Medical Journalism Grants

AAGP Images of Aging Communications Award

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry will recognize an author or media professional for his or her compassionate, informative coverage of mental health issues facing the elderly and their families and caregivers. As older Americans are the fastest-growing segment of the population, and mental illness that is not a normal part of aging affects one in five individuals age 55 and older, it is imperative that more resources be devoted to understanding, treating, diagnosing and preventing late-life mental illnesses. The media and writers' role in helping to bring these issues to the forefront is vital.

AWARD CRITERIA:

The association will consider articles published in a general-audience newspaper, magazine or online publication; novels, stories, poetry and essays; and radio and television programs.
In addition to thoughtful discussion of late-life mental health, preference will be given to written works or programs that address the role of the geriatric psychiatrist.
Preference will also be given to material with the greatest reach, i.e., national versus regional.
Material will be judged on educational value and scientific accuracy.
Material published/produced between November 16, 2007 and November 15, 2008, is eligible.

NOMINATION PROCESS:
Submission deadline: December 1, 2008.
Please submit a letter to the association describing the importance of the particular piece submitted and the audience it reached, along with a copy of the item being nominated (CD of radio program or DVD of television program).
The winner will be notified by January 14, 2009, and will be recognized at the 2009 AAGP Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and presented the award. In addition, the winner will receive $500 as well as complimentary registration and travel to the meeting.

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

7910 Woodmont Ave
Suite 1050
Bethesda, MD 20814-3004
301-654-7850
f 301-654-4137
main@aagponline.org

The Ida and George Eliot Prize is presented annually by the Medical Library Association for a work published in the preceding calendar year which has been judged most effective in furthering medical librarianship.
The Ida and George Eliot Prize was established by Ida and George Eliot, friends of the Medical Library Association and owners of Eliot Health Sciences Books, Inc., Long Island City, New York. In the mid-1980’s Login Brothers Book Company acquired the company and continued to support the prize. The recipient receives a certificate at the association’s annual meeting and a cash award of $200.00 after the annual meeting.
Nominations: Nominations are accepted from the membership at large and from members of the Ida and George Eliot Prize Jury
Nominations should include a complete bibliographic citation, a copy of the work whenever possible, and any other pertinent information regarding the availability, content, and impact of the work.
It is preferred that nominees be members of the Medical Library Association.
Nine copies of each nomination should be sent to MLA’s Professional Development Department.
All nominations must be received at MLA by November 1.
Standards for
Judging:
A. Contribution to the Profession: Does the item further medical librarianship by presenting new or innovative ideas of great importance? Or, does it contribute a new and beneficial report or answer to an existing situation or present a comprehensive state of the art report?
B. Impact: Does the item show immediate or long range potential and implications for those in the field of medical librarianship? Does it provide philosophical contributions or practical applications applicable to a variety of medical library situations.
C. Arrangement of Information: Does the item include all necessary elements for expression of the idea?
D. Expression of Content: Is it well presented and easy to read; is the style effective and consistent?
*The Eliot Prize Jury reviews publications other than those nominated. The jury actively searches for publications and begins the review process well before the nomination.
The recipient will be notified in February before the annual meeting, at which the presentation is to be made.
The recipient assumes all costs of attending the meeting and the ceremony at which the presentation is made.
The period of disbursement will not exceed one year past the date of the annual meeting.
If there are no appropriate candidates, the association may elect not to make the award in a given year.

Deadline for applications is November 1st.

For more information on the procedures for awards and honors nominations or applications, contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094, x28.

Minority Science Writers Internship

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is proud to offer a summer internship program for minority students interested in journalism as a career and who want to learn about science writing. Experience what it's like to cover the scientific and technological issues that shape our global community.

The Internship takes place at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of AAAS's Science magazine, the largest interdisciplinary journal in the world.

The program is a paid, 10-week experience under the guidance of the weekly magazine's award-winning staff of professional science writers and editors.

Science and technology increasingly shape our world, but new discoveries and inventions often lead to unexpected—and sometimes unwanted—consequences. Science writing isn't for everyone. But it is for anyone who enjoys learning about scientific discoveries—and explaining them to society.

Science writers come from varied educational backgrounds. But whether they hold a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D., they all share a curiosity about our world — and a passion for informing the public. From epidemics to energy, space exploration to sustainable development, science writers get to cover the latest news and trends, and then explain how they affect society.

