journalism awards & scholarships
The Department of Journalism awards scholarships based on superior performance, financial need and academic record. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $15,000 and are given to majors considering careers in journalism. Scholarships are available in print, broadcast, public relations, photojournalism and for graduate students.
In addition to Department awards, ongoing scholarships are sponsored by the Radio-Television News Directors Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and a number of other professional organizations, national foundations and private donors.
Several of the scholarships offered through the Department are in memory of CSUN journalism alumni and students. Scholarships are funded by donations from friends, family, colleagues, professional media organizations and alumni.
A variety of scholarships are available to journalism students through the Asian American Journalism Association, the Black Public Relations Society, the Hispanic Public Relations Society and the California Chicano News Media Association.
scholarship applications
SPRING 08 JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
The Department of Journalism announces the availability of ten scholarships & awards. Winners will be announced in May 2008. The scholarship criteria are listed below. All applicants must be CSUN Journalism or Mass Communication majors.
Click on the scholarships below to download a pdf of
the application forms. Application forms
are also available in the Journalism Office (MZ 210).
THE FLIP WILSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – $ 17,722
Named for Flip Wilson, the late African-American comedian who often appeared
on prime time television in the 1970s, this scholarship provides money for
a senior journalism major’s tuition, room, board, books and fees for the school
year. Applicants must be a junior, have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit
a 2,500-3,000 word critical essay about Flip Wilson’s contributions to comedy
or television. Applicants must be enrolled in fall 2008 and spring 2009.
UPDATE: The Flip Wilson Memorial Scholarship deadline has been extended to Thursday, May 1, 2008.
CHEVRON OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT AWARD - $750
This scholarship recognizes the best public relations
effort during summer or fall 2007 or spring 2008. Applicants will
be judged on a two-page essay and portfolio containing
samples of public relations presentations in a class
or during an internship. The competition is open to
all undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants
need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
HEARST OUTSTANDING BROADCAST NEWS AND IN-DEPTH REPORTING AWARD- $750
This award recognizes the best broadcast reporting of hard news stories
during summer or fall 2007 or spring 2008 in any of the journalism department
broadcast news media--KCSN News, Valley View, Noticias del Valle or On
Point. The competition is open to all undergraduate or graduate
students.Applicants need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
AGNESS UNDERWOOD OUTSTANDING PRINT REPORTING AWARD - $750
Named for a long-time inspiration to Los Angeles journalists, this annual
award recognizes the best reporting from summer or fall 2007 or spring
2008 in any of the journalism department print news media. The
competition is open to all graduate and undergraduate students. Applicants
need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
OUTSTANDING PHOTOJOURNALISM STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP - $500
This scholarship recognizes the best photojournalism during summer or
fall 2007 or spring 2008 in the Department of Journalism. Selection will
be based on portfolio and financial need. The competition is open
to juniors or seniors. Applicants need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
ROY S. AKERS MAGAZINE JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP - $500
This scholarship recognizes the best magazine journalism
during summer or fall 2007 or spring 2008 in the Department of Journalism.
The competition is open to juniors or seniors who want to work as magazine
journalists. Selection will be based on financial need and work done
on a magazine (either paper or electronic), or significant stories
written for a newspaper. Applicants need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
JOURNALISM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP - $500
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior
or senior with an interest in a career in journalism
or a journalism-related field. Applicants must submit
a brief essay detailing their professional and
personal goals and how studying journalism will help
achieve these goals. Applicants must have at
least 12 units remaining at the end of the spring
2008 semester and enroll at CSUN in fall 2008.
JOANN DESANTIS ADVOCACY AWARD - $250
This award honors Joann DeSantis, who was an administrative assistant
in the journalism department for 19 years. It will be presented
to a CSUN journalism major who has worked to improve the lives of others
through volunteerism. Students may be nominated by someone or apply
themselves. Applicants need not be enrolled in fall 2008.
MICHAEL EMERY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $500
This scholarship honors the late Dr. Michael Emery, a member of the
journalism department's faculty for more than 26 years. The scholarship
will be awarded annually to a graduate student studying journalism history,
international news media or mass media criticism, three areas of special
interest to Prof. Emery.
STEVEN FISHMAN SCHOLARSHIP - $250
Supported by friends, family and colleagues, this award is given in
memory of Steven Fishman, a CSUN journalism graduate who died of cancer.The
scholarship will be awarded to a graduating student who has shown strength
in broadcasting sports, news or other programming and needs financial
assistance to get started in a broadcasting career.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 5 P.M., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008, IN MANZANITA HALL 210 (excluding Flip wilson scholarship).
All scholarship recipients must be enrolled during the Spring 2008 semester.