Willliam Southam Journalism Fellowships

Dawna Friesen, anchor and executive editor of Global National (far left), and Anna Luengo, college administrator with Massey College (second from right), presented the 2012 William Southam Journalism Fellows (from left to right) Peter Kuitenbrouwer of the National Post, Gil Shochat of the CBC/Radio-Canada Investigative Unit and Murray Whyte of the Toronto Star.

	To Apply: Applications (Download) must include a proposal for a plan of study, a statement of the applicant's experience, samples of work and supporting letters from the employer and references. Deadline extended: March 7, 2013. Applications may be downloaded in PDF (Portable Document Format, 170k), or obtained from: William Southam Journalism Fellowships Attention: Anna Luengo Massey College 4 Devonshire Place Toronto, Ontario  M5S 2E1 Canada Tel: 416-978-6606 E-mail: annaluengo@masseycollege.ca

Objective . . . to encourage improvement in journalism by offering to qualified men and women an opportunity to broaden their horizons by studying in a university setting

Three or more fellowships for Canadian journalists are awarded annually, tenable for one academic year, September to May, at the University of Toronto. Fellows are selected by a committee appointed by the President of the University and the Master of Massey College. They are chosen for professional competence and future potential as effective and responsible journalists.

Fellows are free to enroll in any graduate or undergraduate courses and use the full facilities of the University. There are no educational prerequisites for a Fellowship; Fellows do not receive credits or degrees for work done during the year.

The program typically combines general education with concentration in at least two courses; one academic course must be taken in full and all assignments completed.

In a parallel, extra-curricular, program the journalism Fellows meet regularly in informal seminars to discuss contemporary issues with personalities from a wide variety of professions.

To obtain the maximum benefit from the program, the applicants agree to refrain from professional work, including writing and broadcasting, during the period of the Fellowship. Those selected are appointed Fellows-at-Large at the University of Toronto, with all the privileges of a Senior Resident at Massey College, the graduate college within the University. A list of past fellows can be found here.

The Fellowships underwrite: (1) for the eight-month university year, eight months of the Fellow's regular gross annual salary at time of selection, but limited to $4,900 per month, a rate equivalent to $58,800 gross a year. The first monthly installment will commence with an end-September payment and conclude with the end-April payment; (2) all university fees; (3) travel expenses up to the cost of economy air fare to and from Toronto for the Fellow and family; and (4) travel expenses for organized trips during the program.

The 2012 fellows are: Mary Agnes Welch, Winnipeg Free Press; Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post; Gil Shochat, CBC/Radio-Canada Investigative Unit; Teresa Temweka Chirwa, Zodiak Broadcasting (Malawi); Mary Triny Mena, Globavision (Venezuela); and Murray Whyte, Toronto Star.

Eligibility

Applicants must have at least five years experience and be full-time news or editorial employees with Canadian newspapers, news services, radio, television, or magazines. They must have the consent of their employer for a leave of absence and undertake to rejoin their sponsoring organization for a minimum of one year. Freelance journalists who have been working consistently in the media over a five-year period will also be considered.

Funding provided by:

Funding for the William Southam Journalism Fellowships has been provided by the estate of the late Mr. St. Clair Balfour, Lisa Balfour Bowen and Walter Bowen, Clair Balfour and Marci McDonald, Wilson J.H. Southam, CBC Radio-Canada, the R. Howard Webster Foundation, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Alva Foundation, Thomas Kierans and Mary Janigan in memory of Val Ross, Scotiabank, Donner Canadian Foundation and by the generosity of past Journalism Fellows.