External Journalism Scholarships
These scholarships are available to students interested in journalism and related careers.
American Copy Editors Society Scholarships
Six scholarships are awarded annually through the ACES Education Fund. One is the Bill Walsh scholarship, in honor of the late editor, author, and ACES guiding spirit. The winner receives $3,500 plus financial aid to attend the ACES national conference.
- Application deadline: Nov. 15, 2020
- Amount: $1,500, $2,500, $3,500
Asian American Journalists Association
The Asian American Journalists Association offers multiple internships, fellowships, grants and scholarships for journalism students.
- Application deadline: multiple scholarships with different deadlines. Please check back for updated deadlines
- Amount: Multiple scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000
Association for Women in Sports Media Scholarship
Since 1990, AWSM has placed nearly 200 female college students interested in sports media careers in paid summer internships. Each winner also receives a $1,000 scholarship, complimentary registration and lodging at AWSM’s annual conference and a complimentary one-year membership to the organization. Application deadline:
- Applications open in Fall, winners to be announced in December
- Amount: $1,000
Investigative Reporters and Editors
IRE makes available certain fellowships and scholarships to allow professional journalists, students and educators the opportunity to attend training events they would not otherwise be able to attend. Fellowships and scholarships typically include a one-year IRE membership and conference/seminar registration fees. You may apply for more than one scholarship/fellowship.
- Application deadline: multiple fellowships and scholarships with multiple deadlines
- Amount: amounts vary
Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Award
To honor Arab-American students who excel in Media Studies.
- Application Deadline: 4/1/2020 (Deadline has passed)
- Amount: $2,500
James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists
Scholarships will be awarded to students whose work “tells a story.” This is a fairly broad topic and may include a variety of subject matter and approaches (breaking news, sporting events, etc.) $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to five college or technical school students, payable to their school. Four awards will be for video work while one will be for still photography.
- Application deadline: Nov. 15, 2020
- Amount: $2,500
National Association of Hispanic Journalists/Getty Images Inclusion
Scholarship Scholarship will be awarded to a student focused on photojournalism. The student will receive a one-year student membership to NAHJ and will also be invited to attend the NABJ/NAHJ 2020 conference in Washington D.C., receiving a $1000 stipend to cover travel and other cost of attendance. The scholarship funds can be used for tuition or camera equipment during the 2020-2021 school year.
- Application deadline: May 15, 2020 (Deadline has passed)
- Amount: $10,000
National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity
Honoring Julie Schoo
The National Press Club, the leading professional organization for journalists, wants to recruit promising future journalists who will bring diversity to American journalism. The scholarship consists of a $2,000 one-year scholarship, which can be renewed for up to three years at $2,500 per year. The first-year scholarship includes an additional $500 book stipend, the Ellen Masin Persina Scholarship.
- Application deadline: March 1, 2021
- Amount: $2,000-$2,500
Feldman Fellowship for Graduate Studies in Journalism
The National Press Club, the world's leading professional organization for journalists, is proud to offer a fellowship for graduate students in journalism. The fellowship is named for Dennis Feldman, a club member who had a long career as a journalist and public relations adviser after putting himself through grad school at night. Winners will receive a one-time stipend of $5,000 to help defray post-graduate tuition costs.
- Application deadline: March 1, 2021
- Amount: $5,000
Richard G. Zimmerman Journalism Scholarship
The late Richard G. Zimmerman, a National press Club member of long standing, endowed a significant scholarship in aid of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism. Recipients will receive a non-renewal award of $5,000.
- Application deadline: March 1, 2021
- Amount: $5,000
National Press Photographers Association
NPPF scholarships are awarded to encourage those with the talent and dedication to photojournalism and who need financial help to continue their studies. These awards are directed toward those studying full-time or returning to college.
- Application deadline: multiple scholarship with multiple deadlines (Deadlines have passed)
- Amount: $1,000 - $4,000
Overseas Press Club Foundation
Graduate and undergraduate students studying at American colleges and universities who aspire to become foreign correspondents are invited to apply for one of 16 scholarships/fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation. American students studying abroad are also eligible to apply. From among those chosen, the Foundation selects up to 12 scholars and pays travel and living expenses for them to spend time in the foreign bureaus of such leading news organization as the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, GroundTruth Project, Wall Street Journal and Forbes and at foreign English-language media companies such as the South China Morning Post. Students win either a $3,000 grant (which they may use for any purpose) or funding for their overseas assignment. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers.
- Application deadline: Dec. 1, 2020
- Amount: $3,000 or funding for overseas assignments
Radio Television Digital News Association
Fellowships are open to professional broadcast or digital journalists with fewer than 10 years of experience. Scholarships are open to college students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. Winners must be officially enrolled, full-time sophomores. juniors or seniors in good standing. Scholarship and fellowship winners are also invited to attend the Excellence in Journalism conference.
