Reuters and Durham University launch global fellowship to unearth generational talent

Credit: Sir Harold Evans 2 Shankbone 2009 NYC blog (Creative Commons Licence) via Wikimedia

Reuters has partnered with Durham University to launch a new fellowship to discover the next rising star of investigative journalism.

The Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship in Investigative Journalism honours the life of British-born journalist, editor and author Sir Harry Evans, who died, aged 92, in September 2020, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most admired newspaper journalists of his generation.

Reuters will be hoping the fellowship unearths the next - or "an army - of Harrys". In its first annual fellowship, just one "exceptional early-career journalist" will receive a six-to-nine-month fellowship with Durham University, where they will undertake an investigative project from inside the Reuters newsroom in London.

They will be mentored by top Reuters editors in the field, depending on the investigative project which the fellow will undertake. They will also be overseen by Durham University and have access to the university's academics and research resources.

Tina Brown CBE, Sir Evans' widow and an acclaimed journalist herself, said in a statement: "Harry was a voracious truth-teller and champion of courageous journalism in every form. The thought that we are doing something for his legacy to nurture journalistic talent of the future would have moved him greatly."

The fellowship follows other successful schemes such as its three-month summer internship, and its Reuters Journalism Training Programme – a nine-month scheme with one-month training in London - expected to reopen In September.

How to apply for the fellowship

Applications for the fellowship close midday BST Monday 15 August 2022 and are to be submitted by email. Details on how to do that can be found here.

Qualified applicants will be in their "early careers", meaning they require some professional journalism experience. Applications for the fellowship require:

• A short statement telling the Fellowship Committee what they hope to achieve with this opportunity and how their vision of journalism fits with the spirit of the fellowship;
• A detailed proposal for an investigative project they would like to execute during the Fellowship. Multimedia journalism is encouraged, and the proposal can include a small amount of relevant visual material, such as graphics, photos or a video clip;
• Demonstration of published examples of work;
• A letter of recommendation from an editor with whom the applicant has closely worked, assessing their abilities and potential as an investigative journalist.

However, applicants not working in journalism will be considered on a case-by-case basis if they can show experience in an investigative reporting capacity in a related professional field. For example, leading human rights or other socio-political publications and campaigns; working as an author or researcher on authoritative investigative work; or developing in-field photo- or video-research projects, documentaries, or exhibitions.

This is a global opportunity and is open to international applicants. However, the fellowship will need to be undertaken in both Durham and London.

The successful applicant will be employed by Durham University for the period of the fellowship and will spend time on placement in the Reuters newsroom in London, or with another suitable partner selected by Reuters. The successful applicant will also be allocated an appropriate academic supervisor and mentor at Durham University. 

The fellowship offers a monthly salary of approximately £4,444 per month for each month of the fellowship (equivalent to a pro-rata salary of circa £53,333 per year), in addition to a maximum £1,250 per month living stipend, and a one-off payment of £1,800 for travel and expenses. 

In the event that the successful applicant is an existing employee of a news or media organisation and taking a period of leave in order to pursue the fellowship, Durham University will pay up to a maximum of £12,000 to their employer to cover temporary staff costs, subject to specific terms and conditions.

Reuters confirmed that once the fellowship has come to a close, the fellow is welcome to apply for positions being advertised at the company, or they may wish to return to their existing employer having benefited from the training on the fellowship.

The fund welcomes applicants from all backgrounds who can tell stories from diverse perspectives and from around the world. The successful applicant will be notified of the outcome by 1 October 2022 and will join the team in 2023.

The investigative journalism fellowship is funded by the Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund. It will also launch an annual, agenda-setting forum, first taking place in 2023 at Durham University. More information how to apply can be found here.

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