Category Archives: Awards

      
 
 
 
 

Knight Center Documentary Grant competition for 2024

The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism will award up to 3 grants of $3,500 each to support the making of environment-related documentaries (video, audio or other digital media) by MSU faculty-student teams.

Here are the essentials

Deadline for submission: February 16, 2024, at 5 p.m.
Decisions to be announced approximately March 8, 2024.
Open to faculty and students from all departments at MSU.
Maximum award: $3,500 for 1 year.

These must be documentaries, not public service announcements or advocacy pieces.
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism must be credited for underwriting the project.
The Knight Center will be entitled to use your documentary, including linking on our website and presentation in classes, workshops and other activities.
Allowable expenses include travel, essential equipment, supplies, pay for students and festival & competition entry fees. All expenditures must comply with MSU procedures and rules. Any equipment purchased remains the property of MSU. Grant funds must be expended with one year from the date of approval by MSU Contracts and Grants.

What to Submit:

  • Working title
    • Medium: video, audio or other digital media
    • Project summary (200 words maximum): What compelling story will you tell?
    • Estimated timeline (Be realistic)
    • Most likely audiences: Whom do you expect to watch or listen to it?
    • For video & audio documentaries, what length do you expect the final version to be?
    • Distribution plans: How will you disseminate your product?
    • Budget plan: How do you plan to spend the money?
    • Team members:
    • Faculty: name, rank and department or school and project role, with abbreviated CV
    • Students: name, year, major and project role, with resume
    • Potential problems and obstacles
    • Links to any relevant projects by team members or bring a CD to the Knight Center office at 382 Com Arts Building by the deadline

Email questions to Eric Freedman, Director, freedma5@msu.edu
Email submissions to Barbara Miller, mille384@msu.edu

MSU students can get paid scholarships, internships and jobs reporting on social justice

L.A. Times reporter and MSU J-School alum Tony Briscoe explains how MSU J-School students who contribute to diversity can  get paid right now while gaining experience and improving their resume and portfolio.

And he explains how his reporting in Los Angeles and Chicago on the intersection of social justice  and the environment got him in on the hottest story around. See Tony here and read on for more information about how you can, too.

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Knight Center student wins Iceland reporting trip

By Finn Hopkins

Recent MSU graduate Cassidy Hough (far right) poses alongside other 2023 Storyfest winners.
Credit: Alexandra Daley-Clark/Lindblad Expeditions

A Michigan State University student recently won a climate change reporting trip to Iceland in a national journalism contest.

Cassidy Hough won first place in the “Best Use of Science or Data” category of the competition with a report on perennial grains for the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism’s Food Fix podcast.

Judges recently announced the winners of the annual national Storyfest competition for exemplary work covering stories on the environment, sustainability and climate change.

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Knight Center receives Mott Foundation grant to increase diversity of environmental reporters

A lack of diverse and inclusive staff can hinder the ability of a news organization to explain environmental challenges and solutions. In Michigan, the situation is compounded by the need for more and better Great Lakes and environmental reporting by emerging journalists.

The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism looks to address both concerns through a new partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Underwritten by a $150,000 grant from Mott, the two-year project will build on the assets of the two organizations through the creation of internships, reporting positions and scholarships for tuition and professional conferences. Continue reading