The Ira A. Lipman Fellowship, offered by Columbia University’s Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights, supports significant reporting projects on civil and human rights issues. This non-residential fellowship provides access to the university's Journalism School resources and libraries. Fellows are required to complete a 5,000-word story or series within one year of their selection, addressing topics like voting rights, police use of force, employment discrimination, human trafficking, or related areas. Two fellowships, each awarding $10,000, are available for the 2025 cycle.
Applications open on November 15, 2024, and must be submitted by January 17, 2025. Eligibility is limited to full-time staff journalists with U.S.-based news agencies, magazines, or online outlets, as well as independent journalists with a confirmed commitment from a publication to run their work. Freelancers must provide proof of a publication agreement when applying.
Applicants must submit a resume, an 800-word project proposal, and two letters of recommendation. Submissions can be emailed in Word or PDF format to iralipmanfellowship@columbia.edu or mailed to Pulitzer Hall at Columbia University. The fellowship also involves editorial and reporting guidance, with structured deadlines for project outlines and drafts.
Fellows may be invited to Columbia’s campus to present their work publicly and may also lecture, mentor, or advise students upon mutual agreement. While the fellowship does not require relocation, it includes travel reimbursement for New York-based presentations and events, pending prior approval.
The fellowship recipients will be announced approximately one month after the application deadline. Throughout the fellowship year, the Lipman Center will offer support in research and reporting, including facilitating access to Columbia’s libraries. This program provides an opportunity for journalists to delve deeply into critical civil and human rights issues and bring these stories to wider audiences.