What is the Minority Science Writers Internship?

Science is a global activity, but the demographics of the journalists who cover it don't reflect that diversity. The Minority Science Writers Internship is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism and who want to learn more about science writing.

The internship takes place each summer at the Washington, DC headquarters of AAAS's Science magazine, the largest interdisciplinary journal in the world. Interns spend 10 weeks at Science under the guidance of award-winning reporters and editors, and have a chance to experience what science writers do for a living. Interns are expected to contribute to the weekly news section, including bylined articles in the print and electronic news service.

The paid internship provides for travel to and from the internship site in Washington, DC. Living accommodations and expenses are the responsibility of the Intern. The internship runs from June to mid-August.

Who can apply for the internship?

The internship is open to any minority undergraduate with a serious interest in science writing. Preference will be given to those students pursuing a degree in journalism. You must be enrolled in an academic program at the time you submit your application.

How can I apply?

You must be a college undergraduate at the time you submit your application. Telephone interviews are conducted with semi-finalists in March. All candidates will be notified of the outcome by 15 April.

Download an application

DEADLINE: 1 MARCH 2009

All completed application materials should be mailed to:

AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship
1200 New York Avenue, NW, Room 608
Washington, DC 20005

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be evaluated by a committee composed of experts in communicating science to the public. The committee will make recommendations to the AAAS staff, who are responsible for the final selection.

For more information, please contact:

Stacey Pasco
202-326-6441
spasco@aaas.org

IFER Graduate Fellowship Program

The International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER) is please to announce the availability of Graduate Fellowships in Alternatives in Scientific Research. IFER is dedicated to the development and implementation of scientifically valid alternatives to the use of animals in research, product testing, and education. IFER is also committed to programs designed to increase public awareness of such alternatives. The purpose of these Graduate Fellowships in Alternatives in Scientific Research is to provide monetary assistance to graduate students whose programs of study seem likely to have an impact in one or more of these areas.

Awards
The fellowships provide up to $12,500 annually in stipendiary support and up to $2,500 for supplies per year. The fellowships are renewable annually for up to three years. Continued funding is dependant on student progress and availability of funds.

Expectations
In return for funding, IFER expects:

* Annual progress reports
* Acknowledgement of support in publications and formal presentations
* Copies of all publications
* A copy of the thesis or dissertation including a special section detailing the relevance of the work to IFER’s goals and replacement, reduction, refinement and responsibility (the 4 R’s) as they relate to the use of animals in research, product testing, and education

In addition, the student’s graduate advisory committee must (as possible) contain one member with particular interest or expertise in animal welfare.

Eligibility
Application is open to students enrolled in Master’s and Ph.D. programs in the sciences, humanities, psychology, and journalism.

Sample Areas of Interest
IFER has supported research in the following areas. However, this list is not intended to be exhaustive.

* Tissue, cell, and organ cultures
* Clinical studies using animals or humans
* Epidemiological studies
* Enhanced use of existing tissue repositories and patient databases
* Public education
* Computer modeling

Application deadline: March 15

The International Foundation for Ethical Research
53 West Jackson Boulevard
Suite 1552
Chicago, IL 60604
phone: 312.427.6025
fax: 312.427.6524
ifer@navs.org

www.ifer.org

Mini Fellowships

In 2007, the Kaiser Media Fellowships Program launched a new program for reporting on global health issues. The program awards mini-fellowships to print, radio, television, and online journalists (including freelancers) to research and report on global health issues, with a particular focus on issues related to HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. The purpose is to encourage in-depth reporting on the health, social, economic, political and cultural implications of major public health issues and on the response to these challenges. Awards of up to $10,000 will be given to journalists to cover travel and research expenses relating to a specific project of their choice for publication, broadcast, or online posting.

This program is for journalists working for English-language news organizations with target audiences in North America and/or Europe. Priority will be given to projects otherwise unlikely to be undertaken or completed, focusing on issues that have not been reported or are under-reported, and which have a high likelihood of being published/aired/posted and of reaching a mass audience. Reporting projects can be local or international in scope, but should focus on public health concerns – or responses – that are of global relevance.

Reporting should be undertaken and completed by December of the fellowship year, and will be posted on the Kaiser Family Foundation’s websites subject to copyright permission. Fellows are expected to negotiate such permission.

