FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 28, 2012 Contact: Kathleen Baca,Director of Communications
(206) 273-7381  kbaca@caseygrants.org

 

Marguerite Casey Foundation Announces
2013 Journalism Fellowship and Scholarship Program

Seattle, WA – Marguerite Casey Foundation is pleased to announce its Fellowship and Scholarship Program on Poverty. The program, which aims to increase the public’s and policymakers’ understanding of poverty through journalism, consists of two components: fellowships (2) for professional journalists and scholarships (2) for students of journalism.

Fellows and scholars selected will write at least one in-depth story or a short series from the point of view of families living in poverty and illustrating how language, culture and race influence public attitudes and policy about poor people.

“Poverty is not an incurable disease or a state of mind,” said Luz Vega-Marquis, President and CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation. “We believe that poverty is the outcome of policy and public attitudes which has resulted in nearly 50 million people in America living in poverty.”

“Journalists can have a significant impact on changing the public narrative about poor people and document how public policy can work for or against people. It is our hope that these fellowships and scholarships will help put the issues of families and poverty front and center in the public debate and elevate the voices of families in policymaking,” said Vega-Marquis.

The 2013 Journalism Fellowship is open to print, electronic and new media journalists with a minimum of three years of professional experience. Each fellow will receive a stipend of $4,000 and up to $1,000 for travel expenses. 

The 2013 Journalism Scholarship is open to print, electronic and new media collegiate journalists. Students will not be required to leave their academic studies. Each recipient will receive a stipend of $1,000 and up to $800 for travel expenses.

Applications for the 2013 fellowships and scholarships are due to Marguerite Casey Foundation by May 24, 2013. To learn more about the Fellowship Program on Poverty, visit: http://caseygrants.org/2013-journalism-fellowship-and-scholarship-award

Marguerite Casey Foundation is a national, independent grantmaking foundation dedicated to helping low-income families strengthen their voice and mobilize their communities.