Opportunities for BBC journalists to apply for Fellowships in the US and Oxford

BBC journalists are again invited to apply for two prestigious fellowships designed to allow experienced people to step out of their day jobs, develop new insights and bring something fresh back to the BBC.

The Knight Wallace Fellowship at the University of Michigan and the Reuters Fellowship at Oxford University - both supported by the BBC - are open to all senior journalists across BBC journalism:

1. TheKnight-WallaceFellowship at the University of Michigan

The Knight-Wallace Fellowshipoffers a placement for BBC staff at the largest research university in the world. The university prefers that the successful candidate is in Michigan for two semesters (eight months) beginning in September 2018 and staying until May 2019. Candidates can apply for a placement of one semester but if two applicants are felt to be equally suitable then preference will be given to the applicant who can stay for eight months. The closing date for applications is 13 December 2017.

The Fellowship aims to provide “a broader perspective, nurture intellectual growth, and inspire personal transformation” and the university is particularly keen to have fellows whose work will benefit the BBC when it is completed.

Applicants need a study plan for a project they wish to complete during the fellowship. The university will connect applicants with an academic liaison who will help them select courses related to their plan. In addition to taking classes, fellows will attend twice-weekly seminars by prominent journalists and leading academics.

Typically the successful applicant will be one of six to eight international fellows joining 12 American Fellows.

The project

The programme of research undertaken should be relevant to your work as a BBC journalist. It might be related to a way of working, a trend in journalism or the changing nature of the profession as a whole.

To apply

To be eligible to apply, you must be a senior BBC journalist on a continuing contract who can demonstrate a successful career history and show the potential to make the most of this investment in you and your job both for you as an individual and for the BBC.

Terms and conditions

The successful candidate will need to take unpaid leave or a career break. Your BBC salary will not be paid while you are in the US; nor will the BBC pay your travel expenses. However, the Fellowship carries a generous stipend and covers all academic fees, health insurance and group trips for the fellows within the U.S. and abroad.

Before making an application, you must ensure that your line manager is willing to support you and release you at the appropriate time. It is also important that you understand the implications of taking a career break including its possible effect on your pension.

Selection will be based on your proposals for study, how your idea will benefit both you and the BBC and, for short listed candidates, an interview. A BBC panel will select a small number of candidates to recommend to Michigan for them to make the final decision.

To apply, please contact Emma Vickers at [email protected] to request an application form.

Note that the form requires you to submit two separate papers of 1,500 words and 500 words respectively and that at the initial stage of your application you must provide at least one reference supporting your application and how your plans will benefit the BBC. Your application cannot be considered unless this is all provided prior to the closing date. If you are selected to go forward for consideration by Michigan, you will be asked to provide further references and online links to examples of your work. 

Past BBC Fellows include Matthew Shaw, Steve Titherington, Alicia McCarthy, Alf Hermida, Pam O'Toole, Andrew Whitehead, Joanne Episcopo, Charlie Partridge and Roger Harrabin. John Shield is currently studying in Michigan.

Matthew Shaw has written a blog about his experience.

Completed forms and the required reference should be sent electronically to Emma Vickers at the BBC Academy - [email protected] - by 13 December 2017. Please do not send forms direct to Michigan. 

For any questions, please contact me: [email protected]

2. The Journalist Fellowship Programme at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

The Journalist Fellowship Programme provides mid-career BBC journalists with the opportunity to study and research a work-related project for three to four months.

It should be a project that will broaden your academic horizons as well as benefit the BBC. The closing date for applications is 13 December 2017.

Based at the University of Oxford, this Reuters programme brings together experienced journalists from around the world for one term of residential study in the academic year 2018/19.

The project

The programme of research should relate to your work as a BBC journalist - perhaps to a specialist or topical subject or the changing nature of journalism. Fellows are asked to produce a piece of work that presents their findings. This can be a written report of between 6,000 and 8,000 words, a video or an online project.

Candidates will also be expected to show how their research could be used by the BBC when they return to work.

It's important to remember that you will have only three months to complete this project, so make sure it is realistic and achievable within the time.

Fellows are given access to Oxford University and Green Templeton College facilities and services, and are assigned their own academic adviser to help them with their project. They also take part in seminars and other special events involving distinguished speakers.

The programme has now been established for more than 30 years, attracting over 500 journalist fellows from around the world. Institute director Dr David Levy outlines what is on offer:

“The BBC fellowship is an immensely valuable part of the Oxford programme. The BBC features prominently in the international, comparative research, discussion and debate of journalism that is at the heart of the Institute’s activities.

The international journalist fellows typically know about the BBC and want to learn more or include it in their research projects. Equally, BBC journalists can learn a huge amount from the Reuters experience, through the chance to move outside their comfort zone, engage with journalists from around the world, and have their ideas challenged through exchanges with other journalists and experts.

That experience, the network of fellows they will establish, and their excellent research projects give BBC journalists a great deal to take back to the BBC.”

Recent BBC Fellows include Jeremy Hayes (2008/9), Emma Jane Kirby and Giang Nguyen (2009/10), Ric Bailey (2010/11) Richard Lawson (2011) Emre Azizlerli (2012), Daniel Griffiths (2013) Helen Briggs (2014), Bahaar Joya (2015) and Olga Smirnova (2016).

Richard Lawson wrote this blog about his experience.

Terms and conditions

Only BBC journalists on a continuing contract are eligible to apply. You will need to demonstrate a successful career history and show the potential to meet this investment in you.

A contribution to accommodation expenses will be paid, and tuition fees will be met by the BBC Academy. The team at the Reuters Institute can provide suggestions for accommodation in Oxford.

The successful candidate will need to take unpaid leave or a career break. Your BBC salary will not be paid during the time you are in Oxford, and there is no stipend over and above the tuition fees and an accommodation allowance, which the BBC will pay.

And, as above, you should ensure that your line manager is supportive and able to release you. Once again, it is important that you understand any implications for your pension of taking a career break of this kind.

Find out more about the Reuters Institute and its fellowship programme.

To apply

Complete a BBC application form, which:

- Details your career history

- Provides a supporting statement from your manager endorsing your application and confirming your release for three months, and

- Outlines your proposed research topic. This should indicate a planned approach to your research and the sources you might seek to use. You should aim for 500-750 words.

Selection will be based on your proposal for study, management endorsement and interview by a panel on which both Reuters and the BBC will be represented.

You can obtain a form from Emma Vickers at the BBC Academy: [email protected]. You should return it to her electronically by 13 December 2017.

For any questions, please contact: [email protected]