2024 Application Coming Soon!
NORMAN, Okla. — The Indigenous Journalists Association and the Asian American Journalists Association are welcoming applications for a scholarship to support Pacific Islander students and journalists in their careers.
The funding is intended to help Indigenous peoples of the Pacific, including Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians, pursue careers in journalism, especially in the U.S. and U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands.
The scholarship was created with support from The Omidyar Group and is administered by IJA. It was created in partnership with the AAJA’s Pacific Islander Task Force as part of the group’s commitment to supporting Pacific Islanders in journalism.
The goal is to improve Oceania representation and storytelling in the news media industry.
Up to two scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded this year. The funding can be used for a variety of needs, including but not limited to:
- Funding salary and related expenses to enable students to take summer internships at news organizations.
- Subsidizing tuition for students who are pursuing higher education and intend to pursue journalism as a career.
- Paying student loan balances for journalists who are working at news organizations.
- Funding professional development and training opportunities.
Applications can be submitted online here. Given the broad potential uses of the money, applicants should specify how they intend to use the funds and fulfill the mission of the scholarship fund. The deadline is May 1, 2023.
In addition to the funding, recipients will receive membership to IJA or AAJA.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the fund via IJA here. Donors should add a note specifying the money is intended for the Pacific Islander Journalists Scholarship.
If you have any questions about applying to this fund or making a tax-deductible donation to it, please contact IJA Education Manager Sheena Roetman at sroetman@naja.com.