in engineering, computer science, and health professions. The premise is that the nation’s health can be advanced when communities and individuals are motivated to take action to improve their well-being. We have an unprecedented opportunity to translate reams of newly available health data into interactive “apps” and other tools that engage and empower people in ways that lead to better health. College and university students, working in interdisciplinary teams that meld technological skills and health knowledge, can generate exciting and powerful new products–the next “viral app”–that could lead to real changes in individuals’ and communities’
well-being.

Three winning teams will receive cash awards up to $3,000 and have the opportunity to display their products at the next forum of the Health Data Initiative on June 9, 2011 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. The winning teams will be reimbursed up to $1,000 to help defray the cost of traveling to the June 9th forum.

The deadline for submissions is April 27, 2011, at 9:00pm PDT

Visit our website and take the challenge.
Like us on Facebook.
Contact us for more information at goviral@nas.edu.

The New York Financial Writers’ Association is offering $30,000 in scholarships this spring to undergraduate or graduate journalism students in the tri-state New York area who are seriously interested in pursuing a career in business and financial journalism.

The number of winners varies from year to year. Last year, ten scholarships were awarded of $3,000 each.

Applicants should follow these directions:
(1) Complete application providing your present address, email, and telephone number and, if different, your permanent home address. Applications are available at the NYFWA website: www.nyfwa.org. If you do not have access to an application, simply send a cover letter with the information.
(2) Send an essay explaining why you are pursuing a career in business and financial journalism.
(3) Include a current resume, relevant personal information, and list any other scholarships you have received.
(4) Send samples of your financial writing and clippings.

Awards will be presented at the Association’s Annual Awards Dinner before an audience of leaders from the business, financial and journalism communities.

Applications may be emailed to nyfwa@aol.com. If mailed, they must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2011. We encourage applicants to apply early as possible. Only applications sent to the PO Box will be accepted. Please contact Jane Reilly at nyfwa@aol.com with questions or call 201-612-0100.

Send material to:

Scholarship Committee
New York Financial Writers’ Association, Inc.
PO Box 338
Ridgewood NJ 07451-0338

Contact:
Jane Reilly
Executive Manager
New York Financial Writers Association
PO Box 338
Ridgewood NJ 07450
www.nyfwa.org
201-612-0100
201-612-9915 (fax)

Dear Students:

We are beginning the planning for the 2011 graduation festivities. Please see our graduation page for information. It will be updated frequently as more details are confirmed!

The faculty invites students to nominate names for two graduation-related speakers. The final decision is made by the faculty, but they would like to see your suggestions.

THE COLUMBIA JOURNALISM AWARD is the school’s highest honor and is a “lifetime achievement” prize. This person is, in effect, your main graduation speaker (and will be addressing you in front of your parents and guests). Recent winners: Gail Collins, Jim Amoss, David Halberstam, Seymour Hersh, Paul Steiger, Joseph Lelyveld, Pete Hammill, Carl Rowan, Joan Didion, Walter Cronkite, Ben Bradlee (see full list on awards wall outside glass door in front of Deans Suite on seventh floor).

THE PRINGLE LECTURE is typically given by a journalist covering national affairs. The lecture is given at one of the smaller graduation-related ceremonies and is ONLY to students and faculty, with no guests. Recent lecturers: Eugene Robinson, Farnaz Fassihi, Michael Kinsley, Molly Ivins, Mary McGrory, Jay Harris, Tom Bettag, Cokie Roberts, Dana Priest. See the 2010 speaker below.

FORM: To give your suggestions, fill in the 30-second form here (all fields are optional):

DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 1, 2010 - 1 p.m.

Please remember: This is NOT a vote. The faculty just wants to get a sense of what names are proposed.

PLEASE NOTE: Continuing part-time students are invited to attend the ceremonies and are welcome to nominate speakers.

Thanks for playing,
The Office of Student Affairs

SCHOLARSHIPS – Thirteen $2,000 scholarships from the Overseas Press Club Foundation – open to all students – deadline is December 1, 2010

- - -

Graduate and undergraduate students, studying at American colleges and universities or Americans studying at foreign universities, who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of thirteen $2,000 scholarships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation.

