Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship 2017

The Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship is a unique seminar program for veteran and mid-career journalists who wish to deepen their knowledge of emotional trauma and psychological injury, and improve reporting on violence, conflict and tragedy.

Reporting responsibly and credibly on violence or traumatic events — on street crime and family violence, natural disasters and accidents, war and genocide — is a major challenge. Since 1999 the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a project of theColumbia University Graduate School of Journalism, has brought together outstanding journalists from around the world to  exploring critical issues around news coverage of conflict, trauma and tragedy.

Fellows attend an intensive weeklong program of seminars held at Columbia University in New York City. Program activities include briefings by prominent interdisciplinary experts in the trauma and mental health fields; conversations with journalist colleagues on issues of ethics, craft and practice, and and a variety of other opportunities for intellectual engagement and peer learning.

The Fellowship was established in 1999 by the Dart Center in partnership with theInternational Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. The fellowship is named in honor of Frank Ochberg, M.D., a pioneer in the study of trauma.

WORTH

Travel

Lodging

Meals

Expenses

The program does not cover travel or health insurance, additional nights of lodging beyond the Fellowship’s duration or ground transportation in fellows’ home cities.

ELIGIBILITY

The Ochberg Fellowships are open to outstanding journalists (with at least five years experience) working across all media.

Past Fellows have ranged from small-town and regional general-assignment and crime reporters to war photographers and foreign correspondents for international news organizations. Applicants’ work must demonstrate journalistic excellence and a strong track record of covering violence and its impact on individuals, families or communities.

Fellowships are open to print, broadcast and digital reporters, photographers, editors and producers with at least five years of professional journalism experience are eligible to apply. Approximately half of the Fellows will be based in North America, with the balance drawn from Central and South America, Europe, the Asia Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East.

All fellowship seminars are conducted in English. Fellows must be fluent in spoken English to participate in the program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND DETAILS

This 2017 online application deadline is Friday September 22, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST.

The Fellowship program will be held January, 15-20, 2018 at Columbia University in New York City.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants are reviewed by a judging committee comprised of Dart Center staff, Fellowship faculty and past Fellows. Selection is not based on any single factor. Judges’ consider a variety of factors, with an emphasis on whether applicants:

• demonstrate consistent and thoughtful journalistic engagement with issues of violence, conflict, tragedy and their aftermath;

• have demonstrated journalistic excellence and leadership;

• will likely benefit personally and professionally from the Fellowship experience and contribute meaningfully to the program.

Other considerations may include geographic and other diversity, and overall group composition.

The judging committee will review applications and select 12 fellows for 2018. Selected fellows will be notified by email in early-November 2017.