One of the most effective and successful things we’ve done in the past few years at WKU Student Publications is launch our fellowship program. Through these fellowships, we put promising students into newsrooms and an agency for 10-12 weeks during the summer for internships that are tailored to help each student grow specific skills.
Our fellowships are 100 percent funded by alumni and friends of the College Heights Herald and the Talisman along with our partner organizations. The fellowships award the students cash stipends equivalent to $300 for each week they’re working, and are issued at the beginning of the fellowship so they can cover their expenses. Because this is an educational experience, the stipends we issue through the Student Publications Fellowship Fund in the WKU Foundation go fully to the students.
The fellowships are exceptional experiences that help our students grow in many ways. Fellowships helped six of our past seven Herald editors build skills to lead their newsroom.
This year’s eight fellowships will be at the Courier Journal, the Lexington Herald-Leader (2), the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting/Louisville Public Media, the Bowling Green Daily News, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, InsiderLouisville.com and C2 Strategic Communications.
Tuesday, Nov. 27, is Giving Tuesday. If you are so moved, our fellowship program sure could use your support.
If you are interested in helping at any level, go to WKU.edu and click on “Make a Gift” at the top of the page. On the page that pops up, scroll down to the dialog box and type in “Student Publications Fellowship Fund.” Put a checkmark by the search result and then click the gold NEXT box and follow the instructions from there.
Every dollar you put into the Student Publications Fellowship Fund is fully controlled by us here at Student Pubs. No one else can tap that fund for any purpose whatsoever. And we will use every penny of it to support — and, we hope, expand — this incredibly successful program.
Thank you for considering the Student Publications Fellowship Fund on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 27!