The Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship provides an unrivalled opportunity for an exceptional early career journalist: a nine-month fellowship with Durham University including undertaking an investigative project from inside a newsroom which could be in London, New York, or Toronto. The Fellow will be mentored by editors at Reuters or other media partners while being overseen by Durham University and having access to University academics and research resources. This Fellowship is designed to give the Fellow the chance to develop rigorous, fact-based research and reporting skills. 

The Fellowship provides the opportunity to develop ideas and collaborations in a thriving community of journalists while having the support of world-leading researchers. The aim is for the 2024 Fellowship to begin as soon as possible after 1 March 2024, subject to the necessary immigration requirements being met.

The successful applicant will be employed by Durham University as a Fellow in the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS). With the support of colleagues in the IAS, the Fellow will be expected to identify and build a network of researchers at the University to support their investigative journalism practice. The Fellow will deliver a public seminar at the IAS, sharing their learnings from the Fellowship and supporting the understanding of journalism at the University.

The Fellowship has a monthly salary of c.£4,444 per month (equivalent to a pro-rata salary of c.£53,333 per year). In addition, there is a £1,250 per month living stipend and a one-off payment of £1,800 for travel and related expenses.

Where the successful applicant is an existing employee of a news or media organisation and takes a period of leave to pursue the Fellowship, Durham University will pay up to a maximum of £12,000 to their current employer to cover temporary staff costs, subject to specific terms and conditions.

Fellowship selection criteria

Qualified applicants will be early-career journalists, which we would normally anticipate to be between two- and five-years’ professional journalism experience. Where a prospective applicant is not currently a journalist but has worked in an investigative reporting capacity in a related professional field (for example: leading human rights or other socio-political publications and campaigns; working as an author or researcher on authoritative investigative work; or developing in-field photo-or video-research projects, documentaries, or exhibitions) applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

The Sir Harry Evans Fellowship is a global opportunity, and we welcome applications from all eligible candidates, regardless of their current location. We encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in journalism.

The Fellowship may be undertaken in the UK, New York, or Toronto, which will be at the discretion of the Fellowship Committee. The successful candidate will need to meet applicable immigration requirements.

Applications for the 2024 Fellowship are now closed. Over 400 applications have been received. These are being carefully reviewed. Candidates should expect to hear about their application by the end of September.

We expect to open submissions for the 2025 Fellowship in May 2024.

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