Broadcasting Scholarships

Abe Schechter, a true pioneer of radio news, became the first VP of news for NBC. He began his career in newspapers, then moved to radio. During WWII, he became senior PR officer for General MacArthur. He eventually returned to NBC where he helped create the Today show. From there, he became part owner of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the 1960s Schechter, along with RTNDF trustee George Glazer, founded a PR firm that was subsequently sold to Hill & Knowlton. Schechter and his wife died in a car accident in 1970, and this $2,000 scholarship was set up in his memory.

An award established in early 1999 by N.S. Bienstock, Inc. owners, Richard Leibner and Carole Cooper. N.S. Bienstock has been the leading agency for representation of electronic journalists and reality-based programming for more than 35 years and is a long-time member of RTNDA. This award recognizes a promising minority journalist in radio or television news management.

RTNDF's first fellowship is named for a CBS News correspondent who was killed in a plane crash while on assignment in 1972. Her family and colleagues at CBS sent money in lieu of flowers to create a fund in her name, endowing a permanent $1,000 award for young, promising minority professionals in television or radio news.

A $1,000 award, created by the RTNDF board of trustees in honor of the names it bears. Barney and Vada served in WWII and both had illustrious military careers.

This $2,000 award was created to honor former news director and Medstar executive Jacque Minnotte, who died in 1993.

The Radio and Television News Directors Foundation Broadcast News Management Fellowship sends journalist of color to leadership and management training programs for news professionals. The RTNDF fellowship program allows senior broadcast news and mid-career professionals of color to develop or strengthen their management skills. Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by a supervisor. Each candidate must submit an application form and a letter of recommendation from his or her supervisor. Candidates also are urged to work with the supervisor to determine what skills and training they need to advance. Fellowship winners will attend workshops on such topics as developing management competence, leadership and communication skills.

The Educator in the Newsroom Fellowships are an initiative by the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation to enhance the quality of broadcast journalism education and to strengthen the caliber of the future broadcast news workforce. Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this project places college journalism educators at local television and radio newsrooms for four weeks during their summer break. Each fellow is given a concrete work assignment and actively participates in daily newsroom operations. Check website for more information.

RTNDF offers 3-month internships sponsored by the Radio-Television Correspondents Association. These fully-paid internships are based in Washington, DC and are available for recent college graduates whose career objective is electronic journalism.

Scholarship winners must exhibit enthusiasm, aptitude and a sense of commitment for a career in some aspect of broadcast news. Judges will take into consideration a combination of academic achievement, financial need and broadcast career goals that embody the spirit of Clete Roberts and Kathryn Dettman. All candidates must currently be attending a college or university in one of the 13 APTRA states and be involved in some aspect of broadcast news. To be eligible for APTRA Scholarships, applicants must be a college student currently enrolled at a college or university in one of the 13 APTRA states -- Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. (Incoming freshman and high school seniors are not eligible) Applicants should be pursuing a career in broadcast news. Students enrolled at schools outside the 13 APTRA states are not eligible. Applicants may provide links to YouTube or other sites with examples of their work. Text material may be attached to the email. For more information, contact AP west broadcast editor Chris Havlik at 602/417-2405 or chavlik@ap.org

Walter Cronkite was called "the most trusted man in America" during his two decades as anchor of The CBS Evening News. He began his career as a correspondent for United Press International during World War II, then joined CBS television in 1950 as a reporter. Graduate and undergraduate students, studying at American colleges and universities, or Americans studying abroad, who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of 15 scholarships or fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation. Winning an OPC Foundation scholarship or fellowship is more than a cash award. Winners are invited to join the Overseas Press Club family. They are encouraged to network and keep the organization apprised of their career moves. Foundation fellowships pay for travel and living expenses for awardees to intern in foreign bureaus at such leading news organization as the Associated Press, Forbes, GlobalPost, Reuters and Wall Street Journal, among others, and at foreign English-language media companies like the South China Morning Post and Cambodia Daily. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers. The judges require that applicants submit a Cover Letter, Resume and Writing Sample. The applicant’s name and school should appear at the top of each page. The Writing Sample of approximately 500 words should concentrate on an area of the world or an international issue that is in keeping with the applicant’s interest and experience. Judges prefer a reported story, especially one that demonstrates a journalist's perspective or initiative. Winners have written on such diverse topics as playing black jack on the Trans-Siberian iRailroad, political activism in Morocco, and social upheaval in China. Essays that are exceedingly long may be disqualified. Because four of the 15 awards are reserved for international business or economic coverage, the Foundation invites applications from students who show a strong understanding of, or interest in, global economic issues such as trade, finance, emerging markets, immigration or environmental impacts. The substance of the essay may have appeared in an individual's previously published work but should be reformatted to meet the requirements of the application. Do not send a clip or URL. The Cover Letter should be autobiographical in nature addressing such questions as how the applicant developed an interest in this particular part of the world, a story pitch, or how he or she would use the scholarship to further journalistic ambitions. The judges respond well to applications showing strong reporting skills, color, and understanding or passion. Winners will be contacted in December so arrangements can be made for them to attend the Foundation Scholarship Luncheon in New York City. Recipients are expected to attend. The Foundation will cover the cost of travel and hotel.

