News

Oct 27

The Newmark-Military Veterans in Journalism Fellowship Program

By Military Veterans in Journalism Career Opportunities, News

Two military veterans will be awarded nine-month fellowships in nonprofit newsrooms after graduating with master’s degrees in journalism from the City University of New York (CUNY), thanks to a grant awarded by Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

The Newmark Veterans in Journalism Fellowship Program is a partnership between Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ), the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.

MVJ and Newmark J-School will recruit veterans to attend the school’s 16-month M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism or M.A. in Journalism with a bilingual concentration.

The veterans will be hired by newsrooms that are members of INN — a national network of nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations. The fellowships will allow these individuals to build portfolios of journalistic work and form a network of peers.

Applications for the program open in the Fall of 2021, and those veterans selected will start attending the program starting in the Fall of 2022.

Any veteran that wishes to apply for this Fellowship, please fill the form to send your inquiry. You can use the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zEhwMJ0xQ9Ue5HzZPv8tBtzZ6NbTdwWpHSpvxIcPyV4/edit?usp=sharing

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.mvj.network

About the Institute for Nonprofit News

The Institute for Nonprofit News strengthens and supports 300 independent news organizations in a new kind of media network: nonprofit, nonpartisan and dedicated to public service. From local news to in-depth reporting on pressing global issues, INN’s members tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy. Learn more at inn.org.

About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, founded in 2006, has become nationally recognized for its innovative programs. The only public graduate journalism school in the northeastern U.S., it prepares students from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism. As the profession rapidly reinvents itself for the digital age, the Newmark J-School is at the forefront of equipping the next generation of journalists with the tools to find stories and tell them effectively – using print, broadcast, visual, interactive, and social media. The school offers two master’s degree programs: a Master of Arts in Journalism and the nation’s first M.A. in Engagement Journalism. We also feature an M.A. in Journalism with a unique bilingual (Spanish and English) component. All of our master’s degree programs include a paid summer internship.

Oct 24

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Two military vets to be award 9-month fellowships in nonprofit newsrooms

By MVJ News

NEW YORK – Two military veterans will be awarded nine-month fellowships in nonprofit newsrooms after graduating with master’s degrees in journalism from the City University of New York (CUNY), thanks to a grant awarded by Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

“Veterans are vastly under-represented in journalism despite our nation being at war for more than 20 years,” said Zack Baddorf, a Navy veteran turned journalist who is now MVJ’s executive director. “This partnership creates a unique opportunity for two military vets to get a jump start into the news world where their lived experience and expertise are desperately needed.”

MVJ and Newmark J-School will recruit veterans to attend the school’s 16-month M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism or M.A. in Journalism with a bilingual concentration.

“We’re proud to ensure that our school represents the diversity of our nation,” said Jeff Jarvis, director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism and the J-School’s Leonard Tow Professor of Journalism Innovation.. “Once they graduate, we know they will bring their perspective to diversify the outlook of newsrooms, letting veterans’ voices be heard.”

The veterans will be hired by newsrooms that are members of INN — a national network of nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations. The fellowships will allow these individuals tol build portfolios of journalistic work and form a network of peers.

“Nonprofit news is a growing and mission-oriented field,” said Sara Shahriari, director of leadership and talent development at INN. “This fellowships program strengthens our member newsrooms’ ability to provide nuanced coverage of military and veterans affairs while also launching veterans into a new phase of their careers: public service journalism.”

Craig Newmark Philanthropies has previously provided support to MVJ in partnership with the Poynter Institute with a fellowship program and online educational training.

“Veterans working in the media have unique life experiences and skills that strengthen our media,” said Craig Newmark, founder and customer service representative of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and craigslist. “Our democracy will ultimately be strengthened by having more vets in our nation’s newsrooms.”

MVJ will also hold a five-day workshop as part of this partnership.

Applications for the program open in the Fall of 2021, and those veterans selected will start attending the program starting in the Fall of 2022.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

About the Institute for Nonprofit News

About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

Oct 21

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CNN’s Jake Tapper kicks off inaugural #MVJ2021 convention

By MVJ #MVJ2021, News

The two-day virtual event advocates for hiring and promoting more veterans in the newsroom

by Allie Delury

Military Veterans in Journalism kicked off its first annual convention in virtual style Thursday with a keynote speech from CNN’s Jake Tapper – a notable advocate for military troops – to discuss the diversity of experience veterans bring with them into newsrooms.

“Veterans deserve to have their stories heard, especially as America’s longest war in Afghanistan came to its unceremonious end,” said Tapper, before speaking about his own personal experience with war correspondence.

Currently serving on the advisory board for MVJ, Tapper introduced the inaugural conference by highlighting CNN’s involvement in veteran newsroom placement, proudly announcing that a former Army officer will be working on his daily show “The Lead.”

“Deadlines in uniform are a lot tougher than the deadline for my show at 4 o’clock,” he said.

Tapper outlined various attractive traits that veterans bring to newsroom, to include their deep-rooted government and military sources, the ability to work in austere environments, a knack for timeliness and strong work ethic, and a desire to bring objectivity to the newsroom “having been part of an apolitical arm of foreign and domestic defense.”

