Apply by Monday for Rural Computer-Assisted Reporting fellowship to Investigative Reporters & Editors Bootcamp

Monday, May 8 is the deadline for rural jouralists to apply for free tuition at the Data Journalism Bootcamp of Investigative Reporters & Editors Aug. 7-11 in Columbia, Missouri.

Established by IRE member Daniel Gilbert in 2011, this fellowship is for reporters at small news organizations pursuing data-driven investigative stories that provide a public service for people in rural communities. The fellowship is offered in conjunction with the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky (which publishes The Rural Blog). The goal of the fellowship is to foster investigative reporting in rural areas by assisting small news organizations that lack the resources to send reporters to an IRE data journalism bootcamp.

The fellowship is open to U.S.-based professional journalists working for:

• a newspaper with circulation fewer than 40,000 with a significant rural audience
• a television or radio station outside the top 100 Nielsen markets with a significant rural audience
• a nonprofit news organization with demonstrated rural coverage and readership
• freelance journalists who have: a clearly defined project with rural impact; a small, rural news organization committed to publishing the story; and who get most of their income by producing independent journalism.

The fellowship includes registration (up to $1,100 value), a travel stipend ($500) and a one-year IRE membership or renewal ($70 value).

Applicants must have a LinkedIn page or a link to their resume; links to two clips showcasing their best investigative and public-service work; a letter describing an investigation you’re working on and the data skills you need to pull it off; a letter from a supervisor or other appropriate person supporting attendance at the training. The letter should include why you are deserving of the fellowship.

To apply, go here. If you would like to contribute to this fellowship, you can donate through IRE’s online donation form and indicate the name of the fund in the form.