People are brought to Harvard University under the Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship in Journalism Innovation to work on a particular line of inquiry or project pertaining to journalism innovation. The Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism collaborated to create the fellowship. Both organisations have long-standing fellowship programmes that offer a year of learning and engagement with others in the Harvard community. Their shared interests revolve around journalism, innovation, and the development of the digital environment.
Proposals from Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship candidates may deal with any issue relating to journalism’s digital transformation. Examples include developing fresh sources of funding for journalism, using innovative reporting tools, or doing studies on how people consume news. Candidates must provide details on how their ideas would advance journalism.
For their work, Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows rely on the variety of resources offered at Harvard and in the neighbourhood. Along with the Nieman Foundation and the Berkman Klein Center, Cambridge is home to institutions such as the Harvard Business School, MIT’s Center for Civic Media, the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, the Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy, the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-lab) and other centers interested in journalism’s evolution.
Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows are required to contribute completely to both of the fellowship programmes, acting as a link between them. Additionally, they must communicate the outcomes of their research to other fellows and the Nieman Journalism Lab.
International and American candidates are welcome to apply for the Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship. Candidates must either be employed as journalists or hold a business, technology, or leadership position at a news organisation. Journalists working freelance are welcome to apply.
Read about the accomplishments of former Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellows, including Laura Amico, CEO of Glass Eye Media and co-founder of Homicide Watch D.C., and Borja Echevarría de la Gándara, vice president of digital for Univision News.
Candidates who want to apply for the 2024-2025 Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowships should complete either the international fellowship application or the U.S. fellowship application and indicate interest in being considered for the Nieman-Berkman Klein program in the appropriate section. Learn how to apply.
Application deadlines:
- International journalists: Dec. 1
- U.S. journalists (U.S. citizens): Jan. 31