Deadline: 31 May 2024
The Business of Fashion is launching the fourth iteration of the annual Next Generation Black Journalists Fellowship, a six-month, part-time, paid reporting and writing programme designed to train and publish aspiring Black writers in the field of fashion business journalism.
Black culture has an outsized influence on the fashion and beauty businesses, not only in designing the products, images and silhouettes that influence the consumer at large, but also setting trends and validating status symbols that define a cultural moment. But behind-the-scenes, Black professionals are underrepresented and often lack opportunities to join the talent pipeline. The disparity extends to the media outlets that cover the sector, a problem that the fellowship seeks to address.
Fellows will spend upwards of four hours a week in the first two months of the fellowship to train and study the basic principles of journalism, from interviewing, sourcing, pitching to writing. In the following four months, fellows will write up to six or more articles, which will include news stories and one or two longer-form features pieces, whilst attending weekly catch-ups with fellowship coordinator. These stories will be published on BoF and will require upwards of 10 hours per week per story. The fellow is also required to be available for daily correspondence with editors and the programme coordinator during the story process. Candidates can have part- or full-time jobs to which the schedule can be accommodating, but fellows are expected to fulfil the weekly time commitment.
Fellows will be paired with members of the editorial team who will first provide a thorough curriculum on reporting fundamentals and go through these lessons with the fellows every week. Lessons will be assignments accompanied by weekly. When it’s time for fellows to begin reporting, the programme coordinator will guide them through the process of pitching, reporting, writing, fact-checking and producing a story for publication. Fellows will be paid. The programme does not include benefits. Pre-approved reporting expenses that align with our editorial policies will be reimbursed.
Eligibility Criteria
- The BoF Next Generation Black Journalists Fellowship aims to support Black writers with a passionate interest in fashion, beauty or business journalism and the industry at large who do not have an extensive track record of published work. Are you a retail worker with a flair for writing? Or a nurse who wants to bring your science education to writing about beauty products? This programme could be for you.
- Black writers from any country are eligible to apply. This includes individuals of mixed heritage. Applicants are welcome to continue working full or part-time in other parts of the fashion industry, or in other sectors, during the fellowship. University education is not required, nor is a formal resume.
For more information, visit BOF.
