Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Applications are being accepted until March 28 for the Dart Center Academic Fellowship program. The Dart Center Academic Fellowship is held annually at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. It provides in-depth training to journalism educators who are seeking to learn skills and develop curricula that will better educate students on newsgathering, storytelling and self-care when reporting on human tragedy.

The fellowship provides up to 12 college and university journalism educators with three days of seminars, training and discussion, as well as financial support for innovative curriculum development. Open to college and university journalism faculty and advisers to student media, the program is designed to prepare educators to teach effective trauma journalism.

Fellowship sessions will cover:

• The science of trauma:  Fellows will hear the latest on brain science and trauma reactions; how best to work with to people who have experienced traumatic events; and how to incorporate trauma science into the journalism curriculum.
• Newsgathering in the midst of trauma: Fellows will discuss and practice ways to teach effective and sensitive reporting techniques, particularly interviewing and ethical decision-making.
• Storytelling through words and images:  Experienced journalists and journalism educators will discuss how to build informative, compelling narratives about trauma that offer vital information to individuals and communities in crisis.
• When tragedy affects student journalists: Student journalists routinely cover tragic stories on campus, often about people they know. Fellows will discuss how to prepare students to make good personal and professional decisions while doing their job.

2012 Fellows Program

The three-day training seminar will take place June 27 through 30, 2012 at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Who can be a Dart Academic Fellow

Applications are open to university and college journalism teachers and advisers for college news media from North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand. All fellowship seminars are conducted in English.

How to apply:

Complete this online application form. Upload onto this form a letter of interest, and provide a letter of reference from your school. Work samples are optional. Deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday, March 28, 2012. 

Learn more about the Academic Fellowship Program here.

Additional questions? Contact Fellowship Curator Meg Spratt at meg.spratt@dartcenter.org.