Oscar van Leer Fellowships for Journalists

Oscar van Leer Fellowships

The Bernard van Leer Foundation is accepting applications for the 2009 Oscar van Leer Fellowships for journalists.

The fellowship consists of a four-week, expenses-paid training course in The Netherlands covering journalism and children's issues.

This is a great opportunity for young journalists to further their general professional development and to establish for themselves a particular area of expertise.

The fellowships are open to journalists.

Who should apply?

The fellowship is intended for ambitious young journalists with an interest in children’s issues.

You are not expected to be an expert in children’s issues already – that’s why Oscar van Leer is offering training.

But you should be interested in learning more about the issues faced by disadvantaged young children, and the ways in which media coverage can raise awareness and shape opinions of them.

Applicants must be connected to a reputable media outlet, either as an employee or as a frequently published freelance contributor, and must intend to continue to pursue a career in the media.

The fellowship is open to journalists in all forms of media, including print, radio, television and web.

Application procedure

  • A completed application form
  • A letter of motivation
  • Your resumé (please include an indication of the reach of the media outlet/s for which you work, in terms of circulation or audience figures)
  • One example of your work, which has something to do with the situation of children in your country.

    This could be a piece of writing, a short film or radio broadcast.

    It can be something you have had published already, or it can be something you produce especially for the purpose of accompanying this application.

    Oscar van Leer would like to publish on its website the work submitted by shortlisted candidates, so if the work you submit has been published already, please ensure this would not cause copyright issues.

    How to apply

  • Your completed application form, attached to your email as a .doc or .pdf file
  • Your letter of motivation, either attached to your email as a .doc or .pdf file or written in the body of the email itself
  • Your resumé, as an attached .pdf or .doc file
  • Your work example, no longer than 2000 words if text or 10 minutes if audio or video.

    It should be attached as .pdf or .doc format, or if audio or video, in any common multimedia format (.mp3, .mp4, .avi, .mov, .mpeg, .flv, .swf, .mkv).

    If you're submitting a video that's too big to attach to an email, upload it to Youtube and send a link instead.

    Please send your applications to ovlf-applications[at]bvleerf.nl.

    Do not forget to include your application form, resume, letter of motivation and work example.

    Without these four things, your application will not be considered.

    The closing date is August 18th .

    For more information and application, see: Oscar van Leer Fellowships Website