“You know war better than any TV anchor, no matter how many times he’s been embedded, ever will,” he added.

Following his remarks, the conversation continued with input from Brianna Keilar, anchor of CNN’s morning show “New Day,” who spent a large part of her career shedding light on military families in hopes of bridging the military-civilian divide.

“Our civilian audience is so incredibly curious about the military, but there is a difference between having empathy and feeling sorry for them. And that’s something that I think is an important needle to thread when you’re telling these stories,” she said.

Other notable speakers included Duffel Blog founder Paul Szoldra, whose work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, MSNBC, CBS News, USA Today, and ABC News. During the panel discussion, he spoke about cracking the code of getting into a newsroom and battling the many misconceptions about veterans and the military.
“Don’t go in with a chip on your shoulder – no one owes you anything just because you served in the military,” said Szoldra. “You have to come in and prove yourself just like anybody else.”

In the virtual audience was a mix of current and aspiring journalists, photographers, podcasters and freelancers who were tuning in from around the U.S. Of those was Dan Gorman, a licensed master social worker who previously interned and worked at Last Week Tonight, Al Jazeera, Hearst Digital Media, and Morgan Spurlock’s Warrior Poets.

“It was very, very difficult to break into a full-time position. Hopefully events like tonight help change that,” he said.

Reacting to Jake Tapper’s keynote speech, Gorman said he “hit the nail on the head” when speaking about the role of veterans in news.

“Veterans can and should tell our story journalistically. It’s not enough to say thank you for our service — give us the tools and platforms to tell what that service looked like,” said Gorman.

The two-day event will consist of a career fair, breakout sessions focusing on investigative and niche reporting, followed by a virtual happy hour to connect with other veterans in news.

Oct 07

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Free tickets are available for the #MVJ2021 Convention

By MVJ #MVJ2021, News

The inaugural Military Veterans in Journalism convention is scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22, and tickets are free thanks to a generous sponsorship donation.

The convention will feature emerging voices in news media and world-class journalists presenting live information you can’t get anywhere else.

Jake Tapper will give the keynote address, discussing the value of putting veterans to work in America’s newsrooms. New and legacy media organizations will interview veterans at the career fair, trailblazing reporters will showcase their work, and news media visionaries like LaShara Bunting and Jeff Jarvis will participate in panels and present live webinars.

Conventions like this usually cost quite a lot of money to attend, and MVJ initially sold tickets for $40. But last week, JMA Solutions donated enough money so that everyone can come together to celebrate newsroom diversity completely free of charge. The convention is built for networking with professionals, and anyone with an interest in newsroom diversity is welcome to attend.

Sep 30

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NPR selects military vet as part of its 2021 internship cohort

By Military Veterans in Journalism News

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce that NPR has selected military veteran Jeff Dean to join its 2021 fall cohort of interns.

Jeff Dean served as a medevac crew chief for nine years in the U.S. Army before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Oregon. Since graduation in 2019, Jeff has worked in West Africa helping to investigate human rights abuses and corruption. More recently, he has been working as a stringer for the Associated Press, AFP, Reuters and Bloomberg, covering breaking news, sports and politics in Ohio and Kentucky.

“NPR is an excellent media organization where I’ll have so many opportunities to learn and grow,” Dean said. Jeff will be working with the Business Desk team for the first half of the program as a reporter and researcher and will then switch to working with the team that programs and curates NPR’s digital platforms including our homepage, mobile apps, smart speakers, social media and newsletters for the second half of the program.

“We are very excited to have Jeff join our team and bring his skills not just as a military veteran but also as a journalist,” said Pallavi Gogoi, NPR’s chief business editor. “His perspective will be invaluable.”

Although he has primarily worked as a visual journalist, Dean said he is excited to strengthen his reporting by learning data analytics and having the opportunity to find, research and produce stories with NPR.

Dean is the second veteran to receive the coveted internship position.

“We’re incredibly grateful that NPR is including military veterans in its internship program,” said Russell Midori, MVJ founder and president. “We need more outlets to step up in diversifying their newsrooms so that their staff is reflective of the diversity of our country.”

“This collaboration with MVJ brings to NPR a critical voice and the valuable perspective of someone who, like so many Americans, has seen life through the lens of military service,” said Keith Woods, NPR’s Chief Diversity Officer. “We’re fortunate, through this fellowship, to be able to bring more of that perspective to our newsroom.”

May 24

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MVJ Hits 2 Year Mark

By MVJ News

Dear MVJ Members,

Military Veterans in Journalism recently turned two years old, and it has been an honor to advocate for you in our industry all this time. I’m writing today to personally thank you for being a member in our community and encourage you to go forth and do great journalism.

We founded this organization because we believe journalism is a service to the nation and we want to empower worthy citizens to carry it out. You have proved your commitment to the American people, and you deserve to follow your dreams to great achievement in news reporting.

The news needs us right now. Journalists are struggling in today’s combative public space to reach ever-growing communities who don’t trust “the media,” and your reputation for service and hard work makes you uniquely qualified to restore trust in this necessary institution. Democracy cannot survive without good reporters who have the skill and will to inform the people.

