Scholarship Opportunities for Broadcasting Students
- NAHJ PepsiCo Scholarship
- Helen Johnson Scholarship
- Hearst Journalism Awards Program
- Allison E Fisher Scholarship
- Helen J Siousst-Fay Wells Scholarship
Students who lack the financial resources to complete a four-year degree may find broadcasting scholarships that have the mission of empowering students to complete their programs and begin careers in the field. Awards are often offered to students in their junior or senior years who have an outstanding body of work. Here are a few of the many scholarships that exist to support broadcasting journalism students.
1. NAHJ PepsiCo Scholarships
According to The Atlantic, the broadcasting journalism field remains overwhelmingly white, with an average of only 15 percent of positions being held by people of color. Scholarships like the one provided through a collaboration between the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and PepsiCo seek to close this opportunity gap through supporting underrepresented journalism and broadcasting students in completing their studies and gaining work experience. These ten scholarships of $2,500 each are awarded to Latinx students pursuing careers in print, broadcast, or online journalism in either Spanish or English.
2. Helen Johnson Scholarship
The Helen Johnson Scholarship was created to support students in California who are majoring in TV or radio broadcasting. The $500-1,000 award is offered to undergraduate students who reside or study in the Los Angeles, Ventura, or Orange counties of California. Only students who have completed their sophomore year are eligible to apply.
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3. Hearst Journalism Awards Program
This program offers students a total of $700,000 in annual awards through writing and multimedia journalism competitions throughout the year. Students in broadcast journalism have four opportunities to compete in the multimedia competitions each year. The competition is open to undergraduate students who are attending ACEOMC-accredited institutions. Students must have outstanding pieces of work that have been published or broadcasted through campus media sources. Winners from each of the four competitions will go on to compete in a championship final for their medium.
4. Allison E. Fisher Scholarship
The Allison E. Fisher Scholarship was instated with the purpose of supporting African American journalism and broadcasting students with their undergraduate or graduate studies. Facilitated by the National Association of Black Journalists, the one-time annual award of $2,500 is offered to undergraduate and graduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. To apply for the scholarship, students must submit a current resume, official college transcript, three letters of recommendation, and five work samples. Students who show a history of involvement in community service will be given priority.
5. Helen J. Sioussat-Fay Wells Scholarship
This $1,250 broadcasting scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior undergraduate student who is majoring in journalism. Applicants must be attending universities that are members of the Broadcast Education Association to be considered. Students submit transcripts and letters of recommendation that speak to their academic achievement and professional potential.
The field of broadcast journalism boasts many supplemental funding opportunities for students engaged in their on-campus news programs. These broadcasting scholarships exist to support a broad range of students in achieving their educational and career goals.