Scholarships and Awards

Torri Minton Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists

To assist SF State students majoring in Journalism with financial need and demonstrated ability to write compelling human-interest stories in the Bay Area. The scholarship is being given by a donor to honor former SF State lecturer and Chronicle Reporter Torri Minton, who died of cancer in August 2004. Minton was 47. Students who took Minton's classes and colleagues who worked with her remember Minton as an effervescent writer who could develop a rapport with just about anyone. A former managing editor described Minton as a stylish and prolific writer who broke several stories.

The Otto J. Bos Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Journalism

The Otto J. Bos Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Journalism, awards full tuition for full-time students for one semester taking at least one journalism class during that semester. Otto Bos was a 1970 graduate of the department. Following graduation, he became a government and politics reporter at The San Diego Union. In 1977, Otto became press secretary for San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson. He continued to serve Wilson as he later was elected a U.S. senator and then California governor. At the time of his death of a heart attack in 1991, Otto was Gov. Wilson’s director of communications and public affairs.

The Bob Brown Memorial Scholarship

The Bob Brown Memorial Scholarship is offered to Journalism and BECA students. Robert Brown was an NBC News cameraman. He was killed in Guyana on Nov. 18, 1978 during a visit to the controversial religious sect called the People’s Temple. While there, members of the group shot at Congressman Leo J. Ryan, his aides and several journalists.

The Greg Robinson Memorial Photojournalism Scholarship

The Greg Robinson Photojournalism Scholarship was established in memory of a photographer for the San Francisco Examiner when it was owned by Hearst. Like Bob Brown, Robinson was killed in Guyana in 1978. Applicants must submit a portfolio and completed scholarship form. The Friends of Greg Robinson Photojournalism Fund for Supplies was established to disburse a stipend for photographic supplies to the winner of the Greg Robinson Scholarship.

The Stacey Doukas Memorial Scholarship

The Stacey Doukas Memorial Scholarship is awarded to photojournalism students. When available, awards are approximately $1,000 an academic year. Stacey was a student at San Francisco State when her car overturned on a Bay Area freeway and she died. Her family established scholarship to remember her free spirit and love of life.

The John, James and Douglas Fang Scholarship

The John, James and Douglas Fang Scholarship honors the memory of John Fang, the late publisher of AsianWeek and the San Francisco Independent, and his sons by providing support, when available, to journalism majors in good academic standing. Applicants are called upon to make a strong case in favor of diversity in journalism, a major concern of Mr. Fang.

The Frank McCulloch Investigative Reporting Scholarship

The Frank McCulloch Investigative Reporting Scholarship offers small grants for students to pursue a reporting investigation. Frank McCulloch was a famed investigative reporter and editor who, in the course of five decades, covered some of the biggest stories that would make history. He exposed connections between politicians and the mafia. When covering Vietnam, he wrote stories that countered official reports about the progress of the war. He spent many years as an editor fighting libel actions and making sure journalists remained protected by the First Amendment. He wrote the first cover story about Thurgood Marshall before he was a Supreme Court Justice and after he made a name for himself in the Brown v. Board of Education trial.

The Jason Lloren Memorial Scholarship

The Jason Lloren Memorial Scholarship provides support for promising students in the SF State Department of Journalism. Jason Lloren (B.A., Journalism 1992) worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years, most of that time with the San Francisco Examiner and then the San Francisco Chronicle after the papers merged. He held a variety of leadership roles, including national/world news editor, business editor and online producer.

The Alexander Kauffman Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Alex Kauffman was a junior in the Journalism Department in 2024 when he was the victim of a fatal car accident. He was remembered by his classmates and professors as an energetic, warm, engaged student who aspired to be a broadcast journalist. Alex, from a young age, was curious about world affairs and, as an aspiring journalist, sought to better understand our complex world and help others do the same.
Establishing a fund to support students majoring in Journalism at San Francisco State is a way for Shelly and the Kauffman family to honor Alex’s memory and his passion for this field and to create a legacy.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was founded in 1960 to provide support, encouragement and assistance to journalism education at the college and university level. The program awards scholarships to students for outstanding performance in college-level journalism, with matching grants to the students’ schools.

