IWMF Opens Applications for the 2027 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship

Applications have opened for the 2027 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, an international journalism program organized by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) that supports women and nonbinary journalists reporting on human rights and social justice issues. The fellowship honors the legacy of Elizabeth Neuffer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The Boston Globe who was killed in Iraq in 2003 while covering the war.

The program offers a six-month academic and professional opportunity in the United States designed to strengthen reporting skills and deepen knowledge of human rights journalism. Fellows spend the first part of the program conducting research and attending courses at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The fellowship then continues in New York City, where the selected journalist undertakes a newsroom experience with a major media outlet, typically The New York Times.

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is open to women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming journalists from any country who have at least three years of professional journalism experience. Applicants may work in print, broadcast, or digital media, either as staff reporters or freelancers. Because the fellowship takes place in the United States and involves academic and newsroom participation, applicants must also demonstrate strong English-language proficiency to fully engage with the program.

In addition to the academic and reporting components, fellows participate in seminars, networking opportunities, and professional events designed to connect them with journalists, editors, and human rights experts. The program aims to support journalists whose work focuses on issues such as social justice, conflict, human rights violations, and accountability reporting.

The fellowship provides financial support to help participants complete the program. Selected fellows receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, along with accommodation in Cambridge and New York City, round-trip airfare to the United States, and health insurance for the duration of the fellowship.

Applicants are required to submit a résumé or curriculum vitae, a statement of interest outlining their reporting goals, two professional work samples related to human rights or social justice topics, and letters of recommendation. The selection process typically includes an evaluation of applicants’ journalistic achievements and their commitment to public-interest reporting.

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is widely recognized as one of the leading international opportunities for journalists focusing on human rights reporting. By combining academic research with newsroom experience, the program aims to strengthen investigative and international reporting while continuing the legacy of Neuffer’s work documenting injustice around the world.

Reference –

The IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship 2027 for Women Journalists Worldwide (Fully Funded to the United States)