Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship
Applications for the 2024-2025 Sharon-Begley Science Reporting Fellowship have closed. To receive a reminder when applications open next year, sign up for our mailing list.
About the Fellowship
The Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship aims to diversify the ranks of science and health journalists and fostering better coverage of science that is relevant to all people. It combines an educational component through the Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) program and a paid reporting position at STAT, the nation’s must-read health, science, and medicine publication.
The one-year fellowship is intended for early-career U.S. journalists from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the profession and will prepare them for a successful career in science journalism. We will be hiring one fellow this year, who will start in mid-July 2024 and work through mid-July 2025.
How does the program work?
Fellows will be based at STAT’s Boston office and report and write articles. At the same time, they will participate in KSJ training seminars and fellowship community events, have access to MIT libraries, and be able to audit classes at MIT and Harvard.
What are the benefits?
Fellows will be paid $75,000 and receive health insurance through MIT and dental and vision benefits through STAT. They will receive 10 days of vacation and get standard holidays off.
Who is eligible to apply?
An applicant must be residing in the U.S. and live in, or be willing to relocate to, the Boston area. Applicants must have some previous journalism experience; between six months and five years is desirable. Previous work as a science writer is not required.
We know that there are strong candidates who may not fit precisely into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
STAT and MIT are unable to sponsor a work visa for this fellowship.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Applications will be accepted online in the spring (around March).
Who can I contact with other questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about the fellowship or the application process, please contact STAT Equity and Health Tech Editor Lison Joseph at lison.joseph@statnews.com.
What should I include in my application?
Each applicant must submit the following documents:
- A personal statement of up to 1,000 words describing yourself, your goals for the fellowship, and how your background, experiences, and career path influenced your decision to pursue this opportunity.
- A resume.
- Links to 3-5 published articles that showcase your reporting and writing skills.
- A letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with your work who can comment on your abilities, your commitment to journalism, and your suitability for this fellowship.
Who is Sharon Begley?
Begley, STAT’s senior science writer, was one of the nation’s finest science journalists and was known for her enthusiasm for mentoring and teaching the next generation. She was especially eager to help other women advance in a profession that, when she began as a researcher at Newsweek in 1977, was unwelcoming. She later worked at the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, before joining STAT at its founding in 2015. She was one of the STAT reporters honored as a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting, for their “prescient, expert and accessible coverage” of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her legacy includes her powerful advocacy for people of color, exemplified by a series she wrote in 2016 and 2017 about the neglect by scientists, government funders, drug makers and hospitals of patients with sickle cell disease, who in the U.S. are predominantly Black. This fellowship pays tribute to her outstanding career while paving the way for the next generation of science journalists.
How can I support the fellowship?
STAT is launching a campaign to raise additional funding to support the growth and sustainability of the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship for years to come. Your contribution will help pay for fellows’ reporting expenses and salaries, program administrative costs, and other operational costs. All contributions will directly help STAT’s newsroom recruit and cultivate new talent to support and diversify science journalism. (Contributions to STAT are not tax-deductible.) Contribute via STAT.
Tax-deductible gifts in support of the fellowship can be made via MIT to the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship Fund within the Knight Science Journalism program. Contribute via MIT.