From among the scholarship winners, the Foundation also selects up to six scholars and pays travel and living expenses for them to intern at foreign bureaus at such leading news organization as the Associated Press and Reuters and foreign English-language media like Cambodia Daily and the South China Morning Post. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers. Winners are also invited to join the Overseas Press Club family. They are encouraged to network and keep the organization informed of their career moves. (more…)

2010 Graduation Week
Congratulations to all our Columbia Journalism School graduates!

Please visit our graduation coverage page to read:
* Gail Collins’ commencement speech
* Dean Nicholas Lemann’s graduation address
* Pringle Lecture by Eugene Robinson
* Lemann’s university commencement remarks
* Remarks by Siddharth Philip, class president

Video of J-school graduation ceremony, Tuesday, May 18, 3-4:30 pm:
The sequence: Dean Nicholas Lemann (00:00-11:34)
Rebecca Castillo (11:47-14:04)
Siddharth Philip (14:06-17:00)
Gail Collins (17:29-34:31)
Dean Lemann reads the award winners’ names (34:45-41:44)
Dean Sree Sreenivasan reads the graduates’ names (41:50-1:32:45)

Also see video of main university-wide Commencement

Read Dean Huff’s 2010 Year-end Manual (info about use of the building, Columbia e-mail, computers, alumni services, etc).

Download photo of J-School class of 2010: Class photo

See a year’s worth of Student Affairs photos. (e-mail sree[at]sree.net if you’d like to contribute pix)

Not our graduation, but Prof. Sig Gissler, in 2008, recommended this short AP story about Pulitzer Prize-winner David McCollough’s commencement address at Boston College:

“Please, please do what you can to cure the verbal virus that seems increasingly rampant among your generation.”He said he’s particularly troubled by the “relentless, wearisome use of words” such as like, awesome and actually.”

AWARDS: The following awards were presented on May 17 and the winners were acknowledged again at the main graduation ceremony on May 18, 2010.

PULITZER TRAVELING FELLOWSHIPS & EIBEL AWARD for the top six students in the Class of 2010

PULITZER FELLOWSHIP WINNERS:
Lauren Kirchner - class valedictorian
Sasha Chavkin
John Tucker
Rory Weisbrod
Katherine Clarke (specializing in criticism of the arts)

David Marcus Eibel Memorial Scholarship: Mara Zepeda

The M.A. Program Prize:
Arthur Harris Award for Best M.A. Thesis: Rohini Mohan
runner-up: Carrie Peyton Dahlberg
runner-up: David Zax

Henry Taylor award for outstanding international student: Frances McInnis

Award & Winner(s):
Baker for Bronx Ink: Sarah Butrymowicz
Baker prize for Brooklyn Ink: Mary Plummer
Baker prize for Columbia News Service: Megan Gibson
Baker prize for Literary Journalism: Lauren Kirchner
Baker prize for magazine production A: Joel Mears
Baker prize for magazine production B: Frances McInnis
Baker prize for magazine writing A: Lisa Held
Baker prize for magazine writing B: John Tucker
Balakian prize for literary criticism: David Kessel
Blood prize for reporting: Sam Fellman
Crichton award for documentary film: Pracheta Sharma & Jessica Hopper
Digital Media Workshop - Design - prize: Shane Snow
Digital Media Workshop - Interactive - prize: Lisa Waananen
Digital Media Workshop - Multimedia Storytelling - prize: Scott Sell and Andrew Keshner
Digital Media Workshop - Visual Storytelling - prize: Lim Wui Liang
Greer award for business reporting MA: Angus Loten
Greer award for business reporting MS: Lindsay Dunsmuir
Harron award for courtesy (”nice guy/nice gal): Shefali Kulkarni
Hechinger award for education journalism: Melissa Miley & Rob Sgobbo
Horgan award for science journalism #1: Sasha Chavkin
Horgan award for science journalism #2: Delphine Reuter
Horgan award for science journalism #3: Leonard F. Schoenberger
Journalism Editorial award: Joel Mears
Keller prize for editing: Althea Fung
Konner award for broadcast journalism: Sherisse Pham
Lynton Fellowship for book writing: Artis Herderson
Lynton Fellowship for book writing: Nathaniel Adams
Mencher prize for superior reporting: Chasen Marshall
Nelson award for national affairs reporting: Sam Fellman
Nightly News Workshop prize: Tammy Mutasa and Kelly Koopmans
Photography prize: Diana Markosian and Chris Geier
Radio Workshop prize: Katie Simon and Lindsay Dunsmuir
Sackett award for the law class: Maria Del Mar & Cabra Valero & Daniel Benjamin Roberts
Video Storytelling Workshop prize: Edward Chun
Weschler award for international reporting: Artis Herderson
Weschler award for national reporting: Katya Wachtel
Weschler award for local reporting: Sommer Saadi
Winnick award for RW1: Lauren Kirchner

