Deadline:
January 31, 2025
Location(s)
United States of America
New York
Overview
The Knight-Bagehot Fellowship offers experienced journalists the opportunity to enhance their understanding of business and economics, finance and technology.
Fellows spend two semesters at Columbia Journalism School and take most of their classes at Columbia Business School. They meet weekly for off-the-record seminars and dinners with top journalists, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
In scope and depth, it is the most comprehensive and rigorous business journalism fellowship in the world. We accept up to 10 fellows each year.
Details
Fellows typically take courses at Columbia's graduate schools of journalism, business, law and international affairs; participate in off-the-record seminars with media, corporate and tech practitioners, and meet weekly with media CEOs, top editors, journalism entrepreneurs, taking advantage of Columbia’s access to New York’s media, business and tech ecosystem.
In scope and depth, it is the most comprehensive and rigorous business journalism fellowship in the world. Eligible Knight-Bagehot fellows (those with a B.A. degree from an accredited college) may also seek to qualify for a Master of Arts degree in journalism at the end of their year, if they opt to complete the course-work required for that degree.
The Fellowship runs during Columbia’s academic year from mid-August through May, and accepts up to 10 Fellows each year.
The fellowship is named for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation of Miami, which established an endowment for the program, and Walter Bagehot, the 19th-century editor of The Economist. The Knight Foundation has been the principal sponsor of the fellowship since 1987. The program also depends on grants from a number of other charitable foundations, corporations and publishing organizations for a significant portion of its annual budget. The sponsors have no role in the selection of fellows or the curriculum, which are entirely managed by the Director of the Program and the Journalism School.
Curriculum
The core of the Knight-Bagehot curriculum consists of courses(link is external) offered by Columbia University. Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, Knight-Bagehot fellows will be allowed to choose from two academic tracks: a Certificate in Economics and Business Journalism, or the Master of Arts in Journalism.
CERTIFICATE IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS JOURNALISM
To earn this certificate, fellows must complete at least 30 hours of university credit during their two semesters. Fellows may select any university courses relating to business, economics, finance or journalism. Fellows typically take most classes at Columbia’s highly regarded Business School(link is external) or through the Law School(link is external) and School of International and Public Affairs(link is external). The most commonly chosen courses cover such subjects as microeconomics, macroeconomics, accounting, corporate finance, business law, international economics, marketing, business finance, securities analysis, media management. Many of these courses count as credit for those considering applying to the Business School to stay a second year, on their own, to complete a Master’s in Business Administration.
MASTER OF ARTS IN SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM
To earn this degree, fellows will need to take most of their courses at the Journalism School, including a business reporting seminar, Evidence and Inference, and M.A. Essentials, which covers data, technology and investigative techniques in journalism. Fellows can take three electives outside the Journalism School and will be required to complete a master’s thesis.
KNIGHT-BAGEHOT SEMINARS/DINNERS
All fellows attend Journalism school seminars twice a week and get course credit for doing so. These seminars are primarily focused on journalism, the business of journalism, new business models, role of technology in media, and contemporary issues impacting the art and craft of journalism. The Fellows also meet weekly with CEOs and Editors-in-Chief of major media organizations over dinner to deepen their understanding of journalism and its related business ecosystem.
Because of the demanding nature of the curriculum, fellows are not permitted to take on any outside assignments, including at their current employer or freelance, while the school is in session.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who Should Apply
- The fellowship is open to full-time editorial employees of newspapers, magazines, wire services, digital media, television and radio news organizations, as well as to freelance journalists, from anywhere in the world.
- Applicants must have at leastfour years of business/economics/finance journalism experience.
- There are no academic prerequisites to apply and work affiliation of applicants is not a major factor in the selection process.
- While a majority of the fellows typically come from the US, we specifically look for candidates who can help deliver better business journalism in all parts of the world, in multimedia formats.
The chief criterion for selection is demonstrated journalistic excellence. While essays and letters of recommendation are important parts of the application, the greatest weight is given to previously work samples. All materials, including letters of reference, college transcripts, essays and work samples should be compiled and submitted with the application form.
Applicants' employers, except under unusual circumstances, should submit a letter supporting the application, but applicants are not required to obtain formal employer approval to apply for and get admitted to the program. Fellows are encouraged to return to their employers at the end of their year at Columbia.
Dates
Deadline: January 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Highlights of the Fellowship
- Deepen your skills. Take core MBA classes such as corporate finance, accounting and economics and choose from high-level journalism classes like investigative techniques, book writing and data reporting.
- Get paid to learn. Receive full tuition, health insurance and $7,800 a month. Subsidized Columbia housing is also available.
- Expand your access. Attend private weekly meetings with industry executives. Choose from daily offerings of lectures and workshops with top journalists and business leaders. Join the Knight-Bagehot alumni network of 400+ former fellows working in news organizations around the world.
- Step back to step forward. Use the break from deadlines and newsroom responsibilities to chart your next challenges.
The fellowship is named for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which established an endowment for the program, and Walter Bagehot (pronounced BADGE-it), the 19th-century editor of The Economist. The program also depends on grants from a number of other charitable foundations, corporations and publishing organizations for a significant portion of its annual budget.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
