The 2nd Sandra Burton Nieman Fellowship for Filipino Journalists now open

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) is administering the search for the 2nd Sandra Burton Nieman Fellowship sponsored by the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).

As in the program’s first year, CMFR will be in charge of the selection process. CMFR will receive applications starting February 20, 2012 (Monday). Deadline for applications will be March 10, 2012 (Saturday). The application form may be downloaded from the link provided below.


Sandra Burton was the Hong Kong bureau chief of TIME magazine who accompanied then opposition leader former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. on his flight home to Manila on August 21, 1983. The senator was killed on the tarmac upon his arrival. Ms. Burton reported on the assassination and the political turmoil triggered by the death of the opposition leader as well as the events that led to the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986. She continued to report on the democratic transition and the presidency of Mrs. Corazon Aquino, developing strong ties with many Filipino journalists working during that period.

Ms. Burton passed away on February 27, 2004 in Bali where she lived after retiring from journalism. She left a scholarship fund to the NCAF to support the study of Filipino journalists in the US.

The Nieman Foundation selects about 12 US and 12 foreign journalists for Nieman Fellowships each year. Only full-time journalists (including freelancers) with at least five years’ experience are qualified. Those journalists working for the news or editorial departments of newspapers, wire services, radio, television, web sites, online publications or magazines of general public interest may apply. Photojournalists, editorial cartoonists, columnists and broadcast producers are also eligible. Public relations practitioners and those who write in or for organizations whose primary business is not the media are not eligible.

Fellows are expected to do academic work at Harvard for two semesters, during which time they may not do professional work and should have obtained clearance from their employers, if applicable.

Philippine Daily Inquirer senior editor and columnist John Nery became the first recipient of the Sandra Burton-Nieman Fellowship for Filipino Journalists.

CMFR is inviting you to apply for the fellowship.

How to apply:

1. Download the application form (PDF).
2. Print the form and fill it out using a pen (please print clearly).
3. Letters of recommendation should be sent to the:

Sandra Burton Nieman Fellowship for Filipino Journalists
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Address: 2/F Ateneo Professional Schools Salcedo
130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
Makati City 1227
Philippines
Email: staff@cmfr-phil.org

4. Send your completed, dated and signed application form, along with your work samples and essays, to the:

Sandra Burton Nieman Fellowship for Filipino Journalists
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Address: 2/F Ateneo Professional Schools Salcedo
130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
Makati City 1227
Philippines
Email: staff@cmfr-phil.org

Materials must be sent no later than or postmarked by March 10, 2012 (Saturday).

Should you have any questions about the Sandra-Burton Nieman Fellowship for Filipino Journalists, you may email CMFR at staff@cmfr-phil.org. You may also call the following CMFR numbers +63 2 894-1326/894-1314/840-0889 (attention Bryant Macale). Details regarding the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard are available here.

This is lifted from www.cmfr-phil.org.