The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has numerous scholarships, trips, awards and other opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. More students should take advantage of these opportunities, and the application process is simple.
Here are just a few of these opportunities. Read the complete list on the following pages to learn about all of them. Check the JOMC newsletter and the appropriate listserv (jmcgrad or jomc-ugrad) and make a note on your calendar to apply at the proper times.
You can take a School-sponsored trip over spring break or fall break to New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta to meet alumni and learn about career opportunities.
If you are interested in business reporting, you can win a $3,000 award and a business writing internship.
You can win a $5,500 scholarship plus a paid summer internship at the St. Petersburg Times.
You can win a scholarship of at least $1,250 to take a summer trip to a European country to learn about its politics, culture and mass media.
You can receive up to $4,000 to help meet expenses associated with a photojournalism documentary project.
You can win $1,250 or more to pay expenses for a trip or experience to explore, travel and meet people.
If you are interested in newspaper advertising, you can win a scholarship that pays $1,500 for each of two years and includes the possibility of a summer internship.
If you are a graduate student with an interest in newspaper ethics, you can win a $5,000 scholarship.
These are only a few of the many rewarding opportunities you have as a student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Don't be left out by not applying.
Spring-Break Trips
Deadline: About Feb. 1
Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
The School sponsors fall- and spring-break trips for seniors and
graduate students to sample life and work in cities where numbers of
School alumni and friends live. Students tour media facilities, meet
alumni and have one-day office visits. Free time to absorb local culture
is included. Approximately six students go on
each trip. The School gives some financial assistance, but students must
pay some expenses.
Applications: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School office.
Awards and Contests
M. S. Van Hecke Award
Deadline: Late November
This $3,000 award honors M. S. Van Hecke, a 1948 graduate of the
School and former business reporter for The Charlotte Observer. It goes
to a returning undergraduate or graduate student interested in a career in
business reporting. In addition to the cash award, the student is encouraged to intern on a newspaper business desk or in a corporate communication office.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School Office, to the School's Awards Committee (must include at least three published writing samples and a resume).
Edward Jackson
Deadline: December 1
International Scholarship
This award of at least $1,250 honors Ed Jackson, a veteran foreign
correspondent for the United Press International and Time magazine. It is
awarded annually to a news-editorial undergraduate, preferably from North
Carolina, to travel to a European country to learn about its politics,
culture and mass media by working there. Applicants should submit an
application, three writing samples, one letter of recommendation from a
language professor (if appropriate), and a one-page essay explaining what
they hope to accomplish during their time in Europe.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School office.
Robert Pittman Scholarship-Internship
Deadline: Mid-October
This undergraduate award was established by the St. Petersburg
Times in Florida in 1994 to honor Robert Pittman, its long-time editor of
editorials who holds a masterâs degree from the School. The scholarship,
which provides $5,500 for the academic year, goes to an outstanding
news-editorial student who has demonstrated strong interest in a newspaper
career and excellence in grades, work on student publications, internships
or recommendations from faculty members and professionals. Financial need
and diversity are pertinent considerations; overall excellence is key.
The internship is unusual in that it is not in the news department but is
in editorials. As an example, the intern might work at the newspaper in
the summer following the junior year and receive the scholarship for the
senior year. But the internship could also be in the fall, winter or
spring.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School office.
Jeff MacNelly Award
Deadline: February 15
This award is made possible by a generous gift from MacNelly, the
famous cartoonist who attended UNC-Chapel Hill and worked on The Chapel
Hill Weekly. Then he went on to win Pulitzer Prize after Pulitzer Prize
in his career. He named his ãShoeä comictrip after Professor Jim
Shumaker. This award goes to an undergraduate student who has shown
excellence in writing. A $500 prize accompanies the award, which was
first presented in 1987.
Application: Give Professor Jim Shumaker at least three examples
of published work.
Eugene L. Roberts Jr. Prize
Deadline: March 1
This honors a 1954 School graduate who achieved national
recognition as the renowned executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The $2,000 award goes to an undergraduate interested in a career in print
or photojournalism who proposes the best idea for a Gene Roberts-type
story: one that is dedicated to the untold event that oozes instead of
breaks; to the story that reveals, not repeats; to the reporter who zigs
instead of zags; to the truth, as opposed to the facts; to the forest, not
just the trees. The student must be returning to the School for at least one semester when he or she will research and write the story in JOMC 97, ãIndependent Study,ä supervised by a faculty member for three credits.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School
office.
Robin Clark Experience
Deadline: February 1
This was created as a memorial to a former School of Journalism
and Mass Communication student and reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer
who was killed in an automobile accident in 1995. Starting in the spring
of 1997, students can apply for this award of at least $1,250, which can
be used to learn as Robin did--by exploring, traveling and meeting people.
Application: Complete an application form, including a one-page
description of what you plan to do with the award.
Hearst Contest
Deadline: Monthly Competitions
The Journalism Awards Program of the William Randolph Hearst
Foundation is the most prestigious national contest open to undergraduate
journalism-mass communication majors. Often called the Pulitzers of
college journalism, awards are given for six monthly writing competitions
plus competitions in radio and TV journalism and photojournalism--and
championship write-offs in May. Prizes are up to $2,000 for first place
in each competition and even bigger awards for the write-off champions.
