The Program in Journalism considers funding requests from journalism minors for the following opportunities. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee of faculty and journalists from the Humanities Council until the deadline on May 15, 2026.
Independent Internships in Journalism
The Program in Journalism will consider funding requests for up to $3,000 for expenses associated with a summer internship in journalism, publishing, and editing, in both print and digital media. This funding is open to journalism minors only.
Internships must take place in a recognized organization for six to eight weeks. Submit an application through the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline on May 15, 2026.
Travel Policy: Internship opportunities must be conducted in accordance with the University’s Permitted Travel Policy. Review this policy carefully to determine any requirements you need to fulfill before or during University-related travel.
Post-Project Requirement: Grant recipients are required to submit a two-page report after their internship.
John McPhee ’53 Awards for Summer Projects in Independent Journalism
John McPhee ’53 Awards for Summer Projects in Independent Journalism are meant to recognize promising student journalists and to help underwrite the cost of long-form, nonfiction writing projects of at least six weeks in duration. The Program in Journalism will consider funding requests for up to $5,000 for expenses associated with a proposed independent project. This funding is open to journalism minors only.
Independent projects must take place in consultation with an advisor and for at least six weeks (typically eight weeks). Submit an application through the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline on May 15, 2026.
Application components
In the documents section of your SAFE application, upload the following:
- An official transcript confirming that the applicant has completed at least one journalism course at Princeton;
- A résumé or CV;
- Two journalism writing samples (published or class work);
- A proposed budget outlining specifically how the applicant would expect to spend the award funds (include living expenses, if appropriate);
- The name of one (or more) reference;
- The name of at least one member of the Princeton faculty who will advise the applicant on the project from inception to completion;
- A letter of commitment from the applicant’s faculty advisor, confirming that the advisor will regularly video conference with the applicant during the reporting and writing of the project;
- A proposal letter of no more than 1,000 words. Subjects that would be appropriate to touch on in the letter include:
- The general topic matter the proposed article would cover, and why the subject would be of interest to readers and of importance to society;
- The maximum story that reasonably could result from the applicant’s efforts and, if unforeseen challenges arise, the minimum story the applicant is confident would result;
- Human sources the applicant would seek to interview, and why;
- Primary documents and data the applicant would seek to gather and review, and why; and,
- Where the resulting article might be published and the size of the publication’s readership.
Travel Policy: This funding will be awarded only for independent projects that will be conducted in accordance with the University’s Permitted Travel Policy. Review this policy carefully to determine any requirements you need to fulfill before or during University-related travel.
Post-Project Requirement: Grant recipients are required to submit a two-page report after their internship.