The winners of the two awards presented by the students :
SPJ Teacher of the Year: Michael Shapiro
SPJ Student of the Year: Barry Whyte

List of Students Graduating with Honors
Sarah Butrymowicz
Yilun Chen
Frederick Dreier Frederick
Lindsay Dunsmuir
Sasha Freudenberg-Chavkin
Sara Hamdan
Artis Henderson
Andrew Keshner
Lauren Kirchner
Christopher Livesay
Frances McInnis
Joel Meares
Ada Muellner
Stephen Nessen
Sherisse Pham
Leslie Picker
Mary Plummer
Susanna Poppick
Scott Sell
Emma Silvers
Shreeya Sinha
John Tucker
Kim Velsey
Lisa Waananen
Rory Weisbrod
Mara Zepeda

Here’s an explanation of how the awards are selected.

-30-

Dear Graduating Students:

The Fred M. Hechinger Education Journalism Award will be given to the student who produces the most outstanding journalistic work on the subject of education.

This award was established by the Hechinger Institute on Media Education at Teachers College, in honor of the New York Times’ education editor, Fred Hechinger.

Stories are accepted in television, digital media, radio and print. There is no length restriction. Judges will be looking for insight and excellence in reporting and writing.
(more…)

FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
333 East 46th Street, Suite 1K
New York, NY 10017
(212) 370-1054
ATTENTION: FOREIGN GRADUATE STUDENTS OF JOURNALISM

The Foreign Press Association is offering a minimum of three scholarships to foreign graduate students of journalism in the United States, one for $10,000.00, one for $7,500.00 and the other for $5,000.00. The awards are meant to encourage the pursuit of a career in journalism focusing on international affairs.

Applicants must:
Submit a one page statement of purpose about why they feel they deserve a scholarship. Indicate if financial aid is needed. List all scholarships and fellowships you have received towards your studies in the United States.

2) Submit an OP-ED article (maximum 750 words)
In Chris Anderson’s new book,”Free: The Future of a Radical Price” he states that newspapers need to accept that content is never going to be worth what they want it to be worth and they will need to reinvent their business. “Out of the bloodbath will come a new role for professional journalists,” he predicts. “There will be more of them, not fewer, as the ability to participate in journalism extends beyond the credentialed halls of traditional media. But they may be paid far less, and for many it won’t be a full time job at all. Journalism as a profession will share the stage with journalism as an avocation.”
As a student of journalism, how do you relate to this hypothesis?

3) Present proof of enrollment in a Graduate program of Journalism.
4) Submit two letters of reference:
a) from a current professor (DEAN SREE’S NOTE: if you can’t get a reference in time, include a Fall class evaluation)
b) from an editor you have worked for.
5) Submit only two samples of published or broadcast work. If work is in a foreign language, please send it with an English translation.
6) Submit a curriculum vitae. Outline your previous experience in journalism and academic background.

Five separate copies (collated) of all submissions must be sent.

The awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Reception in May 2010.

Submissions must be received no later than December 30, 2009.
EXTENDED DEADLINE: Monday, Jan. 11, 2009 (you have to till the end of the day to get it downtown; but if you bring your package by noon to Dean Sree’s office, we’ll send them all together by messenger).

