For all you aspiring journalists and writers, there are many sources of free college scholarships to pursue your literary dreams. High school seniors and students already in college, should start, right now, collecting all your best writing samples, and think ahead to whom you will contact for letters of recommendation.
Journalism scholarships, much like the profession itself, can be extremely competitive, but if you prepare ahead of time with error free writing submissions and a well thought out essays, you will put yourself in the running to win some substantial, free college funding. Below is a detailed listing and eligibility requirements, of some of the best and most prestigious journalism scholarships.
Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship (http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=18021)
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship, funded by USA Today’s, Al Neuharth’s Freedom Forum, has been awarding college scholarships to worthy student journalists since 1999. Two students, a boy and a girl, from each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia are awarded college scholarships of $1,000 each, with two students from that group each winning a hefty $50,000.
Successfully completing the intensive, Al Neuharth scholarship application, will prepare students for their other scholarship submissions. Students need to show their free spirit attributes within their essays, community service, academic awards and other achievements. In addition to at least one published print or broadcast sample, two essays are required; one essay detailing why a student wishes to study journalism and the other about your free spirit qualities. Every budding, student journalist should strive for this distinguished scholarship.
Minority Associations of Journalists
There are four, major associations of minority journalists, that award thousands of dollars in free scholarship money every year, to journalism students just entering college and students already in college. In addition to the national college scholarships, local chapters of each association offer scholarships to journalism students as well. Students applying for scholarships need to be student members of each association before applying. Registration and eligibility details can vary with each individual award and are provided below:
National Association of Black Journalists
(http://www.nabj.org/programs/scholarships/)
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is committed to helping talented, black journalism students attend college that have financial needs. The NABJ funds eight; separate national journalism scholarships, as well as a scholarship for journalism students at the City University of New York These scholarships are generally available to entering freshman or journalism students already in college, in the United States who were born in the United States or a foreign country.
The NABJ Newhouse Foundation Scholarship, is the most coveted and lucrative college scholarship offered to black journalism students, awarding grants of $5,000 each that continue for three years, provided a student works on the school paper, has a GPA of 3.0 and is a print journalism major. Students, who are eligible, should apply for this amazing scholarship opportunity for the chance to win this substantial grant of free college funding.
Asian American Journalists Association
(http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students/scholarships/)
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) awards numerous college scholarships through its national chapter and local affiliates. Asian American and Pacific Islander students with a financial need should be ready to show community involvement and a talent for writing or broadcast journalism.
The AAJA-CNN Scholar Program is the cornerstone of the AAJA scholarship programs, awarding four journalism students a significant amount of, $25,000 to each student that is allotted over the four years of college. This college scholarship can make a huge impact on a student’s ability to attend college and pursue a career in journalism. Every eligible student should take the time to fill out the application for this award.
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
(http://www.nahj.org/educationalprograms/currentscholarships.shtml)
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) offers young journalism students many opportunities to win college scholarships to help fund their education. The NAHJ scholarships are open to students intending to major in the fields of print, online, photographic and broadcast journalism at a two or four year accredited college in the United States.
The NAHJ Newhouse Scholarship Program makes scholarship grants to deserving college juniors, majoring in print journalism, who can show academic and journalistic achievement, and a financial need. These scholarship grants from $1,000 to $5,000 are awarded for a period of two years, with the added bonus of a summer internship with a sponsoring Newhouse newspaper.
Native American Journalists Association
(http://www.naja.com)
The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) awards thousands of dollars in scholarship grants to Native American journalism students, who can prove tribal membership and financial need. Students applying for these scholarships need to provide a completed FAFSA application, letters of recommendation and writing samples or tapes of broadcast work. The NAJA scholarship programs are well funded and should be a top priority of all Native American students intending to major in journalism in college.
Other Scholarship Programs for Student Journalists
The Radio and Television News Directors Foundation (http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/scholarships-for-undergraduate-students524.php?id=524) (RTNDA), is a national association of electronic journalists that is committed to excellence in all areas of the journalism profession. The RTNDA sponsors eight scholarships to college sophomores and juniors majoring in journalism. The scholarships range from $1,000 to 10,000; a substantial amount of free money for college.
Finally, the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Diversity&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11308) (NABEF) sponsors the NABEF Scholars Program, awarding scholarships to outstanding radio and television broadcast majors, enrolled in 10 colleges across the country with top notch communications programs. Scholarship winners receive $5,000 for their junior and senior years for a total of $10,000. Winning students need to maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete a radio or television internship before graduation.
The 10 participating colleges through the year 2010 are: University of Montana, Southern Illinois University, Ball State University, Jackson State University, Savannah State University, St. Cloud State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, New Mexico State University, Boston College and University of Wisconsin. Eligible students at these participating colleges should check with their school counselors for applications and additional information and requirements.