The 2024-25 program, offering up to $700,000 in awards, consists of five monthly writing competitions, two photojournalism competitions, one audio competition, two television competitions, and four multimedia competitions – with championship finals in all divisions. As students in an ACEJMC-accredited journalism program, SF State journalism students are encouraged to apply.

The entry must have been published, aired and/or posted while the student was an undergraduate journalism major at SF State. Double bylines and/or group entries are not allowed except in the Multimedia IV – Team competition.

Please check under each category for more information about entering:
Writing | Photojournalism | Audio | Television | Multimedia

Students must submit work for consideration by the deadline listed below to Amber Wehrer by email at amberw@sfsu.edu. Faculty will review all entries and choose the top two pieces for submission to the contest.

The Fran Ortiz Photojournalism Fund

Photojournalism students can receive up to $5,000 to produce significant journalistic projects that sheds light on marginalized populations. Fran Ortiz was the first faculty member to teach a photojournalism course in the Department of Journalism. He was committed to ensuring our students learned to report from a diversity of perspectives.

Hollis Family Fund

Editors work beyond the class credit they receive for their coursework. This fund provides financial support for the editor in chief of Xpress newspaper and Xpress magazine. The fund was started by Robert Hollis, a former editor of the Golden Gator.

The Ramirez Diversity in Journalism Fund

The San Francisco State University Department of Journalism mourns the loss of long-time faculty member Raul Ramirez. Raul passed away on November 15 at home. Raul was KQED Radio's Executive Director for News and Public Affairs and was to receive the career achievement award from the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California at its awards ceremony November 19. Before passing Raul gave a generous gift of $25,000 to create The Raul Ramirez Diversity in Journalism Fund. The fund will support an annual award to honor a journalism student whose work exemplifies the importance of diversity in all journalistic endeavors and in the lives of communities. Raul - one of our most popular and admired lecturers for three decades -- touched the lives of hundreds upon hundreds of our students, infecting them with his enthusiasm for journalism and commitment to diversity. The awards program will promote Raul's vision for journalism into the future.

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: 11/15/23
• Amount: $1,500, $2,500, $3,500

Bill King Scholarship

The Oakland Athletics Community Fund awards one scholarship each season to an undergraduate student that is majoring in journalism or broadcasting. This $5,000 scholarship is intended for qualified tuition or required expenses such as fees, books, supplies and equipment for courses of instruction at a qualified educational institution. This scholarship has been established in memory of Bill King, long-time legendary Bay Area Sports Announcer. The purpose of this scholarship is to support a student who plans to pursue a career in journalism or broadcasting.

• Application Deadline: 6/6/2022 (deadline has passed)
• Amount: $5,000

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

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: 11/15/2023
• Amount: $2,500

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: 9/30/2023
• Amount: $500, $750, $1,000, $5,000

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: Will open in December
• Amount: $2,000-$2,500

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 (TBA)
• Amount: $1,000 - $4,000

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists Facebook Journalism Project

NLGJA: The Facebook Journalism Project is committed to supporting quality journalism that strengthens and connects communities. They have partnered with some of the leading journalism organizations in the country, including NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, to establish The Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship program for students who aspire to pursue a career in journalism and media. To be eligible to receive the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled juniors, seniors or graduate students at an accredited university in the United States.

• Application deadline: Check back in early December
• Amount: $10,000

RTDNF Fellowships

The fellowships are open to early professional broadcast or digital journalists with fewer than 10 years of experience. Fellowship applications are accepted in the fall and awarded in May.

• Application deadline: 3/31/2023 (deadline has passed)
• Amount: Varies. $1,000 – $2,500

RTDNF Scholarships

Scholarships are open to undergraduate students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. Winners must be officially enrolled, full-time sophomores, juniors or seniors in good standing when scholarships when scholarships are awarded in September 2021. Students may apply for only one RTDNF scholarship, and past RTDNF scholarship winners are not eligible.

• Application deadline: 3/31/2023 (deadline has passed)
• Amount: Varies. $1,000 – $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: 4/16/2023 (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: TBA
• Amount: Varies