Applications for the 2009 program must be received - in hard copy - by October 23, 2008.

Each fellow will be awarded up to $10,000 or a prorated amount based on individual project needs, to cover travel and research expenses. Where possible, the fellow's news organization will be actively encouraged to supplement the fellowship award. Applicants will need to submit a budget outline broadly defining the costs associated with their proposed project and which parts of their project would require funding from the fellowship. List the various categories associated with the cost of the project—such as travel (air, train, car), accommodation, meals, production, translation, editing, telephone, and/or project materials—and provide an estimated cost for each category. For example, travel to abc countries, states, or cities to interview abc projects or experts, at an estimated cost of approximately abc dollars (or other currencies); accommodations and meals in abc countries, states, or cities at an estimated cost of approximately abc dollars (or other currencies);

Note that the maximum amount for the award is US$10,000; projects requiring less money will receive special attention.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible
This program is for journalists working for English-language news organizations with target audiences in North America and/or Europe. For example, this would include an African journalist reporting for a British news organization; or the Delhi bureau chief of a Canadian newspaper. There is no age restriction.

Selection for the fellowships is highly competitive. Fellows are selected by an international committee of editors primarily on the basis of previous and potential work, on the applicant's demonstrated commitment to reporting on health issues, and on the committee's determination of which candidates would benefit most from this program.

Eligible Projects
Given the focus of this program on global health issues, the scope of eligible topics is inherently very broad. Note that priority will be given to projects addressing some of the many implications of HIV/AIDS, TB, and/or malaria. Also bear in mind that reporting on global health issues can be very locally focused, and international travel is not a requirement or necessity for a project to be selected. For example, an applicant from Toronto could write about a local university medical team/church/NGO group’s work on malaria prevention in Africa. A U.S. journalist could compare HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among teens in their community with those in South Africa; or could track how effectively PEPFAR money is being dispersed.

To Apply

There is no application form. To be considered, mail the following materials to the executive director*:

* A detailed letter describing your reasons for applying; your career goals; a short outline of the reporting you would want to complete; and what you would aim to accomplish as a result of the fellowship
* A brief description of your news organization and its readership/audience
* Budget outline (see more details below)
* An estimated project timeframe
* Curriculum vitae or resume
* Where relevant, details of previous awards or fellowships
* Examples of recent work (work samples will not be returned to applicants)

o Print applicants: 5-8 clips. Original clips should be pasted or photocopied on to standard 8.5”x11” or 11”x17” paper (applicants may submit an original copy along with the mounted copy). If clips are reduced in size to fit the page, they should be legible. Special paper, margins, etc. are not necessary. Most importantly clips should be clean and clear, easy to photocopy and able to fit in a standard file folder.
o For photographs, please submit regular prints and/or photocopies – no slides.
o Television applicants: please send DVDs or VHS tapes in NTSC – not PAL – format.
o Radio applicants: please send CDs or cassette tapes. Please label each piece with your name, program title, running time and date aired.
o Internet applicants: please send your clips in hard copy format, printed from your website, in addition to providing website links.
* One or more letters of support from other journalists familiar with your work, including a letter from your current senior editor or news director supporting your application (freelance journalists should send a letter of support from an editor, producer or colleague familiar with your recent work). Letters can be emailed directly to Penny Duckham (pduckham@kff.org) or included in your application file.

* All applications must be mailed in hard copy. An email version of your application can be sent in addition, but not as a substitute.

Applications must be mailed to the following address:
Penny Duckham
Executive Director
Kaiser Family Foundation
Kaiser Media Fellowships Program
2400 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
USA
Email: pduckham@kff.org

If you have further questions about the fellowship or would like to clarify any of the application requirements, please send an email to mediafellows@kff.org before you submit your application materials.

Budget Outline
Applicants should describe broadly which parts of their project would require funding from the fellowship. List the various categories associated with the cost of the project—such as travel (air, train, car), accommodation, meals, production, translation, editing, telephone, and/or project materials—and provide an estimated cost for each category. For example, travel to abc countries, states, or cities to interview abc projects or experts, at an estimated cost of approximately abc dollars (or other currencies); accommodations and meals in abc countries, states, or cities at an estimated cost of approximately abc dollars (or other currencies);

Where possible, the fellow's news organization will be actively encouraged to supplement the fellowship award.

