The mission of the Joan Shorenstein Fellowship Program is to advance
research in the field of media, politics and public policy; facilitate a
dialogue among journalists, scholars, policymakers and students;
provide an opportunity for reflection; and create a vibrant and
long-lasting community of scholars and practitioners. The primary focus
for a Fellow is to research, write and publish a 15-20-page paper on a
media/politics topic. It is a highly selective program; less than 1% of
applicants are accepted.
Since 1986, the Fellowship Program has brought more than 250
accomplished journalists, scholars and politicians from around the world
to the Center. Joan Shorenstein Fellows work closely with Harvard
students and often serve as longtime mentors. Past Shorenstein Fellows
include TV news anchors; national and international print, radio and
television reporters; digital news innovators; presidential media
advisors; leading scholars and policy analysts.
The Center currently hosts eight one-semester residential fellowships
each year (four per semester). Fellows conduct research; engage with
students, faculty and the Harvard community; and participate in the
various events associated with the Shorenstein Center. Fellows’ research
and ideas are presented at weekly research meetings where they discuss
and defend their project before a group of peers. Recent projects have
been published in the Columbia Journalism Review, Foreign Affairs, The New Republic and Fortune magazine and have been reported on in The New York Times.
General Information
Stipend is $30,000 for one semester. Travel and living expenses are
not covered by the Shorenstein Center. Office space, computer and
telephone are provided. For more information, please email edith_holway@harvard.edu.
Guidelines
- Applicants must be fluent in English – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL or IELTS score.
- Fellows are in residence, full-time, for one semester (September through December or February through May).
- The applicant should not have participated in another fellowship within the past two years.
Eligibility to apply
Must be a full-time journalist, politician, scholar or policymaker currently active in the field.
- Journalist: Reporter, editor, producer with a minimum of five years experience at a news organization (print, broadcast, Internet) immediately prior to submitting Fellowship application.
- Politician: Someone who has campaigned and been elected to a national or high-level state office.
- Scholar: Tenured or tenure-track professor in political science, political communication, journalism, international political communication with a strong record of book and journal publications. The applicant must be employed by a college, university or research institution for seven years or more.
- Policymaker: High-level official in a cabinet office or adviser to a candidate for national office. Minimum 10 years experience in equivalent role.
