Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2027 for Women Journalists [Fully Funded]

Applications were invited from qualified journalists for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2027, a fully funded six-month academic and professional development programme in the United States.

The fellowship supports women, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming journalists who focus on human rights and social justice. Selected Fellows undertake research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies while gaining professional journalism experience with The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

SUMMARY:

• Fellowship Sponsor: International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
• Host Institutions: MIT Center for International Studies, The Boston Globe & The New York Times
• Fellowship Type: Professional Journalism Fellowship
• Fellowship Benefits: Fully Funded + Monthly Stipend
• Program Duration: 6 Months
• Number of Awards: One Fellow
• Eligible Applicants: Women, Nonbinary & Gender-Nonconforming Journalists
• Nationality: All Nationalities

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Suggested: Berlin Scholarship Program for Journalists to Study in Germany

Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2027 | Program Overview

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship provides academic and professional opportunities to advance the reporting skills of journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice.

The International Women’s Media Foundation established the programme in memory of Elizabeth Neuffer, a Boston Globe correspondent and 1998 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner who died while reporting in Iraq in 2003.

The six-month programme combines academic research with practical newsroom experience.

From February through May, the Fellow is based at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During this period, the Fellow can audit classes, participate in seminars and events, conduct independent research and gain newsroom experience at The Boston Globe.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship must:

• Be a woman, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming journalist.
• Be a working journalist focusing on human rights and social justice issues.
• Have at least three years of full-time professional journalism experience.
• Work as either a staff or freelance journalist.
• Be fluent in speaking, reading and writing English.
• Be available to participate in the entire six-month fellowship.
• Demonstrate strong journalism skills and commitment to human rights and social justice reporting.

Journalists from all countries are eligible to apply.

Journalism internships and journalism-related work completed while studying at a university do not count toward the required three years of professional experience.

See Also: Aljazeera Media Institute Fellowship Programme for Young Journalists

Fellowship Benefits

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship provides comprehensive financial and professional support to the selected Fellow. Benefits include:

• A fixed monthly stipend to cover living expenses.
• Fully arranged and funded housing in Cambridge and New York City.
• Round-trip economy airfare from the Fellow’s place of residence to the United States.
• Transportation between fellowship locations.
• Health insurance throughout the programme.
• U.S. visa application and processing costs for Fellows residing outside the United States.
• Research and coursework opportunities at MIT.
• Professional experience at The Boston Globe.
• A full-time internship at The New York Times.
• Opportunities to strengthen reporting, research and professional journalism skills.

The fellowship does not provide a salary. IWMF does not currently publish a fixed dollar amount for the monthly living stipend.

Application Procedures

How to Apply: Applications for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship are submitted online through the IWMF application platform. Applicants are required to complete the online application and provide information about their professional journalism experience, interest in the fellowship and proposed career goals.

Candidates are evaluated based on the quality and promise of their human rights and social justice reporting, the strength of their complete application and how the fellowship could contribute to their journalism careers.

Finalists are interviewed by IWMF and members of the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship selection committee.

Application Documents

A complete application includes:

• Biography
• Current résumé or CV
• Statement of interest
• Fellowship goals
• Two work samples covering human rights or social justice issues
• Two letters of recommendation in English

Applicants whose work samples are not in English must provide translations. They may submit professional translations or their own translations accompanied by a professional translator’s assessment of accuracy.

The statement-of-interest section includes questions addressing why the fellowship is appropriate at the applicant’s current career stage, their most important fellowship goal and how achieving that goal would improve their reporting on human rights and social justice.

Application Deadline

Applications round closed for 2027, Start preparing for 2028 .

See Similar Program: Tarbell Fellowship for Early-Career Journalists 2027

Visit the Official Website for Further Details