Professor Jim Shumaker chairs the selection committee. Professor Rich
Beckman oversees the photojournalism entries, Professor John Bittner the radio entries and Professor Richard Simpson the television entries.
Application: Details are on posters in the School and in the
Newsletter.
Peter Lars Jacobson Award
Deadline: March 1 in Medical Journalism
Established in 1995, this award honors Dr. Peter Jacobson, a
neurologist who was instrumental in creating the medical journalism
program in the School. It is awarded annually to the journalism-mass
communication student who writes the best medical story.
Application: Submit story or stories with name, address,
telephone number and class year to Paul Gardner in 200 Howell Hall.
Larry and Carolyn Keith Awards,br> Deadline: March 1 in Sports Journalism
Established in 1992 with a gift from Larry Keith, a 1969 graduate
of the School, and his wife, Carolyn, these $400 awards are given to the
Schoolâs top graduate or undergraduate students in sports writing and
sports photography.
Application: Pick up an application from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School office and return entries to Paul Gardner in 200 Howell Hall.
School of Journalism and Mass Communication Award in Documentary Photojournalism
This award of up to $4,000 is given to a photojournalism student
or students to help them conduct fieldwork for documentary still
photography projects. Applicants must be majors or pre-majors
(undergraduate and graduate students are eligible) or must have been graduated as majors during the school year. They must have completed at least one photojournalism course in the School prior to application. Winners are selected by a panel of faculty members and photojournalists.
Application: Submit the following information (not hand-written)
to Professor Rich Beckman by March 15: (1) Letter of application
describing the project, including its importance, methodology and
objectives; (2) budget for supplies, travel and other expenses; (3)
portfolio; and (4) resume.
Dixie Davis Award
Deadline: Feb. 1
This is designed to acquaint undergraduate students with the inner
workings of the U.S. legislative process by spending a semester in
Washington, D.C. Students may receive the scholarship after the sophomore
year and before the senior year. One scholarship is awarded annually to a student from UNC-CH or other universities. Applicants are judged on grade-point average, extracurricular activities and writing samples. The award provides a housing and living allowance for the unpaid internship.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School
office.
The School awards many scholarships that have been endowed by generous donors or created to honor outstanding alumni or friends. The School gives more than $60,000 in undergraduate scholarships each year. More than 40 are awarded, ranging from $500 to $5,500. Students who plan to transfer from another campus or institution may apply, but the School will not award scholarships to such students until it has official notification of the students' acceptance as transfers.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance, financial need and potential for journalism and communication careers. Winners receive half their scholarship funds at the beginning of the fall semester, the other half at the beginning of the spring semester.
Certain scholarships give preference to minority students or students in special categories, including those with career interests in advertising, newspaper or news-editorial, public relations, copyediting and magazines. Two scholarships give preference to students from Durham County, N.C.
Application: Available from Ms. Jackie Williams in the School office after Dec. 1. They must be completed and turned in no later than Feb. 1. A single application makes a student eligible for all scholarships, provided that the student meets the minimum grade-point average required (2.4). Applicants are also advised to submit a Financial Aid Form to the College Scholarship Service of the Educational Testing Service. The Schoolâs Scholarship Committee chooses the winners.
| Scholarship Name | Amount | Special considerations |
|---|---|---|
| James F. Hurley III | $5,000 | Preference to students with a newspaper career interest. | Pete McKnight | $3,500 |
| Bob Quincy | $3,500 | |
| Louis M. Connor Jr. | $3,000 | Preference to students with a public relations career interest. |
| Carl Council (2) | $2,000 | Preference to Durham County residents. |
| L. C. Gifford (2) | $2,000 | |
| N.C. Press Association- N.C. Press Services | $1,500 in each of 2 years | Preference to rising juniors from North Carolina interested in newspaper advertising. |
| Quincy Sharpe Mills (2) | $1,250 | Preference to minority students. |
| Knight Distinguished (2) | $1,250 | |
| Freedom Newspapers | $1,000 | Preference to students with a newspaper career interest. |
| Triangle Advertising Federation | $1,000 | Preference to students with an advertising career interest. |
| David Julian Whichard (2) | $1,000 | Preference to North Carolina residents in the news-editorial sequence. |
| Carolinas Association of Business Communicators | $1,000 | Preference to students with a public relations career interest. |
| Gene Jackson | $1,000 | |
| WTVD (3) | $1,000 | Preference to North Carolina residents with a broadcast journalism career interest. Preference to minority students for one of the three. |
| Ameel Fisher | $1,000 | |
| Marjorie Usher Ragan | $1,000 | Preference to women with a print career interest. |
| Beatrice Cobb | $500 | |
| O. J. Coffin | $500 | |
| Jonathan Daniels | $500 | |
| William Cochrane | $500 | |
| Elkin Tribune-Thomas Fleming | $500 | |
| Mildred Gifford | $500 | |
| Louis Graves | $500 | |
| John W. Harden | $500 | Preference to students with a public relations career interest. |
| Julius Hubbard | $500 | |
| A. W. Huckle | $500 | |
| Pete Ivey | $500 | |
| Gerald Johnson | $500 | Glenn Keever | $500 | Harvey Laffoon | $500 | Holt McPherson | $500 | Edward Heywood Megson | $500 | Henry Lockwood Phillips | $500 | Steed Rollins | $500 | Walter Spearman | $500 |
| Deborah Sykes | $500 | Preference to students with an interest in copyediting. |
| Readerâs Digest | $500 | Preference to students with a magazine career interest. |
| Victoria M. Gardner | $500 | Preference to students with an interest in family, children or medical issues. |
| Linda Livengood | $500 | Preference to single mothers or females in the news-editorial sequence. |
| Mark Ethridge | $250 | |
| Roy Rabon | $250 | |
| R. C. Rivers | $250 | |
| Roy Wilkins | $250 | Preference to minority students. |
| Tom Bost | $250 | |
| Henry Dennis | $250 |
K-Mart-Golf Writers Association of America Scholarship
The winner of this special undergraduate scholarship is selected by a representative of the Golf Writers Association. It is awarded to a rising junior in the news-editorial sequence; an interest in sports writing or golf is not essential. Selection is based on financial need, grade-point average and a written essay. The $3,000 award is renewable for the recipient's senior year.