MVJ is in a strong position to advocate for veterans’ voices contributing to the local and national dialogue. I urge you to take full advantage of the career opportunities we have fought to bring you. Apply for our fellowships before the applications expire, join our private Facebook group, check out the skill-building videos and podcasts on our YouTube Page, and participate in our Mentorship Program. Keep reading our newsletters to sign up for great future opportunities, like our upcoming workshops and journeys through America’s newsrooms.

Now, I’d like to hear from you, if you don’t mind. Please reply to this email by telling me where you get your news. What is your favorite publication, digital outlet, or broadcast program? Also, in a few sentences, tell me if you have any ideas for what we can do to help you in your journalism journey.

Respectfully,
Russell Midori
MVJ President
917-588-4926

Apr 28

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Military Vets: Apply for Paid Journalism Fellowships!

By MVJ Career Opportunities, News

MVJ is excited to announce that we will be hosting seven paid fellowships lasting about six months each at the news room of your choice!

Four of the fellowships are funded thanks to generous support from the Knight Foundation, two of the fellowships are possible thanks to the generous support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the one fellowship is thanks to the generous support of the Wyncote Foundation.

Learn more and Apply

Deadline: June 11, 2021

Apr 15

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Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Military Veterans in Journalism To Provide Career Development Opportunities for Veterans in Journalism

By Devon Lancia Career Opportunities, News

Craig Newmark Philanthropies has awarded a $60,000 grant to Military Veterans in Journalism to improve access to journalism training and career development opportunities for veterans.

As part of the grant program, MVJ will partner with the Poynter Institute to provide access to over $20,000 of Poynter training course access to veterans at no cost. MVJ members who are early-career journalists, aspiring journalists or journalism students are all eligible to participate in these courses. Included in the course selections are some on broadcast, print and digital journalism techniques and best practices.

Two veterans will also be selected to participate in a six-month paid fellowship program at a newsroom of their choice as part of this new partnership. Fellows will be selected by a committee of established journalists, including Jake Tapper of CNN and Michael McCoy, U.S. Army veteran and award-winning photographer.

“We owe a lot to vets and their families, and we need to hear from them,” said Craig Newmark, founder of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and craigslist. “This initiative will really help.”

According to U.S. census data, only roughly 2% of media workers are veterans. “This program will allow us to bridge the gap between vets and media and help more vets break into the journalism industry to continue serving the public,” said Zack Baddorf, Navy veteran, co-founder and executive director of MVJ.

More information on these collaborative opportunities will be published by MVJ in the coming weeks on its blog.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Apr 13

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Military Vets: Apply for Free Online Poynter Institute Journalism Classes

By MVJ News, Resources

Since our founding in 2019, MVJ has done some awesome things for veterans in journalism. From a virtual career fair with the biggest names in media, to landing fellowship spots at NPR for our members, we are committed to delivering tangible results for our membership.

Our latest accomplishment: MVJ has secured more than $20,000 in Poynter Institute online courses for our members to take for free.

Made possible thanks to the generous support of the Craig Newmark Philanthropies, these courses will directly help our membership gain actionable skills that they can put to work immediately.

Poynter Institute has a treasure trove of training opportunities for journalists of every type. From courses focusing on how to become a better writer to courses on film and broadcast television, Poynter has it all

What this means for you:
You’ll have free access to some of Poynter’s popular courses. If you find these courses useful, we’ll find other ways to work with Poynter for even more training.

Here is the list:
Newsroom Readiness Certificate: Get ready for your first newsroom job by covering the basics of newsgathering, interviewing, media law, ethics and diversity

A Reporters’ Guide to Getting it Right: Learn how to secure accuracy and fairness in your reporting, well-before your deadline

MediaWise Fact-checking 101: Learn from tools and techniques you can use to fact-check information online and sort fact from fiction across social media platforms

TV News Toolbox for Educators: Bring duPont, Peabody and national Emmy award-winners from local and network news into your classroom with this collection of 38 microlearning activities

The Art of the Interview: How to find and court your story’s characters

Survive and Thrive in Freelance and Remote Work: Improve your effectiveness in your freelance solo act, side hustle or remote work environment

So how to start? Go here to create a free user account if you don’t already have one, and add up to three of these courses to your shopping cart.

Go HERE for the coupon code to access courses. If you’re not a member yet, please sign up.

Members can also apply through MVJ for a scholarship to some of Poynter’s limited-enrollment courses in 2021.

Those course are:

Poynter Aces Certificate in Editing: Six courses with six assessments: ideal for journalists looking to strengthen their understanding of the standards, essential skills and best practices of editing (normally $150)

Poynter ACES Advanced Editing Certificate: Two intensive training opportunities for experienced editors: a four-week online course that includes live online sessions, coaching, homework and discussion forums; and self-directed components include videos, readings, activities and assessments (normally $600)

Write Your Heart Out 2022: Uncover the powerful stories from your life and learn how to share them in ways that resonate with audiences during this four-week online course (normally $349)

Producer Project 2022: An eight-session, four-week online seminar that helps TV producers tell stronger stories and make tough calls on deadline (normally $499)

Apply for a scholarship to one of the above premium courses HERE

Lastly,

As part of our partnership with Poynter, Al Tompkins has agreed to host two courses valued at over $2,500 each. Al is a legend in broadcast journalism and has taught all over the world.

