Media Fellowships Guidelines

The Soros Justice Media Fellowships support writers, print and broadcast journalists, filmmakers, and other individuals with unique voices proposing to complete media projects for local, regional, and national markets that engage the public and provoke policy responses to one or more of the issues at the core of OSI's U.S. criminal justice priorities.

The program intends to mitigate the time, space, and market constraints that often discourage individuals from pursuing important but marginalized, controversial, or unpopular issues in a comprehensive manner. Media Fellowships are one year in duration, and fellows are expected to make their projects the primary focus of their work during the term of the fellowship.

Note: Photography projects (production or distribution) are not eligible for funding. For information on support for this type of project, please see OSI's Documentary Photography Project.

OSI U.S. Criminal Justice Priorities

Media Fellowship projects should address one or more of the issues related to OSI's U.S. criminal justice priorities. OSI currently focuses its criminal justice-related grantmaking on efforts to:

• advance death penalty reform and abolition efforts;
• improve public defense services;
• combat racial profiling;
• promote leadership in progressive justice reform efforts among people who are or have been imprisoned;
• encourage systemic reforms that create incentives for community-based solutions over parole and probation revocation;
• challenge unreasonable civil and legal barriers to the reintegration of people returning from prison;
• redirect criminal justice monies to strengthen community resources and responsibility for public safety and justice;
• promote civic and political inclusion and re-enfranchisement of individuals and communities impacted by criminal justice policies;
• eliminate race and class disparities in sentencing and incarceration;
• reduce the length of criminal sentences and promote judicial discretion in criminal sentencing;
• promote alternatives to incarceration that emphasize rehabilitation and treatment;
• limit prison growth and prison privatization; and
• empower communities most affected by mass incarceration to develop and advocate for alternative policies that address underlying social, racial, and economic inequality.

Intersectional Projects

We encourage applications for projects that emphasize the intersection of the above priorities with the particular needs of the following specific constituencies: low-income communities; communities of color; immigrants; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities; and women and children.

Directly Affected Individuals

OSI particularly encourages applications from individuals directly affected by, or with significant direct personal experience with, the issues their projects seek to address.

Awards

The award for the Media Fellowship consists of the following:

• stipend and project budget of up to $45,000;
• $2,500 for health insurance;
• funds to attend the annual fellows meeting; and
• access to ongoing technical assistance resources.

Eligibility

Experience. Applicants must either have:

(a) well-established records of publication, dissemination or broadcast in local, regional or national markets, or among targeted audiences or constituencies (e.g. professional associations); or

(b) otherwise relevant experience reflecting an ability to carry out the proposed project (i.e. applicants who are not professional writers, journalists, or filmmakers must demonstrate that they are nonetheless able to accomplish the project).

Proposed Project Deliverables.

• Print journalism projects must propose no fewer than five (5) articles to be published in newspapers (local or national) or mainstream magazines.
• Radio journalism projects must propose stories that will be broadcast nationally, regionally or in targeted markets.
• Book projects must either have a publisher in advance of applying for the fellowship or demonstrate strong interest from publishers; and must include plans to write two (2) companion magazine or newspaper articles on the topic.
• Documentary film or video projects must be in post-production or distribution stages and a polished rough-cut or fine-cut must be submitted with the proposal (research and pre-production film or video proposals are not eligible and will not be reviewed).
• Projects involving other forms of media not covered by the above list must propose deliverables in sufficient quantity so as to reflect a substantial part of a year's worth of work on the project.
• Photography projects (production or distribution) are not eligible for funding. For information on support for this type of project, please see the OSI Documentary Photography Project.

Time Commitment. Fellowships are one year in duration and should begin in either April or September of 2009. Fellows are expected to make their projects the primary focus of their work during the term of the fellowship. Also, if awarded a fellowship, applicants must be available to attend the annual fellows meeting, tentatively set for June 2009 (exact dates and location TBD).

Joint Applications. Up to three individuals can apply jointly for a fellowship; however, joint applications carry a single stipend.

Note:  Joint applicants, when applying online (see "To Apply" below), should designate one person as the lead applicant, register using that person’s name and contact information, and provide additional information for the other applicant(s), as requested.

Past Soros Justice Fellowship Recipients. Past Soros Justice Fellowship recipients are not eligible to apply.

Lobbying. Under the federal tax rules applicable to United States private foundations, OSI cannot support lobbying activities. Projects that include lobbying activities will not be funded. Please review the Tax Law Lobbying Rules before submitting an application.

Selection Criteria and Process

Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which the applicant possesses the vision, drive, and skills needed to generate compelling stories that will broaden public understanding and prompt policy responses on the issues at the heart of OSI's U.S. criminal justice priorities. A reading committee consisting of OSI staff and outside experts in the field will review proposals and nominate finalists. Finalists will be invited to interview with a selection committee consisting of OSI staff and outside experts in the field.

Note: OSI reserves the right, at any point in the selection process, to request that applicants have their applications considered under a different category (e.g. Advocacy vs. Media).