American Association for the Advancement of Science.Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program

Purpose
Increasing public understanding of science and technology is one of the principal goals of AAAS. The association has improved coverage of science and technology in mass media for more than 30 years through the Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program. This highly competitive program strengthens the connections between scientists and journalists by placing advanced science, mathematics and engineering students in newsrooms across the country. The AAAS Fellows use their academic training in the sciences as they research, write and report today's headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues to non-specialists.

Program
The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows work for 10 weeks during the summer as reporters, researchers, and production assistants in mass media organizations nationwide. Fellows collaborate with media professionals at radio and television stations, newspapers, and magazines. As part of their job, the student-scientists and their host-journalists strive to make science news easy for the public to understand.

The fellowship program is designed to enhance coverage of science-related issues in the media in order to improve public understanding and appreciation of science and technology. Fellows have the opportunity to observe and participate in the process by which events and ideas become news, improve their communication skills by learning to describe complex technical subjects in a manner understandable to the lay public, and increase their understanding of editorial decision making and the way in which information is effectively disseminated. The program has supported nearly 500 Fellows.

Criteria:

1. Applicants must be enrolled as college or university students (in their senior year, or in any graduate or post graduate level) in the natural, physical, health, engineering, computer, or social sciences or mathematics in order to apply.
2. Post doctoral applicants must apply for the summer fellowship within one year of defending their thesis.
3. Students enrolled in English, journalism, science journalism, or other non-technical fields are not eligible for these fellowships.
4. Successful applicants will attend an orientation at AAAS headquarters at the beginning of the summer and a wrap-up session at the end of the summer. They will prepare reports on the progress of their fellowships throughout their placement.

Award
AAAS typically selects from 20-25 Mass Media Fellows each summer. Fellows are provided a weekly stipend of $450 as well as travel expenses to and from AAAS and their sites.

Applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of experts in the sciences, education, and media. The committee will make recommendations to the AAAS staff, who are responsible for the final decisions and for negotiations between the candidates and the media hosts. A telephone interview will be conducted with semi-finalists sometime in late February or early March. Candidates will receive final notification of the status of their applications by 15 April 2009.

Mail completed forms to:
AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program
1200 New York Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: (202) 326-6441

Morris Fishbein Fellowship in Medical Editing

As the selected candidate, you will work with the editorial and production staff of The Journal of the American Medical Association in all facets of editing and publishing a major medical journal.

An MD or DO degree is a prerequisite.

A stipend of $51,500 will be provided to the successful candidate to cover the one-year period.

Completed applications must be received no later than January 2, 2009.

For an application form, please write to:

Richard M. Glass MD
Morris Fishbein Fellowship in Medical Editing
The Journal of the American Medical Association
515 N State St
Chicago IL 60610

Melvin M. Figley Fellowship in Radiology Journalism
Funded by The Roentgen Fund®

The ARRS offers one-month annual fellowships in radiology journalism. Radiologists practicing in the U.S. and Canada are eligible for the Figley Fellowships every year. Figley Fellowships are announced in December of each year. *Due to recent editorial changes, the Figley Fellowship will be on hiatus for 2009 and will resume in 2010.

Purpose
1. To stimulate bright, promising radiologists to continue with an academic career, enhance their credentials, and stimulate interest in good radiology journalism.

2. To improve the quality of radiology journals by teaching the fundamentals of medical journalism, train manuscript reviewers and future editors, and provide core teachers of medical journalism in radiology departments around the country.

Curriculum
Through hands-on experience, the fellows will be taught the fundamentals of medical writing, manuscript preparation, peer review, manuscript editing, the ethics of scientific journalism, and journal publication and printing in personal tutorials given by the AJR editors and by the editorial and production staff.

Stipend
The successful candidates will each be awarded $12,000, which includes the cost of travel to the editorial and publications offices, living expenses for the month, and an honorarium.

Applications
Candidates should apply in writing to Thomas H. Berquist, MD, Editor in Chief, 44211 Slatestone Ct., Leesburg, VA 20176-5109. The letter must include a curriculum vitae and a description of the candidate's goals during the fellowship. Letters of recommendation from his or her department chair and one other senior person are required. Applications for the Figley Fellowship are due October 16, 2009.