The two courses he will teach are:

Producing for TV News

Writing/Storytelling for Video

Both courses are free for members, so sign up today!

If you have any questions, please contact:

Rich Dolan
[email protected]

For customer support if you need assistance with the Poynter website or after you are enrolled in one of these courses, please contact:

Maria Jaimes
Poynter Customer Experience Supervisor
[email protected]

The MVJ staff hustles hard to create these opportunities for our members, so we really hope that you’ll take full advantage of what we have to offer. And we’re not stopping here. In the coming weeks, we’ll have even bigger news to share with y’all (paid fellowships!). Keep checking in to make sure you don’t miss it!

Apr 09

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Military Veterans in Journalism Becomes INN Member

By Devon Lancia News

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce it has joined the member network of the Institute for Nonprofit News, an organization that strengthens and supports more than 300 independent news organizations across the United States.

The Institute for Nonprofit News network brings together nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations in dedication to public service journalism. Members of the INN Network tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy. As a member of INN, MVJ will be able to develop sound business models and collaborations to support our goal of advancing diversity in America’s newsrooms through veteran inclusion.

MVJ joins INN as part of a group of 18 new members within the first quarter of 2021. Other new members include 10 news startups, 12 newsrooms increasing local and state news, five outlets focused on national news and one investigative newsroom based in Canada. For a full list of news organizations joining as part of this group, see the official INN announcement below.

INN welcomes 18 new members

Jan 21

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New opportunities for members! Check out NBCUniversal’s internships

By MVJ Career Opportunities, News

As you start your journey into media and journalism, internships give you valuable insight and experience that you’ll unlikely find elsewhere.

That’s why Military Veterans in Journalism highly recommends applying for these exciting opportunities (listed below) from NBCUniversal. Sophomores with a 3.0 or higher pursuing an associate, bachelor or graduate degree in an accredited program for the duration of the internship are qualified to apply.

NBCUniversal’s Summer 2021 Virtual Internship Program offers positions (application links below) for a variety of interests and career goals, and prepares you for work at a top-tier media outlet.

“It’s crucial you fill out the Google Form here and apply quickly! Opportunities at top-tier organizations like NBCU can be difficult to come by, and I want to see our members succeed.” – Zack Baddorf, MVJ Executive Director

Submit your application as quickly as possible for top consideration, and no later than Jan. 29. We will flag your application with NBCU because they want to ensure they have a diverse group of participants.

If working at NBCU sounds appealing, or you just want to learn more about the work environment and corporate culture, you can also sign up for their upcoming virtual information session Tuesday January 19 – Here You can Be Authentic – where you will hear firsthand accounts of employees of varying levels and backgrounds providing insight into their own experience with the intersection of career and identity. Sign up at the link and be there Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Thanks and good luck! As always, reach out if you have questions.

Jan 11

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MVJ Scholarship for Bitchin’ Writers Course

By MVJ Career Opportunities, News

The Bitchin’ Writers Course is an informal online class that teaches you how to pitch stories and sustain a career as a freelance journalist. The course normally costs $900 per person. However, Military Veterans in Journalism is offering a $700 scholarship to cover the cost down to $200 for two veterans.

According to Abby Lee Hood, the course designer and instructor:

“You’ll be delivered video content via my website and Facebook, get 1-on-1 calls, and participate in group calls. You can watch the content at your convenience, in a timeframe that works for you. Work through quickly or take your time. You’ll also be given action steps and homework to help you absorb the content and take steps to get results quickly. The FB group is a great place to network and ask questions, too. You’ll get continued support throughout.

We’ll meet once week on a small group call. You can ask questions to workshop problems you’re having, and we’ll look at pitches, ideas, stories, social media promotion—anything you need. I’ll also be available for one-on-one calls if you need them.

We’ll break our work down into into month-long focus areas:

Month ONE- Establish & learn the basics
Month TWO- Scale & grow
Month THREE- Promote yourself & diversify income”

Learn more about the course on Abby’s site.

Fill out this form to apply:

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Dec 30

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Adapt and Overcome: Video Journalism Workshop Kicks Off in Spring of 2021
By MVJ News

by Mark Payumo

The pandemic barely slowed Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) down, ending 2020 with sizable grants from generous foundations that allow MVJ to continue serving the needs of the veteran community with one simple goal in mind: to get more vets to work in journalism. MVJ’s video journalism workshop that is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2021 found a place in The Walton Family Foundation’s long-term vision for quality education in America, which will spearhead the sponsor of the workshop that will be attended by 10 military veterans. The University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media with support from FUJIFILM are also sponsoring the event.