In evaluating applications, the program will consider:

Project Treatment

• Does the project treat an issue that is relevant (i.e. involves one or more of OSI's U.S. criminal justice priority areas)?
• Is the project treatment of the issue effective (i.e. it offers an in-depth treatment of an important current issue or a new angle on an issue related to OSI's U.S. criminal justice priorities)?
• Is it strong (i.e. it reflects good background research or reporting and a clear understanding of the issue)?

Project Viability

• Is the project sufficiently engaging (i.e. original, compelling, and timely enough to interest editors, publishers or broadcasters, and appeal to broad or targeted audiences)? In other words, will this project see the light of day and serve to inform and potentially move the public and policymakers?

Project Dissemination

• Given the applicant's track record and the proposed project, is the distribution plan realistic (i.e. the stories will likely reach their intended audience; the plan involves strategic collaborations; in the case of documentary projects, the distribution plan reaches creatively beyond traditional broadcast outlets)?
• Is it sufficiently ambitious?

Project Budget

• Is the plan for the budget reasonable given the scope of the project?
• Does the timeline reflect a professional understanding of the requirements of the project?

Applicant

• Does the applicant possess the credentials, professional skills, and discipline needed to accomplish the project?
• Does the applicant have the talent and commitment to getting and telling stories, as well as the ability to work independently to accomplish this project?
• Does the applicant have the necessary professional connections to ensure that the proposed project will be published or broadcast by the proposed outlets?

Deadline

The application deadline is September 24, 2008 (5:00pm EST). Incomplete applications will not be given full consideration.

To Apply

Fellowship application materials must be submitted online (with the exception of the letters of recommendation, samples of previous work, and, if applicable, publisher letter of commitment/interest – all of which must be mailed in). To submit an online application, go to http://oas.soros.org/oas/.

Note: The online system will begin accepting applications on July 28, 2008.

Complete applications consist of the following:

1. Filled out online

• Application form

2. Uploaded online (as either PDF or Word document – but if using Word documents, please do not upload any files with the ".docx" file extension; our online system can presently only read ".doc" files):

• Resume or CV that includes a list of your published and broadcast work. If you have published or broadcast extensively, please limit your list to two (2) pages of your most relevant work published within the last five (5) years. Include the story titles, publications or outlets where the pieces appeared, and the dates of publication or broadcast.

• Five-page, single-spaced proposal in 12-point font with one-inch margins containing the following items in this order (with the headings as listed below, e.g. Project Synopsis, Story Treatment, etc.):
  
  
  • Project Synopsis: A synopsis of the project that reflects extensive background research and reporting, and a clear understanding of the national or regional impact of such a project on current discussion of the issue;
    
    
  • Story Treatment: A story treatment outlining your approach to the issue, your expected final projects (a list of tentative themes of the stories you plan to write or produce), and how the stories or series will be structured (potential subjects, planned locations, possible conclusions);
    
    
  • Distribution Plan: A detailed distribution plan for the project that identifies the audiences you hope to reach and the planned venues for your project;
    
    
  • Budget: A budget reflecting the project activities, including your stipend, research and travel costs, cost of supplies and equipment, finishing and distribution costs, and expected income from sale of stories or from other funders
    
    
  • Timeline: A timeline that explains the project's specific activities and reflects all phases of the project and the time you will allocate to meet your goals and achieve your expected outcomes;
    
    
  • If you are not a professional writer, journalist or filmmaker: A discussion of why you are the right person to carry out this project and how your experience reflects an ability to successfully accomplish the project.

3. Mailed (postmarked by September 24, 2008):

• Three (3) confidential letters of recommendation from editors, supervisors or close colleagues that address your talent, professionalism, and demonstrated ability to work independently to complete long-term, in-depth projects. Letters should not be more than two (2) pages in length. We encourage you to share your proposal narrative and the Fellowship Program's selection criteria with those who write on your behalf. Please ask those writing letters of recommendation to put the letter in an envelope, sealed and signed across the back. Your name and the designation "Media" should be written on the envelope.

• Samples of your previous work:
  
  
  • Print applicants (print journalism or books) should submit six (6) copies each of three (3) samples of previous work. Clips should be photocopied onto 8.5" x 11" paper. Each sample should be of no more than ten (10) pages.
    
    
  • Radio applicants should submit six (6) copies of audio CDs each containing three (3) samples of previous work. Be sure to label all copies with your first and last name.
    
    
  • Film and video applicants should submit six (6) DVD copies of the proposed project (fine cut or rough cut) and six (6) DVD copies of an additional sample of previous work. Please label all copies with your first and last name.
    
    
  • Applicants proposing projects involving other forms of media should submit six (6) copies each of three (3) samples of previous work, on either 8.5" x 11" paper, audio CDs, or DVDs (depending on the type of media).
    
    
  • For book projects only: If proposing a book project, please include a letter from your publisher endorsing the project or two (2) letters from publishers that have expressed strong interest in the project. Letters should not be more than two (2) pages each. Please ask your publisher or those that have expressed interest to put the letter in an envelope, sealed and signed across the back. Your name and the designation "Media" should be written on the envelope.

The above materials (letters of recommendation, samples of previous work, and, if applicable, letters from publisher) should be mailed to:

Christina Voight
Program Assistant
Soros Justice Fellowships
Open Society Institute
400 W. 59th Street
New York, NY 10019

Application and Selection Timeline

*Date subject to change