Send to:
Suzanne Adams
FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
333 East 46th Street, Suite 1K
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 370-1054

The Foreign Press Association, founded in 1918, is the oldest foreign press organization in the United States. We have a current membership of over 500 representing print, broadcast and photographic media from 55 countries.

The Society of Professional Journalists, in its mission to improve and protect journalism, is always looking to honor exceptional and extraordinary students who are pursuing a career in the profession, and the dedicated educators who teach them. We do so annually with two programs: the Mark of Excellence Awards <http://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp> and the Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award <http://www.spj.org/a-teaching.asp>.

*Mark of Excellence Awards* <http://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp> The future of journalism is in your hands, and your collegiate pursuits are accomplishments that should be recognized. Nationally recognized, in fact.
SPJ honors great student journalism with its annual Mark of Excellence Awards <http://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp>. The awards offer categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism.

*NEW THIS YEAR:* Entrants can submit work online <http://awards.spj.org/>.
The new format allows you to submit easily and efficiently.

The contest is open to anyone enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. studying for an academic degree in 2009. SPJ members may enter for $9.
The non-member fee is $18. Contest rules and categories are here<http://www.spj.org/moe-categories.asp>
.

*The deadline is Jan. 27, 2010*. Visit the SPJ Awards site for more information and to enter.
The awards are open to all student journalists, so please feel free to share this information with your friends and professors. If you have any questions, contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at (317) 927-8000 ext. 210 or awards@spj.org.

*Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award*<http://www.spj.org/a-teaching.asp>
This award <http://www.spj.org/a-teaching.asp>, made annually, honors a journalism educator and recognizes outstanding teaching ability, contributions to journalism, journalism education and contributions toward maintaining the highest standards of the profession.

Nominations are open and encouraged from students, former students, colleagues and department heads, as well as professionals in the field.
There is no fee to nominate someone. Click here for the submission requirements <http://www.spj.org/a-teaching.asp>.

*All nominations and supporting materials must be postmarked by March 18,
2010.* The honoree will be recognized at the 2010 SPJ Convention and national Journalism Conference, Oct. 3-6 in Las Vegas.

Good luck!

Karen Grabowski

Society of Professional Journalists

Attn: Graduating Students
From: Dean Huff
Re: Year-end Awards for M.S. & M.A. Students
April 22, 2009

Each year on Journalism Day the school confers awards on several top-performing students. Each prize winner will receive a certificate and some will receive additional cash prizes (this depends on how the awards were originally set up). Below you will find the descriptions of this year’s awards.

These awards are open to any M.S. students graduating in this cycle (May 2009, Feb. 2009 and Oct. 2008). Some awards are also open to M.A. students - noted in each award description.

There are two broad categories of awards: those for which students can submit entries that are judged by faculty juries; and those decided by the professors teaching the course for which they are awarded - no submissions are accepted for these.

Please note: There are two awards run and judged by alumni - the Sander and Blood awards, which have already accepted submissions.

Another prize, the Harron Award, is decided by a faculty committee from nominations provided by the J-school community - see separate announcement). All M.S., M.A., Knight Bagehot, and Ph.D. students are eligible.

For juried awards, you may submit applications for no more than two categories (the Blood, Hechinger and Sander awards are not part of the limit), and each application can contain only one story, or segment of a Master’s Project/Thesis no longer than 3,500 words (or 10-12 minutes of video or audio; for new media projects, submit specific URLs in addition to an overall URL, and printouts of the relevant pages).

The decisions of the faculty judges are final, and their deliberations are confidential.