- Application deadline: Please check back for updated deadlines
- Amount: varies
L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest
The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest is an ongoing merit competition for new and amateur aspiring writers. Run on a quarterly basis, an eligible entry is any previously unpublished short story or novelette (under 17,000 words) of science fiction or fantasy. There will be three cash prizes in each quarter: a first place prize of $1,000, a second place prize of $750, and a third place prize of $500. In addition, at the end of the year, the winners will have their entries re-judged, and a grand prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. All types of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy are welcome. Application
- Deadline: Sept. 30, 2020
- Amount: $500, $750, $1,000, $5,000
National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity
The National Press Club Diversity Scholarship for Studies in Journalism encourages further diversity in journalism. The scholarship consists of a $2,000 one-year scholarship, which can be renewed for up to three years at $2,500 per year, and a first-year stipend of $500 for book purchases. Applicants must be high school seniors with a grade point average of 3.0 or better who are preparing to enter college and intend to become a journalist who will bring diversity to U.S. journalism. Applicants must complete the FAFSA and submit work samples to the organization via a thumb/USB/flash drive.
- Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
- Amount: $2,500
RTDNF Ed Bradley Scholarship
Students must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the time the scholarship is awarded and be pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. Winners must be officially enrolled, full-time sophomores or above in good standing when scholarships are awarded.
- Application Deadline: Please check back for updated deadlines
- Amount: $10,000
Sacramento Press Club Journalism Scholarships
The Sacramento Press Club will be awarding seven scholarships this year, ranging from $4000-$8000. Students must submit a single application to be considered for all of the scholarships. Eligibility: applicants must be college students who will be juniors, seniors, or graduate students for at least one term in the upcoming academic year; and, applicants must have a connection to the 9-county Sacramento region (Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada and Butte counties) by being one of the following: Students from the Sacramento region (counties specified above); Students enrolled in a Sacramento region college or university (SF Bay Area colleges/universities are not included in the Sacramento region); Students who can show a demonstrated interest in covering news of the Sacramento region. This can include clips documenting your coverage of state political news or any issue that you believe ties into the region. Please explain in your cover letter. Applicants are judged on journalistic achievement, career promise, academic record, and financial need.
- Application Deadline: 4/30/2020 (Deadline has passed)
- Amount: $4,000-$8,000
Study & Internship Program (SIP) in Germany - UAS7
Internships typically last 5-6 months, but UAS7 research internships may run from 2-6 months, depending on the specifications of the project description. Recipients will receive a full tuition waiver for both semesters (enrollment is also required during the internship to maintain residency in Germany) and the benefits provided to exchange students at the host UAS. Successful SIP applicants are eligible for a UAS7 Travel Scholarship. Applicants must be full-time sophomores or juniors in good academic standing and currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college/university, in a field represented on UAS7 campuses. Competitive applicants will have a minimum 3.0 GPA, language skills commensurate with their proposed course of study and internship in Germany, strong support from academic and study abroad advisors, and a well-reasoned study plan and statement of motivation.
- Application Deadline: 2/15/2021
- Amount: Varies
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation: Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment is intended for eligible college undergraduate and graduate school women who desire to work and contribute their efforts within the field. Due to the underrepresentation of this demographic in the industry, this scholarship fund has been established in order to aid women in furthering their education, encourage their valued participation in the profession, and benefit the profession as a whole.
- Application Deadlines: Spring 2021 Submission Deadline: November 17, 2020
- Amount: $1,000
The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists
Founded in memory of James Alan Cox, a television photojournalist, The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists aims to provide financial support to student photographers of high school and college age. Through a variety of funding, including equipment purchases and scholarships for college and technical school classes, the foundation’s mission is to expand educational and developmental opportunities for student photographers demonstrating interest, talent and financial need.
- Application Deadline: 11/15/2020
- Amount: $2,500
WiseGeek Life Isn't Easy Scholarship
The United States is known as the land of opportunity, but the unfortunate reality is that not everyone starts on an even playing field. While most people encounter challenges at some point in their youth, some have to confront more adversity than others. Whether it’s growing up with limited financial means, facing racism, living with a disability, or coping with the loss of a loved one, significant hardships at a young age can have a long-lasting effect. The WiseGeek Life Isn’t Easy Scholarship exists to help college students who have faced difficult circumstances head-on and come out stronger for it. We’re hoping to foster and support those who have shown resilience through turbulent times.
- Application Deadline: 10/31/20
- Amount: $500