BoF Seeks Applicants for Fourth Annual Black Journalists Fellowship

The Enterprise of Vogue is launching the fourth iteration of the annual Subsequent Technology Black Journalists Fellowship, a six-month, part-time, paid reporting and writing programme designed to coach and publish aspiring Black writers within the subject of trend enterprise journalism.

Black tradition has an outsized affect on the style and sweetness companies, not solely in designing the merchandise, pictures and silhouettes that affect the patron at massive, but additionally setting traits and validating standing symbols that outline a cultural second. However behind-the-scenes, Black professionals are underrepresented and infrequently lack alternatives to hitch the expertise pipeline. The disparity extends to the media retailers that cowl the sector, an issue that the fellowship seeks to handle.

Former BoF fellows have gone on to hitch the corporate full-time, or proceed freelancing for the publication after the fellowship ends.

“Previous to becoming a member of BoF as a fellow, I used to be a rising senior in faculty and I had by no means coated trend from a enterprise lens,” stated Yola Mzizi, editorial apprentice at BoF and a former fellow. “Via the fellowship, I realized the required abilities to inform a compelling story for trade insiders backed with information, evaluation and deep reporting. These are abilities that set me up for my first position post-graduation within the BoF newsroom at the moment.”

Eligibility

The BoF Subsequent Technology Black Journalists Fellowship goals to assist Black writers with a passionate curiosity in trend, magnificence or enterprise journalism and the trade at massive who should not have an in depth observe document of printed work. Are you a retail employee with a aptitude for writing? Or a nurse who needs to carry your science schooling to writing about magnificence merchandise? This programme might be for you.

Black writers from any nation are eligible to use. This contains people of combined heritage. Candidates are welcome to proceed working full or part-time in different components of the style trade, or in different sectors, in the course of the fellowship. College schooling is just not required, neither is a proper resume.

Fellowship Particulars

How lengthy is the fellowship?

The programme will begin on July 1, 2024 and final six months.

Is the fellowship paid?

Sure, fellows can be paid. The programme doesn’t embrace advantages. Pre-approved reporting bills that align with our editorial insurance policies can be reimbursed.

What number of fellows are within the programme?

We plan to work with two fellows per six month interval.

Who chooses the fellows?

The fellows are chosen by members of BoF’s editorial staff.

How are functions judged?

The prime goal of the fellowship is to determine and prepare future journalists and create a expertise pipeline for BoF itself. Candidates should present a dedication to both the media or trend trade. Potential fellows will submit solutions to a collection of questions explaining why they wish to be part of the fellowship and share ideas on the sorts of tales they want to write. They may even ship by way of a writing pattern, which may be any written content material whether or not it’s a weblog submit, essay or thread on social media. Functions can be reviewed on the idea of the standard of their concepts and fervour for the enterprise of trend and sweetness, in addition to their profession ambitions. Candidates needn’t restrict their focus to range, inclusion or fairness points.

What sort of work will the fellows carry out?

Fellows will spend upwards of 4 hours per week within the first two months of the fellowship to coach and examine the fundamental ideas of journalism, from interviewing, sourcing, pitching to writing. Within the following 4 months, fellows will write as much as six or extra articles, which can embrace information tales and one or two longer-form options items, while attending weekly catch-ups with fellowship coordinator. These tales can be printed on BoF and would require upwards of 10 hours per week per story. The guy can also be required to be out there for each day correspondence with editors and the programme coordinator in the course of the story course of. Candidates can have part- or full-time jobs to which the schedule may be accommodating, however fellows are anticipated to fulfil the weekly time dedication.

What sort of expertise ought to the fellows count on?

Fellows can be paired with members of our editorial staff who will first present a radical curriculum on reporting fundamentals and undergo these classes with the fellows each week. Classes can be accompanied by weekly assignments. When it’s time for fellows to start reporting, the programme coordinator will information them by way of the method of pitching, reporting, writing, fact-checking and producing a narrative for publication.

Will BoF require fellows to observe BoF’s editorial coverage?

Sure, fellows might want to adhere to BoF’s editorial insurance policies, which embrace tips round reporting practices and conflicts of curiosity. Whereas we perceive fellows may fit in different components of the style and sweetness industries whereas collaborating within the programme, they’re prohibited from writing about any firm with which they’re employed in any capability or through which they’ve any monetary curiosity.

The best way to Apply

Please fill out the Typeform utility linked beneath by Might 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST. Whereas there aren’t any restrictions on size, we advocate that you simply goal for lower than 300 phrases per query. A handy option to reply every query is to kind out your response in a Phrase or Google doc, and paste it into the Typeform fields. Functions won’t be thought of except all of the questions are addressed. Formal resumes usually are not required.

1. Please briefly introduce your self to us.
2. What are your profession ambitions and the way have you ever been working towards it?
3. Why are you interested by the enterprise facet of the style and/or magnificence trade?
4. What’s crucial difficulty within the trend or magnificence industries at the moment that’s not already coated extensively by the media? Select one, be particular and clarify why the problem is critical to you.
5. The enhancing course of can typically be troublesome and demanding. Describe one occasion the place you obtained essential suggestions. Had been you in a position to incorporate it into the ultimate product? Or maybe with hindsight, is there something you’ll have accomplished in a different way?
6. What do you hope to get out of this fellowship?