If you are submitting an application for one of the juried awards, you must submit clean, hard copy (or broadcast materials, if applicable, WITH SCRIPTS, or for new media projects, submit specific URLs in addition to an overall URL, and printouts of the relevant pages) to the boxes in 2M07A (in the Career Services area) between Monday, April 27, at 10 a.m. and Monday, May 4 at 10 a.m. IN ADDITION, please e-mail copies of your submissions to cc2964@columbia.edu. If you are coming after business hours, please drop off the entries through the slot of the gray box outside of the DOS offices(Huff/Sreenivasan) PLEASE SUBMIT THREE COPIES OF EACH ITEM.
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Dear M.S. Class of 2009:

The M.S. Class of 1989 is pleased to announce the Leslie Rachel Sander Social Justice Award, in memory of our classmate who died on her 22nd birthday in June 1989, after a courageous battle with cancer.

In past years prizes have gone to completed works, but for 2009, to mark our 20th reunion, we are offering a $5,000 grant to help a student complete a work in progress or a proposed project that carries on the journalism for social justice to which Leslie aspired. The winner will be chosen by some of her former classmates and announced on Journalism Day.

All M.S. students graduating in 2009 are invited to submit one grant proposal each. Group submissions also are accepted (Please have one person submit for the group; all team members will need to provide reference letters).

Choice of Subject…
…is yours. Reporting including but not limited to economics, environment, education, health care, housing, politics and transportation may be appropriate. Entries could be a hard-hitting expose or a descriptive feature. Any medium is accepted: print, broadcast, photography, new media.

Past winners have included a story about teenage female criminals falling through the cracks of a criminal justice system designed for an overwhelmingly male population (1997); our first broadcast winner, “TB: The City’s Silent Killer” (1995); and “Childhood Interrupted,” about children who come to the United States seeking asylum and end up in INS detention (2002).

We leave it to you to define social justice. To Leslie it meant a commitment “to personally make a positive difference in the world around her,” as her father wrote in her obituary. Leslie was special: caring, and compassionate, a good listener and a sharp, critical thinker. The choices she made in her short life–teaching at a multiracial school in Botswana; studying journalism—reflected her ideals.

Proposal criteria

1. A cover letter providing an explanation of your project, including why the project is important and why it is original. Other information, such as your journalism background and interest in social justice journalism, also would be helpful. Please keep the length to two pages maximum.
2. For works in progress, please submit work that has been done and any other supporting research. For a project proposal, please submit any initial research that has been conducted. For photo essays, please provide at least 10 photos.
3. A detailed budget for the project including how the money would be used and when it is needed. If this grant would not cover the full cost of the project, what other funding are you pursuing?
4. Three professional recommendations. At least one must be from a professor at the Journalism School. Please provide contact information.
5. Two examples of previous work, preferably highlighting social justice journalism. This could be work from school or a previous or current job.

The winner also will agree to keep the award committee apprised of the project’s outcome. The grant will be administered in two phases, as the work progresses.

The deadline for submissions at http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Sander is 5 p.m. April 22, 2009.

Questions? Please contact Karyn Colombo at karyncolombo@yahoo.com or at (561) 659-9880.

Regards,

M.S. Class of 1989

*This award and Leslie Sander award [instructions distributed next week] are among the 30 or so M.S. graduation prizes awarded each year. Details and application instructions (for those that require submissions) will be distributed at a later date. These two, however, are judged by alumni committees so have earlier application deadlines.

Professor David Hajdu’s book, “The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America ,” has been selected by Amazon.com as #10 out of its 100 favorites of 2008. They also named it #1 best book of the year on arts and entertainment.

More on Prof. Hajdu: http://www.davidhajdu.com

Listen to an hour-long J-school webcast about the book and his classes:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/23/MEET-THE-FACULTY-David-Hajdu

AN ASIDE: That webcast was recorded the day after the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, in April 2008, where Barack Obama came in second to Hillary Clinton (and had come in second several times in contests just before that one). As part of the introduction, I mentioned the fact that Hajdu’s previous books had been finalists for several awards. Always modest, he responded by saying, “I feel a little like the Barack Obama of nonfiction - I keep being a finalist and I don’t quite win. We are speaking today the day after the Pennsylvania primary… and the archive of that comment will probably elicit chuckles.” Now that his book has been named the #1 book of the year in arts and entertainment, he’s even more like Barack Obama than he realized.

- Dean Sree Sreenivasan