Originally intended as an all-expense paid, 10-day workshop before COVID-19 that would have covered flights, lodging, food, and rental cars (to cover stories in and around Oxford, Mississippi), the workshop will now be conducted entirely online over the course of eight weeks, culminating in a film fest where a winning video will be selected for a prize—one of the judges will include Michael McCoy whose work was included in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Photos of 2020. FUJIFILM will provide and award an X-T4 camera kit valued at $2,199.95 to the winning video.

More than the high-profile entities and personalities coming together to make this workshop a reality, quality learning experience is the primary intention of the workshop that will equip the participants with this valuable skill in order to make them competitive in terms of what they actually bring to the table as they seek employment.

Setting them up for success is Duy Linh Tu of Columbia University, one of the most renowned professors in the field and author of Feature and Narrative Storytelling for Multimedia Journalists, the first text that truly focuses on the multimedia and documentary production techniques required by professional journalists. Alongside him teaching is Julian Lim, also a faculty member of Columbia University’s Journalism School. Julian is an Emmy-nominated documentary producer and co-founder and creative director of 511C Productions whose works have appeared on Bloomberg, Axios, Newsweek, and New York Magazine.

As the workshop’s Jan. 4 kickoff date draws near, MVJ is keen on posting updates across social media with a particular focus on promoting the veteran participants. One good starting point is on Facebook and LinkedIn. There are also other ways to support MVJ and the veteran community and it’s all about getting involved by becoming a member, mentoring a veteran, or volunteering. But if, say, you want to see meaningful impact for any potential dollar that you might want to put in, anyone can consider donating here and see MVJ in action bring in veteran energy, talent, grit, and dedication to work in America’s newsrooms.

Dec 27

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The Top 10 Military Veterans in Journalism of 2020
By Devon Lancia News

Military Veterans in Journalism is proud to announce our awardees for the Top Military Veterans in Journalism of 2020. This year has seen the need for good, accurate and in-depth reporting grow more and more critical with each passing day. MVJ wants to acknowledge the importance of that work and recognize some of the military veterans in journalism who have done it.

Our community is strong and this list shows just how strong. The stories submitted for this year’s Top Military Veterans in Journalism ranged from local beat news to international investigative work. They included journalists from local, national, and international outlets. The stories cover a range of topics. All of those aspects are represented in our final list. They are a credit to the broad and diverse community we are building.

All of these award winners have a common bond. They all served in our nation’s armed forces. Only 2 percent of our media workers are veterans, even though more than 7 percent of Americans have served in our military. This list is an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work done by these journalists. It’s also a chance to hold them up as an example. They are an example for what newsrooms around the country could have on their teams. They’re an example of where veterans that want to move into the field of journalism could go. Quite frankly, they’re doing amazing work.

Honorable Mention

Military Veterans in Journalism honors the work and courage of reporter and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Austin Tice.

In May 2012, Austin went to Syria as a freelance journalist. His coverage was used by the likes of The Washington Post, CBS, and other outlets. Later that year, just south of Damascus he was detained at a checkpoint. Five weeks later, a 43-second video emerged with the title, “Austin Tice is Alive.” It showed Austin being held by a group of unidentified armed men.

Military Veterans in Journalism strongly supports his family’s mission to bring him home safely.

Austin Tice, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is a freelance journalist who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria on August 14, 2012. He is an Eagle Scout and grew up dreaming of becoming an international correspondent for NPR. He completed two years of study at Georgetown University Law Center before going to Syria.

AUSTIN TICE

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The Winners

Andrew Dyer, a U.S. Navy veteran, has been a San Diego Union-Tribune military reporter since 2018. He previously worked for Voice of San Diego, the Daily Aztec, San Diego CityBeat, and the Southwestern Sun. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University-California State University.

ANDREW DYER

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Winning Story:
Racism, QAnon and ‘cold civil war’: Inside the 20,000-strong Defend East County Facebook group

Tawnell D. Hobbs, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is the national K-12 education reporter for The Wall Street Journal. She has spent more than 17 years covering education issues, ranging from student testing to financial disasters. Her story shines a light on the increased education disparity for Black and low-income students due to the pandemic.

TAWNELL HOBBS

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Winning Story:
‘Are They Setting My Children Up for Failure?’ Remote Learning Widens Education Gap.

Chris Jones, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is a freelance photojournalist focusing on digital and forensic investigative reporting to combat disinformation spread by American white supremacist groups. He’s covered the war in Afghanistan, as well as political and breaking news coverage in the United States.

CHRIS JONES

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Winning Story:
Who watches the polls? WV election officials dismiss federal concerns over threat of domestic extremism

Kelly Kennedy, a U.S. Army veteran, is the Managing Editor for The War Horse. She is the co-author for Fight Like a Girl. She’s been published by the New York Times and has contributed to the crucial conversation surrounding women in the military. Kelly did in-depth reporting on the Iraq War and has seen combat both as a civilian journalist and as a U.S. soldier.

KELLY KENNEDY

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Winning Story:
Why Isn’t Infertility in Military Women a Bigger Conversation?

Kaj Larsen, a U.S. Navy veteran, is filmmaker and journalist. The former Navy SEAL has produced work for the likes of ABC, NBC, Vice and many more. In the Heroin documentary Larsen’s team uncovers a new trafficking route out of Afghanistan that ultimately ending in Asia. This “farm to arm” chronology of one of the world’s most popular drugs has never been documented on film before.

