Apply for BuzzFeed Emerging Writers Fellowship

Enter this fellowship as a promising writer and become a force to be reckoned with. 

With the mission of diversifying the broader media landscape by investing in the next generation of necessary voices, BuzzFeed's Emerging Writers Fellowship is designed to give writers of great promise the support, mentorship, and experience necessary to take a transformative step forward in their careers. 

During the four-month program, the writers in this fellowship will benefit from career mentorship and editorial guidance while also receiving financial support. The learning process must be financially viable for emerging writers if it is intended to open the gates to writers traditionally locked out of opportunities in media. 

These writers will focus on personal essay writing, cultural reportage, and profiles. During their time in fellowship, writers will be expected to pitch, report, and write with the added benefit of writing workshops, panel discussions with editors and writers from throughout the industry, and assigned readings. Mentorship within the program will focus on teaching writers how to thrive as freelancers as well as on staff at media organizations; this mentorship will hopefully continue well after the fellowship itself is concluded. 

Ideal candidates for this program will have ambitious ideas and a proven desire to publish work that creates an impact on cultural conversations. The product of the fellowship will be published by BuzzFeed. The writers selected for the fellowship will work with BuzzFeed News' senior editorial staff and be based in New York. Fellows will receive a stipend of $12,000. 

Application Procedure: 

Please submit the following materials by Oct. 1, 2015, as attachments or links to  emergingwritersfellowship@buzzfeed.com. Applications will be considered by a committee of BuzzFeed editors and respected writers and editors from across the industry. Writers accepted into the fellowship will be notified in November; the fellowship will begin the first week of January 2016. The fellowship is a full-time position. Current and former BuzzFeed employees may not apply. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. 

Application Materials: 

1. Résumé or CV. 

2. Five articles, essays, or blog posts you feel are representative of your best work. 

3. Statement of purpose (3-5 pages in length): Please explain in detail, in separate sections. 

a. If given this opportunity, what are 3-5 reported stories/personal essays you would pursue? 

b. How do these stories reflect your drive and personal mission? 

c. Give 3-5 examples of cultural reporting or personal essays from contemporary writers who have had an impact on your work. 

d. Why are you qualified and capable of doing work others haven't or can't? 

e. What support do you need to take a step forward in your career? What aspects of writing and cultural reporting are you eager to learn more about? 

4. Three letters of recommendation: Please have your references email their letters directly to  emergingwritersfellowship@buzzfeed.com using the subject line "Candidate's Last Name Reference." Your references should attest to your standout potential, work ethic, and ability to pursue ambitious ideas and make an impact on cultural conversations. 

5. The contact information (phone/email) of three references.