Taylor-Blakeslee Mentored Science Journalism Project Fellowships

Focus: Small grants for independent reporting projects paired with mentorship from senior science journalists.

Geographic Scope: United States

Eligibility:

• Recent Taylor-Blakeslee Graduate Fellows
• Early-career science journalists
• Master's-level students nearing graduation in science journalism/communication

Award Details:

• Purpose: Fund field reporting projects for early-career journalists when publishers cannot cover full costs
• Structure: Includes mentorship component with a senior journalist (preferably a previous Taylor-Blakeslee Fellow)
• Project Types: Environmental investigation, biology/science reporting, field work

Key Features:

• Mentoring component designed to ensure project success
• Builds cross-generational mentoring within Taylor-Blakeslee Fellows community
• Covers costs of field reporting that early-career writers struggle to fund independently
• Mentors provide guidance on project execution and professional development

Background: First awarded in 2019 as a new initiative to support early-career journalist development. Mentors are carefully matched based on expertise and reporting focus.

Application Process

• Submit independent reporting project proposal
• Proposal should include:
  • Project concept and reporting plan
  • Intended outputs and publications
  • Field work/travel requirements
  • Why mentorship would enhance success
  • Career goals and how project supports them
• CASW identifies and matches mentors
• Mentor relationships formalized once selection made
• Ongoing communication between fellow and mentor throughout project