KAJ LARSEN

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Winning Story:
Heroin

J.P. Lawrence, a U.S. Army veteran, has been a downrange reporter covering Afghanistan and Iraq for Stars & Stripes since 2018. He previously reported for the San Antonio Express and Albany Times Union. He has also been published by the New York Review of Books, Vice, the Intercept and the Associated Press. Lawrence studied at Bard College and Columbia University in New York.

J.P. LAWRENCE

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Winning Story:
A bloodied IS IS still a threat in Afghanistan as it looks to recruit disgruntled Taliban

Tony Mobley, a U.S. Navy veteran, has been a photojournalist born and raised in Washington D.C. He continues to document stories of social justice reform and activism. His recent work has been featured in Vogue and Buzzfeed as well as in a PSA for BET’s (Black Entertainment Network) Content for Change.

TONY MOBLEY

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Winning Story:
Photo Series: Black Lives Matter Protests

Stephanie Ramos, a U.S. Army Reserve Major with 18 years of service, is a national correspondent at ABC News who has covered a variety of stories from the contentious Alabama Senate race, the tragic Parkland shooting, Hurricane Irma, the 2016 election, to the Charlottesville protests. She joined ABC’s Washington bureau in 2015 and reports for Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline and served as a Pentagon reporter. Prior to ABC, Stephanie reported for local stations in Kansas City, MO; Topeka, KS; and Columbia, SC where she established herself as a tenacious reporter covering important issues such as immigration, politics and crime.

STEPHANIE RAMOS

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Winning Story:
COVID-19 cases rise in 30 states, Wisconsin sees ‘exponential grown in infections’

Sara Sneath, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is a freelance reporter specializing in environmental issues and investigative journalism. She has reported for The Times-Picayune, The Victoria Advocate and Willamette Week. She holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and in journalism from the University of Kansas.

SARA SNEATH

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Winning Story:
Ticking Time Bombs’: Residents Kept In The Dark About Risks To La.’s Chemical Plants During Storms

Kevin Sullivan, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is the creator and host of the podcast Twenty-One Gun. He highlights the experiences of post-9/11 veterans. Sullivan is also a physician assistant. He served in the Air Force as a C-130 cargo plane navigator.

KEVIN SULLIVAN

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Winning Story:
#35 Hamody Jasim: The Terrorist Whisperer Part I

This list was compiled from an open nomination through Military Veterans in Journalism. Nominees were not required to be members of MVJ. Judges focused on originality, production value, newsworthiness, and journalistic quality. They also relied on their own extensive experience in this profession.

Judges for The Top 10 Military Veterans in Journalism of 2020

Barbara Starr, CNN

Howard Altman, Military Times

Sara Samora, Houston Business Journal

Phoebe Gavin, Quartz

Babee Garcia, CBS 19 Charlottesville

Priya Sridhar, NBC San Diego

We’re immeasurably thankful to have the support of these journalists as our judges. MVJ would also like to thank John Seward, for conducting the operations and behind-the-scenes to help make this list a reality. John juggled creating this list for its inaugural run with his first semester of his journalism master’s degree. We’re excited to see his work in the future.

Dec 24

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7 Echo Podcast interviews Military Veterans in Journalism founder
By MVJ News

7 Echo Podcast interviewed Military Veterans in Journalism founder Zack Baddorf.

Dec 06

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MVJ’s Top Veterans in Journalism
By MVJ News, Resources

Welcome! Thanks for your interest in nominating someone for MVJ’s Top Veterans in Journalism.

Military Veterans in Journalism wants to recognize the amazing veterans doing great work in media. This is just one opportunity for us to do that. We want to highlight the achievements and work that veterans in our field are doing every day, and support them in recognizing their expertise and contribution to the community.

Submissions can be made on behalf of someone that you directly work. Self-nominations are also acceptable.

The submissions will be scored on originality, production value, newsworthiness, and journalistic quality. Our panel of judges will apply their experience, editing standards, and personal background to understand how well a piece does in each category. Judges will be looking for accurate and insightful storytelling that engage them as the audience.

Submissions will be in the form of finished and published work. All submissions should include the original publishing or release date, all contributors, and the organization under which it was published.

Only work conducted by an veteran of the armed forces is eligible. While pieces developed by a team are acceptable, journalists involved will only be considered eligible if they are a veteran.

Please only submit one piece per nominee. Only stand-alone works are eligible. Please do not include multi-part series, segments, or alternate versions. If there is a composite work of a series, that is acceptable, but will be considered as a single finished piece.

All submissions should be work completed and made publicly available within the past eighteen months.

All forms of media are acceptable. Alternate or emerging forms of journalism such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Interactive Data Visualization and others will be considered. However all works, regardless of media type, will be seen by the same panel of judges and scored in the same manner.

While every submission will be scored, and selections for the list made, scores will not be released publicly. Outside of scoring, judges will be able to supply commentary if they wish, but not every piece will receive comments.

