Criteria
Applicants must be planning to pursue a career in journalism, be able to demonstrate their passion and commitment to the profession. Selection will be based on journalistic and scholastic ability. Applicants also must demonstrate an awareness of the issues facing the LGBT community and the importance of fair and accurate news coverage.
For undergraduates, a declared major in journalism and/or communications is desirable but not required. Non-journalism majors may demonstrate their commitment to a journalism career through work samples, internships, and work on a school news publication, online news service or broadcast affiliate.
Who Can Apply
* High school seniors who have been accepted to attend a U.S. community college or four-year university, or who can show proof of application to a community college or four-year university and will attend full-time beginning in the 2011-2011 academic year.
* Undergraduate students who will attend a U.S. community college or four year university full-time during the 2011-2012 academic year.
* Undergraduate students who have been accepted for their first year of a U.S. graduate school and have submitted a tuition deposit for the 2011-2012 academic year. Graduate students must be enrolled in a journalism program.
How to Apply
A complete application package should be submitted electronically to NLGJA via e-mail to Aarons@nlgja.org *. Incomplete applications will not be considered. To request a non-electronic application please write bach@nlgja.org . Application package materials will not be returned.
Application packages should include:
* Application.
* One-page résumé.
* Five work samples as described under work samples.
* High school seniors must provide a copy of a letter of acceptance to a U.S. community college or four-year university.
* Three letters of recommendation. One must be from a teacher or professor. High school students may obtain letters from counselors and/or principals.
* An autobiography in the third person and written as a news story describing the applicant's commitment and passion for journalism and career goals. The autobiography should be no more than 1,000 words.
* Official transcript provided in sealed envelope, please mail official transcript separately to:
Aaron's Scholarship – NLGJA
1420 K Street NW, Suite 910
Washington, DC 20005
Please send applications to Aarons@nlgja.org * and include the name of the applicant in the subject line.
*Any undelivered application will be considered incomplete.
Application Fee
There is no application fee for the Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship.
Work Samples
* Print - Samples written by the applicant and published in a high school, college or community newspaper, magazine or online news service. Samples should be submitted as scans in either *.jpg or *.pdf formats.
* Video - Should be submitted via e-mail when possible. Embedded video, file downloads or web addresses are also acceptable. Work samples may contain more than one story but should be no longer than 10 minutes.
* Audio - Should be submitted via e-mail when possible. File downloads or web addresses are also acceptable. Work samples may contain more than one story but should be no longer than 10 minutes.
* Photographic - Images should be examples of published work from a high school, college or community newspaper, magazine or online news service. Published submissions and/or originals should be submitted in *.jpg, *.pdf, *.tif or *.gif formats.
Deadline and Schedule
Completed applications must arrive in full by January 21, 2011 at 11:59pm (Eastern). NLGJA is not responsible for any incomplete or late applications, nor any late applications due to e-mail delays. The recipient will be notified about their award on March 1, 2011. The scholarship award will be announced through a national press release and in various NLGJA publications. The recipient will be honored at NLGJA's annual New York Benefit. Travel and accommodations will be provided. Event location and date TBA.
More information here.
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