IRE to host a Google Journalism Fellow in 2014; applications now being accepted

IRE will be hosting a Google Journalism Fellow again next year. This is a great program designed for college students who, as Google puts it, "are passionate about journalism and the role that technology can play in the industry and the pursuit of their craft." The IRE-based fellow will focus on data journalism. The program comes with an $8,000 stipend and $1,000 for travel costs. and starts on June 9, 2014. Applications are being taken now.

Here are some highlights from the announcement made by Google (more information is available at the site):

The program is aimed at undergraduate, graduate and journalism students interested in using technology to tell stories in new and dynamic ways. The Fellows will get the opportunity to spend the summer contributing to a variety of organizations -- from those that are steeped in investigative journalism to those working for press freedom around the world and to those that are helping the industry figure out its future in the digital age.

There will be a focus on data driven journalism, online free expression and rethinking the business of journalism. The 10-week long Fellowship will open with a week at Google followed by nine weeks at one of the participating organizations.

• Participating organizations are based in Berkeley, CA, Columbia, MO, Cambridge, MA, St. Petersburg/Miami, FL, New York, NY, Washington, DC and Boston, MA, Austin, TX.
• They include the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project, Poynter, Nieman Journalism Lab, PRI.org, ProPublica, Sunlight Foundation and the Texas Tribune.

Fellows will be assigned a lead mentor at their host organizations, but will have the opportunity to work with several senior staff members over the course of the summer. Fellows will be expected to make substantive contributions to the work of their organization, including researching and writing stories, contributing to open source data programs, creating timely data to accurately frame public debates about media in the United States and the world as well as finding new and compelling ways to use data to tell stories.

Who should apply?

We're looking for students, based in the US, who are passionate about journalism and the role that technology can play in the industry and the pursuit of their craft. Students from all majors and degree programs who possess the following qualities are encouraged to apply:

• Demonstrated or stated commitment to journalism - especially in the fields of data driven journalism or freedom of expression online
• An interest in exploring and creating business models to help the industry in the digital age
• Excellent academic record, professional/extracurricular/volunteer activities, subject matter expertise
• First-rate analytical, communications, research, and writing skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and efficiently, and to work smartly and resourcefully in a fast-paced environment
• Applicants with some experience with HTML, Javascript or another web programming language and experience with Microsoft Excel or a database system is an advantage.

Fellows will receive a stipend of $8,000 USD for 10 weeks during the summer of 2014 (June-August) and a travel budget of $1,000 USD.

The Fellowship will start on June 9 2014 with the first week at Google in Mountain View, California. Fellows will join their host organization on June 16 2014 and finish on August 8 2014.