Please also give a brief description of why the nominee should be recognized in this forum. We’d like to know about the person themselves, along with seeing their amazing work!

Nominations will be closed on December 20, 2020 at 2359 Eastern.

Finally, you DO NOT have to be a member of MVJ to submit a piece of work, nor does the nominee, however we encourage you to join.

Nominations have closed. Thanks for applying. Be sure to come back next time!

Nov 11

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America’s newsrooms must hire more veterans
By MVJ News

By Zack Baddorf

A new, $250,000 Knight Foundation investment to Military Veterans in Journalism will support the military veteran community through journalism fellowships, virtual workshops and resource sharing.

On Veterans Day, we honor the service of our nation’s military veterans. About 7% of Americans — roughly 18 million people — have served in the U.S. armed forces. Yet veterans are shockingly underrepresented in America’s newsrooms. Only 2% of journalists are veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Veterans represent a cross-section of the country, bringing unique experiences, perspectives and technical expertise that are valuable for our nation’s newsrooms and ultimately media consumers. Their voices are critical for our democracy.

Today, Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is announcing $250,000 in new support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to advance our work to place more vets in newsrooms. MVJ is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets.

We’ll use Knight’s investment to hire two new staff members and offer four paid, six-month fellowships for military veterans in local or national newsrooms. In addition, Knight support will allow us to hold a series of career guidance webinars for those who served, connect veterans directly with newsrooms, and create a program focused on developing veterans’ radio production skills.

As I transitioned out of the military in 2006, I struggled to find a job in journalism, despite working in the U.S. Navy as a photojournalist, building a portfolio and earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in my off-duty hours. I applied for dozens and dozens of media jobs across the country, but I got no response. I was deeply discouraged by this and still today feel like I failed.

Could I have done a better job on my resume? Could my portfolio have been stronger? Surely. At the same time, the media industry itself doesn’t place enough value on how diverse candidates can contribute to their newsrooms.

But this isn’t a sob story — ultimately, I worked as foreign correspondent as a freelancer in places like Syria, Afghanistan and Crimea. And most recently, I reported for The New York Times, the Associated Press and other outlets throughout sub-Saharan Africa while based in Bangui in the Central African Republic. I’m incredibly proud of my work.

What I didn’t have during my transition was a professional network or a mentor to guide me. I also didn’t find any newsrooms seeking to diversify their newsrooms by creating opportunities for veteran voices and perspectives.

That’s why I founded MVJ — to help connect vets with important opportunities. Since launching the organization, I’ve spoken to many newsrooms about potential partnerships. During one conversation, a senior leader at a large national newsroom struggled to name more than two veterans on staff. But this same person said they’ve long wanted more vets in the media.

The support for veterans must be translated into action.

Media leaders must actively hire more veterans and create opportunities for early-career hires, as part of a broader effort to diversify their newsrooms. Philanthropic organizations must work with organizations like MVJ to enable such opportunities as well.

Knight Foundation’s investment will help MVJ provide a range of opportunities for the veteran community. We owe it to those who put on the uniform of America to provide them with opportunities to strengthen democracy at home after they fought for it abroad. This investment is a great start, but we know we have much work ahead of us — and we are eager to find additional partners to ensure veterans’ voices are heard.

Zack Baddorf is the executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism.

###

About Military Veterans in Journalism
Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. For more, visit www.mvj.network

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit KF.org.

Oct 25

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Marine Corps Veteran Dustin Jones Selected For MVJ/NPR’s First Internship
By MVJ News

Earlier this year, Military Veterans in Journalism partnered with National Public Radio (NPR) to offer a paid, remote Fall internship to one military veteran. NPR chose Dustin Jones, who served in the United States Marine Corps.

Dustin provided an update on what he has been working on since September.

“I have focused on the wildfires in California, tracking down and interviewing sources for the Weekend edition All Things Considered,” Dustin writes. “One story was about former incarcerated persons who hope to become fire fighters after serving their sentences. Another story was about the wildfires near Santa Rosa, CA and how the increasing intensity of wildfire season is making residents reconsider their choice to live in California.”

“NPR has long been a beacon in broadcast journalism, and their work to expand the diversity of their staff shows they will lead and innovate within our beloved field for generations to come,” MVJ President Russell Midori said. “Dustin’s work will inform you, inspire you, and break your heart. People trust him with their stories – stories they might never tell anyone else.”

Dustin spent four years in the Marine Corps from 2007-2011. He served on two combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan in the First Battalion Third Marine Regiment. Within that time, he exemplified strong leadership while selecting and training new platoon members. He also has won multiple awards, including two meritorious promotions and was selected as Marine of the Quarter.

While deployed to Afghanistan in 2009-2010, journalists from The New York Times were at his small patrol base. Marine Corps veteran turned journalist CJ Chivers and Photographer Tyler Hicks wrote several stories about Dustin’s unit and his friends. His passion and purpose for journalism flourished from the stories they covered.

“I realized that was what I wanted to do when I left the military, share people’s stories,” Dustin said. “So after leaving the Marines in 2011, I attended the University of Colorado, where I studied journalism and photography. I worked as a reporter and news manager for a small Montana paper for a year and a half before attending Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where I received my masters in journalism with a focus in documentary production.

