Google and The Associated Press announced a new scholarship program for the U.S. student journalists. The program is aimed to foster digital and new media skills in young professionals. A key goal is the promotion of geographic, gender and ethnic diversity, with an emphasis on rural and urban areas. The Online News Association, the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists, will administer the program.
Photo: www.ap-google.onlinenewsassociation.org
The AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship program has a budget of $20,000 for the 2012—13 academic year to provide six promising undergraduate or graduate students with scholarships. Students that pursuing degrees at the intersection of journalism, computer science and new media can apply untill January 27, 2012. Scholars will be chosen in spring 2012.
“So many students have new ideas for news, and with the right encouragement they will become leaders showcasing what’s possible through digital journalism,” said Nilka Thomas, manager of Global Diversity and Talent Inclusion, Google. “We hope this program with the AP and ONA encourages innovation at the grassroots level while also furthering the opportunities available for women and minorities considering the fields of computing, technology, and journalism.”
The application process will be managed by Irving Washington, consulting Scholarship Manager for ONA. Washington is a nonprofit media education consultant who created new partnerships for the scholarship and internship programs for various organizations.
Applicants must submit a project or concept that explains how his or her strategy moves digital journalism forward. Winners also will receive a one-year ONA membership and recognition at ONA’s 2012 conference in San Francisco.
Many global brands support of development of journalism worldwide. In 2011, SABMiller became a co-sponsor of the David Astor Journalism Awards Trust, the UK based charity which supports independent journalism in Africa. In spring, The Wrigley Company Foundation launched international ‘Litter Less’ campaign to raise awareness on ecological issues among young people. A part of the campaign was the ‘Young Reporters for Environment’ program and students involved in it were invited to act as ‘journalists’ that reported on the problem of litter.
In January 2011, Google started another educational project to discover young talents in science titled Google Science Fair.