Apply for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship (fully-funded to the U.S.) – Zimbabwean nationals can apply!

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, launched by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), offers a unique opportunity for women and nonbinary journalists dedicated to human rights and social justice reporting.

Here’s a summary of the key details concerning the fellowship:

Fellowship Overview

• Purpose: To advance the reporting skills of women and nonbinary journalists focused on human rights and social justice.
• Opportunities: Selected journalists will conduct research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and will have internships at The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship provides academic and professional opportunities to advance the reporting skills of women and nonbinary  journalists who focus on human rights and social justice.

The Fellowship was created in memory of The Boston Globe correspondent and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award (1998) winner Elizabeth Neuffer, who died while reporting in Iraq on May 9, 2003.

In collaboration with Neuffer’s family and friends, the IWMF started this program to honor Neuffer’s legacy while advancing her work in the fields of human rights and social justice.

The Neuffer Fellowship is designed for women and nonbinary journalists with at least three years of professional experience in journalism working in print, broadcast, or digital media, either as a staff journalist or as a freelancer.

All nationalities are welcome to apply but non-native English speakers must have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the program. The Fellow will complete research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and journalism internships at The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

The flexible structure of the program provides the fellow with opportunities to pursue academic research and hone their reporting skills. Past fellows have taken advantage of opportunities to publish work under their byline through various media outlets.

Key Dates

• Application Period: February 3, 2025 – April 20, 2025 (11:59 PM EST).
• Selection Announcement: June 2025.
• Fellowship Duration: Begins in February 2026 and ends in July 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Target Group: Open to women, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming journalists.
2. Professional Experience: Applicants must have at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience.
   • Note: Internships and work related to journalism during university do not count.
3. Global Eligibility: Journalists from any country are eligible, but fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking) is essential for participation.

Fellowship Schedule

• February 2026: Starts in Boston with an internship at The Boston Globe and coursework at MIT.
• May 2026: Moves to New York for an internship with The New York Times.
• July 2026: Fellowship concludes.

Additional Information

• Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions page for more insights before applying.
• For any further questions or if there are issues with accessibility or connectivity, inquiries can be directed to Divya at dtewari@iwmf.org.

This fellowship represents an important opportunity for journalists focused on critical social issues to enhance their skills and broaden their professional horizons while contributing to meaningful discourse in the global context.

The application for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is now open until April 20th 2025. Eligible journalists may apply here.