ProgramsNote: OSI is no longer accepting applications for this program.
In early 2006, the Open Society Institute offered a fellowship competition in response to critical issues laid bare by Hurricane Katrina. Katrina’s aftermath placed in sharp relief persistent problems of poverty, racism and government neglect plaguing the United States. Yet just five months after the destruction of New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Region, the public’s attention had, for the most part, shifted elsewhere. By supporting in-depth journalism and media projects, OSI aimed to stimulate and sustain a national conversation on these issues.
The Katrina Media Fellowships supported dynamic print and radio journalists, photographers and documentary filmmakers to generate and improve media coverage of issues exposed by Katrina. Funded projects aimed to expand and deepen the public’s understanding of race and class inequalities in the United States as well as to address the government’s response to problems caused or illuminated by Katrina, the use or misuse of public funds, the role of private contractors, the effectiveness of clean-up and rebuilding efforts, citizen involvement in these efforts, and lessons learned that should inform the handling of future natural and man-made disasters. In addition, projects drew attention to OSI’s programmatic priorities within the Katrina framework, such as access to legal services and government assistance, criminal justice reform, improved end-of-life care and access to health care, and education reform.
