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KURT SCHORK MEMORIAL FUND (KSMF) 2026 AWARDS

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Application Deadline: midnight (BST, UTC+1) on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

LOCATION: USA

The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF) invites freelance journalists, local reporters, and news fixers from around the world to submit entries for the 25th annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism. Named in memory of American freelance journalist Kurt Schork, who was killed in 2000 while on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone, the awards recognize the bravery of journalists who take great personal risk, often for little reward, to shine a light on the truth and hold power to account.

ELIGIBILITY:

Entrants for the Local Reporter and Freelance Awards must submit three articles each, published between June 01, 2025, and June 14, 2026. The judges will look for journalistic excellence in applicants’ submissions and evidence of determination and courage in obtaining their stories.

News Fixer Award applicants must submit three references from foreign correspondents with whom they have worked during the same time period. The range of skills displayed by a news fixer can be vast, and this is taken into consideration by the jury. They will look for evidence of skills such as displaying excellent news judgment, suggesting story leads and providing logistical support. The judges will also consider how the applicant’s support benefited the content, impact, and reach of the coverage they facilitated.

The News Fixer Award, launched in 2016 and presented for the first time in 2017, was inspired by the freelance journalist, author and friend of Kurt Schork, Anna Husarska. Further details about eligibility and entry criteria, as well as the online entry forms and FAQs, can be found on the KSMF website.

The three award categories, open to those reporting for print and online publications, recognize the media professionals that Kurt particularly admired:

Freelance Award: Recognizing freelance journalists who travel to the world’s conflict zones, usually at great personal risk, to witness and report on the impact and consequences of these events.

Local Reporter Award: recognizing the often-overlooked work of journalists in developing nations, or countries in transition, who write about events in their homeland.

News Fixer Award: Recognizing the work of local journalists or experts, typically hired by foreign correspondents, whose guidance and local knowledge play an unsung but vital role in facilitating international coverage from difficult, dangerous, or hostile locations.

Applications are now open, and the deadline for submissions is midnight (BST, UTC+1) on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

BENEFIT:

The awards recognize excellence and courage in reporting conflict, corruption, injustice, and human rights issues, with winners receiving a $5,000 cash prize.

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awards, Events, Opportunities, other events

FULLY FUNDED IWMF ELIZABETH NEUFFER FELLOWSHIP

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Application Deadline: Monday, April 19th, 2026, 5:00 AM

LOCATION: USA

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship gives academic and professional opportunities to women journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting. During this fellowship, the selected journalist will have the chance to complete research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and to participate in an internship with The Boston Globe.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Neuffer Fellowship is open to women, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues.

All applicants for the Neuffer Fellowship must be working journalists with at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience. Internships and journalism-related work completed as a university student do not count as professional experience. Applicants may be affiliated or freelance journalists.

Journalists from any country around the world are eligible to apply. However, applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently in order to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship.

The application for the 2027 Fellowship is now open from March 8th to April 19th, 2026. The winner will be announced around August 2026.

BENEFIT:

Neuffer Fellows receive a fixed monthly stipend to cover their living costs. The IWMF also arranges and covers the cost of housing in Cambridge and New York City for the fellow. The IWMF purchases round-trip economy airfare from the fellow’s place of residence to the United States, as well as transportation between the Fellowship cities. The fellow receives health insurance during the program. The Fellowship does not include a salary. For fellows residing outside of the United States, the Fellowship also covers the costs of applying for and obtaining a U.S. visa. The fellow is fully responsible for any additional incidental expenses and other costs.

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