Application: Interested sophomores should give the following materials to Paul Gardner in 200 Howell Hall by January 15: (1) copy of their most recent transcript; (2) essay explaining why they want the scholarship, including relevant financial-need information; and (3) address and telephone number at school and during the summer.
This $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a graduate student with an expressed interest in media ethics.
Application letter should be addressed to the director of graduate studies and include a substantive paragraph that discusses the applicant's interest in media ethics.
Tom Wicker Scholarship
This $500 award goes to a graduate news-editorial student, with preference to minority students.
Application letter should be addressed to the director of graduate studies.
Eli and Minnie S. Rubinstein Research Awards
This $1,500 award is given each semester to students engaged in thesis or dissertation research projects. Application packet is available from the director of graduate studies.
Students interested in advertising are encouraged to join this organization, an academic chapter affiliated with the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Regular meetings are held with national and local advertising professionals as guest speakers. The Ad Club participates in the AAF's national student advertising competition. Contact: Professor Robert Lauterborn.
Carolina Association of Black Journalists
This student organization is open to any student in the School or University. Its primary purpose is to support and encourage careers for minority students in mass communication and to sensitize media coverage and employment practices toward minorities.
Because its membership is predominantly black, it has affiliated with the National Association of Black Journalists. Contact: Professor Harry Amana.
National Press Photographers Association Student Chapter
This chartered affiliate of the National Press Photographers Association provides students a direct link to working press photographers. The group sponsors and attends critique sessions, workshops and seminars relating to all aspects of photojournalism, photography trips and social events. Contact: Professor Rich Beckman.
Public Relations Student Society of America
This organizations is affiliated with PRSA, the largest organization of public relations professionals in the world. Students hear from professionals in the area at monthly meetings and attend regional conventions. Contact: Professor Dulcie Straughan.
Radio-Television News Directors Association Student Chapter
This is the first such chapter to be chartered in the Carolinas. Students are encouraged to compete for the scholarships awarded at the annual RTNDA convention. The campus chapter publishes RTNDA News, a newsletter highlighting upcoming meetings, membership information and meetings summaries. Contact: Professor John Bittner.
Society of Newspaper Design Student Chapter
This organization provides students greater exposure to graphic design and a direct link with professional publication designers. The chapter sponsors workshops, seminars and portfolio reviews; takes field trips; brings in visiting professionals; and holds social events. Contact: Professor Jay Anthony.
Society of Professional Journalists
Students interested in journalism careers are encouraged to join the campus chapter of the national Society of Professional Journalists. Student membership may be transferred to professional chapters upon graduation.
Monthly meetings offer a mixture of sessions with professionals from various backgrounds for explorations of career opportunities and other specialized programs. Each year the chapter sponsors a seminar on how to apply for a job. The student chapter is associated with professional chapters on regional and national levels, and students are encouraged to attend annual meetings at both levels. The professional group sponsors a Mark of Excellence competition annually. Contact: Professor Raleigh Mann.
Women in Communications, Inc.
All students, male and female, are invited to join Women in Communications, Inc. Although there is no student chapter of WICI on campus, students may affiliate with the N.C. Triangle professional chapter and work with area professionals in a variety of programs and projects. A student member can transfer, upon graduation, to full membership in a professional chapter. The professional chapter awards an annual scholarship for which undergraduate JOMC students are eligible to apply. Contact: Professor Sally Walters.
Graduate Students Association
This organization for M.A. and Ph.D. students aids in the socialization of students into the graduate program and sets up programs of interest to graduate students.
| Prof. Deb Aikat daikat@email.unc.edu |
Tom Hughes, teaching assistant tahughes@email.unc.edu |
| Mark McCarthy maggot@sunsite.unc.edu |
Eric Chernoff, student coordinator echernof@email.unc.edu |