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The Power of a Fellowship
James R. Bettinger
Professional journalism fellowships began at Stanford more than 35 years ago with this premise: "In this day of atomic physics, DNA, cross-cultural politics, civil rights campaigns, civil disobedience, urban renewal, new understandings of delinquency and mental illness, and economic and social development coupled with transfer of power in two-thirds of the world - in this kind of situation, a newspaper can hardly get along with the same kind of reporter it called for 60 years ago or even twenty years ago." Those words ring as true today as they did then, and a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University provides the kind of sabbatical education that journalists and news organizations crave - and need. The universe of journalism has expanded since the mid-'60s, and so has ours: besides print journalists, we welcome broadcasters and online journalists. Besides reporters, we welcome editors, photographers, producers, and more. Besides U.S. journalists, we welcome those from throughout the world. For the journalist who wins one, a Knight Fellowship is a respite from deadlines, but it's far more: It provides the foundation for a superb second half of a career. News organizations reap the benefits of the broader and deeper knowledge that Fellows return with. And fellowships improve the overall quality of news and analysis that reaches the public - a goal that all can endorse. Some 700 people have been professional journalism fellows at Stanford. We're proud of the work they've done, and we stand ready to help about 20 more outstanding journalists each year. Maybe you're one of them. Jim Bettinger |
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