Tag Archives: World Journalists

KURT SCHORK MEMORIAL FUND (KSMF) 2026 AWARDS

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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NYU STERN CLIMATE ECONOMICS JOURNALISM FELLOWS

Application Deadline: April 20, 2025

LOCATION: USA

The NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship will bring a group of journalists to NYU Stern’s Greenwich Village campus to learn from globally recognized experts in the emerging field of climate economics. Participants will discuss the fundamental factors and latest trends in climate economics and finance.

The next cohort of the Fellowship will meet in New York City on September 18 and 19, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applications are open to and welcome from all journalists (both reporters and editors, and including freelancers) interested in covering the interface between climate and the economy. While aspects of the course have a focus on U.S. policies and institutions, we also welcome applications from journalists based outside the United States.

NYU Stern will select the final group of Fellows based on the documents submitted by applicants including the letter of motivation.

Applications for the Fellowship are open, and will close on April 20, 2025. Fellowship recipients will be contacted by late May 2025. To apply, please submit a CV, cover letter, and examples of your work here.

The sessions cover the fundamental economics and latest trends in climate economics. Prior training in economics is not required. Topics include:

How Climate Change is Roiling the Housing and Insurance Markets

Climate Risks to Financial Stability

How Climate Change is Altering Corporate Decision Making

The Economics of Climate Regulation + Carbon Markets

Biodiversity Loss as an Emerging Economic Risk

The Fast-Changing Economics of Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles

Emerging Regulatory and Legislative Trends in Climate Finance and Economics

Within these topics, we will consider urgent questions such as: Why are home insurance markets breaking down across the U.S.? What’s a carbon border adjustment mechanism and how might it affect global trade? How do cap-and-trade systems work? How do you calculate the Social Cost of Carbon, and why does it matter? What are the problems with carbon offsets, and how might they be solved? What are the economic and financial market effects of nature and biodiversity loss? How do the economics of renewable energy markets work?

Dan Fagin will lead a discussion of the challenges of reporting on the interactions between climate change and the economy.

There will be social events to allow for plenty of opportunities to get to know the other fellows and faculty in an informal setting.

BENEFIT:

The Fellowship is fully funded by NYU Stern, and there is no corporate or advocacy-group sponsorship:

All the costs of operating the program including all meals will be borne by NYU Stern. In addition, Fellows admitted to the program who reside outside the New York Metro Area will receive a $2,000 stipend to cover travel and accommodation costs; those residing inside the New York Metro Area will receive a  $1,000 stipend. Depending on your residency status, the Fellowship payment may be subject to tax withholding. Please see here for details.

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