SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR JOURNALISTS TO TAKE COLLEGE COURSES IN RELIGION
By Joy Junction (11/15/05)
The Religion Newswriters Association is inviting applicants for its Lilly Scholarships in Religion program, which provides full-time journalists with up to $5,000 to cover the cost of college tuition, books, registration fees, parking and other costs.
According to a news release from the Religion Newswriters Association (RNA), the scholarships can be used at any accredited college, university, seminary or similar institution. Journalists can take any course they choose as long as it is in the field of religion.
Journalists previously awarded scholarships, the RNA news release stated, have taken courses covering a wide variety of issues including Islamic movements, church history, religion and violence, Japanese Buddhism and evangelism.
"This scholarship turned me from curious to informed. Before my class, I saw church history as interesting but not essential to religion editing. I've changed my mind," said Matthew Strozier, a reporter with The Stamford Advocate, in the news release.
Jan.1 2006 is the next deadline for scholarship applications, which are reviewed quarterly by a committee of award-winning journalists. Additional scholarship application deadlines will be April 1, July 1, and Oct. 1, 2006.
Scholarships must be used within three academic quarters of their award date, and only full time journalists working in the general circulation news media are eligible. A total of $100,000 is available for distribution this year, the news release stated.
All journalists—including reporters, editors, designers, copy editors, editorial writers, news directors, researchers and producers—are eligible, regardless of whether or not they cover religion.
According to the news release, the Religion Newswriters Association is the world's only journalism association for people who write about religion in the mainstream news media. The scholarships are offered through its non-profit arm, the Religion Newswriters Foundation, with funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Complete information about the Lilly Scholarships in Religion is available at www.religionwriters.com
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