Jerry Flint began his career at the Wall Street Journal in ­­­1956 and spent ­­ 12 years at The New York Times. He joined Forbes in 1979, holding several senior positions and covering international stories in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Africa. Graduate students studying at American colleges and universities, or Americans studying abroad, who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of 15 scholarships or fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation. Winning an OPC Foundation scholarship or fellowship is more than a cash award. Winners are invited to join the Overseas Press Club family. They are encouraged to network and keep the organization apprised of their career moves. Foundation fellowships pay for travel and living expenses for awardees to intern in foreign bureaus at such leading news organization as the Associated Press, Forbes, GlobalPost, Reuters and Wall Street Journal, among others, and at foreign English-language media companies like the South China Morning Post and Cambodia Daily. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers. The judges require that applicants submit a Cover Letter, Resume and Writing Sample. The applicant’s name and school should appear at the top of each page. The Writing Sample of approximately 500 words should concentrate on an area of the world or an international issue that is in keeping with the applicant’s interest and experience. Judges prefer a reported story, especially one that demonstrates a journalist's perspective or initiative. Winners have written on such diverse topics as playing black jack on the Trans-Siberian iRailroad, political activism in Morocco, and social upheaval in China. Essays that are exceedingly long may be disqualified. Because four of the 15 awards are reserved for international business or economic coverage, the Foundation invites applications from students who show a strong understanding of, or interest in, global economic issues such as trade, finance, emerging markets, immigration or environmental impacts. The substance of the essay may have appeared in an individual's previously published work but should be reformatted to meet the requirements of the application. Do not send a clip or URL. The Cover Letter should be autobiographical in nature addressing such questions as how the applicant developed an interest in this particular part of the world, a story pitch, or how he or she would use the scholarship to further journalistic ambitions. The judges respond well to applications showing strong reporting skills, color, and understanding or passion. Winners will be contacted in December so arrangements can be made for them to attend the Foundation Scholarship Luncheon in New York City. Recipients are expected to attend. The Foundation will cover the cost of travel and hotel.

Roy Rowan, correspondent, writer, editor and former OPC President, spent 35 years at Time serving as bureau chief in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Rome, Tokyo, Bonn and Chicago, and as Assistant Managing Editor for the weekly Life in charge of news. Graduate and undergraduate students, studying at American colleges and universities, or Americans studying abroad, who aspire to become foreign correspondents, are invited to apply for one of 15 scholarships or fellowships to be awarded by the Overseas Press Club Foundation. Winning an OPC Foundation scholarship or fellowship is more than a cash award. Winners are invited to join the Overseas Press Club family. They are encouraged to network and keep the organization apprised of their career moves. Foundation fellowships pay for travel and living expenses for awardees to intern in foreign bureaus at such leading news organization as the Associated Press, Forbes, GlobalPost, Reuters and Wall Street Journal, among others, and at foreign English-language media companies like the South China Morning Post and Cambodia Daily. In many cases, winning a prestigious OPC Foundation award has helped launch careers. The judges require that applicants submit a Cover Letter, Resume and Writing Sample. The applicant’s name and school should appear at the top of each page. The Writing Sample of approximately 500 words should concentrate on an area of the world or an international issue that is in keeping with the applicant’s interest and experience. Judges prefer a reported story, especially one that demonstrates a journalist's perspective or initiative. Winners have written on such diverse topics as playing black jack on the Trans-Siberian iRailroad, political activism in Morocco, and social upheaval in China. Essays that are exceedingly long may be disqualified. Because four of the 15 awards are reserved for international business or economic coverage, the Foundation invites applications from students who show a strong understanding of, or interest in, global economic issues such as trade, finance, emerging markets, immigration or environmental impacts. The substance of the essay may have appeared in an individual's previously published work but should be reformatted to meet the requirements of the application. Do not send a clip or URL. The Cover Letter should be autobiographical in nature addressing such questions as how the applicant developed an interest in this particular part of the world, a story pitch, or how he or she would use the scholarship to further journalistic ambitions. The judges respond well to applications showing strong reporting skills, color, and understanding or passion. Winners will be contacted in December so arrangements can be made for them to attend the Foundation Scholarship Luncheon in New York City. Recipients are expected to attend. The Foundation will cover the cost of travel and hotel.