Despite his accomplishments and familiarity with weapon systems, land navigation survival tactics, and training, the military did not fully prepare him for a career in journalism. Dustin spoke candidly about obstacles in getting his big break.

“I didn’t have much help after leaving the military, which definitely made the transition harder than expected. Classes were not particularly hard because of the work ethic I developed in the Marines, but I didn’t have many networking opportunities. When I graduated in 2015, it took me over a year to find a journalism job, which brought me to Montana in January of 2017,” Dustin said.

Dustin is now a well-rounded storyteller with skills in photography, writing, editing, and video production. He is currently producing a film about a Marine struggling with PTSD and suicidal tendencies in a VA inpatient program.

He is grateful that Military Veterans in Journalism secured an opportunity like this to help shape his professional growth further in journalism.

“My chances for landing the internship went up drastically because of the efforts of MVJ. I am also working with mentors to try and map out a career path and finding a home for some of my other work,” Dustin said.

Kristin Van Meerbeke has worked as the Talent Operations and Intern Program Manager at NPR for over two years. She assists with on-boarding new employees, works with our temporary employee population, and manages the intern program at NPR.

“We canceled our summer 2020 program because of COVID as we weren’t ready to pivot to a remote program so quickly and we wanted to make sure we were not only providing a rich experience for our interns; but also supporting our staff,” Kristin said. “We didn’t think we could do that so soon; but we brought our program back this fall in a fully remote capacity. We limited the number of positions from our typical 60+ to about 34 interns anticipating there would be some new and unique challenges offering our program remotely for the first time.”

An internship is a great way to get started in journalism. It allows for networking and getting hands-on experience, positioning one for a full time role. With NPR, interns will gain exposure to training, its daily operations, and work alongside world-class journalism professionals.

Sep 25

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MVJ-NBC Partnership: Internship Program
By MVJ News, Resources

We’re proud to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism has partnered with NBC Universal to help get more vets into America’s newsrooms.

We will flag the applications of MVJ members to NBC directly for consideration in their highly competitive (PAID!) internship program for Spring 2021.

Step 1: Apply here: https://www.nbcunicareers.com/internships

Step 2: Fill out this form so we can flag your application to NBCUniversal. https://forms.gle/pt2NnycE6WLX7M4K9

Deadline: Thursday Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern

Note: you must be a current member of Military Veterans in Journalism. More info: www.mvj.network/membership

Email us with any questions: [email protected]

Sep 16

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MVJ and Video Consortium Collaboration
By MVJ News

Calling all MVJ members in photojournalism and video journalism: Do you want to feature some of your best work for Veterans Day?

MVJ is proud to be teaming up with Video Consortium, a global nonprofit creative community committed to supporting and uniting today’s top emerging voices in documentary film and video journalism.

This is a chance to screen your nonfiction films and photography next month, and we’re asking for submissions. We would love to showcase your hard work and skills. From covering disaster relief efforts, to Black Lives Matter protests, to what is happening within our current news climate, this is an event you certainly don’t want to miss. This is an opportunity for you to connect with other veterans in the business while promoting your strongest work.

When deciding which films, videos or photos to submit, please keep in mind that it must be nonfiction and relevant. So if your film or video is a year old, ask why it must be shown today. Moreover, look at the visual and technical precision.

Here’s how it will work:

1) If your film or video is a long piece, then an excerpt will be shown.

2) Space is limited, so you have until Friday, October 30th at 4pm ET to submit. *Please note that in order to successfully submit your work, you must become a member of MVJ first. If you haven’t purchased a membership yet, click here.

3) If your film or video is chosen, you will also get the chance to do a virtual Q&A with Video Consortium and the audience later in November.

4) Submit your films to Video Consortium at [email protected] with “MVJ VC Submission” in the subject line.

5) We plan to publish a short teaser video that features all submissions on our social media channels before the Veterans Day screening. More details TBD.

6) Once we provide updates about our screening, feel free to post your work with our hashtags “#MVJVCEvent, #MVJVCFilms, or #VetsinPhotoJournalism.”

To learn more about Video Consortium, visit here.

Sep 09

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Activate Your Membership In Our New System
By MVJ News

Over a year ago, MVJ formally launched as just an idea and a little website. We’ve grown a lot since then and in order to maximize our full potential to support our community, we are implementing some new changes in membership here:

Let me explain.

MVJ started small — without a full realization of just how much we as a community can do to support our fellow vets in journalism. We are now more than 300 members. We have an all-volunteer team of about 10. We have created multiple ongoing (paid) internship programs and have several more in the pipeline. We have more than 20 active mentorships pairing members like you with seasoned journalism pros. We have held a range of events (mostly digital, thanks COVID), including an amazing career fair.

Here’s a breakdown of what we did in the first year.

And so, Military Veterans in Journalism needs to grow as an organization. Aside from many internal efforts that I won’t bore you with, we need to diversify our revenue streams (in non-profit / business speak). We’ve been speaking with leaders of other organizations like the National Association of Hispanic Journalists to learn how they sustain and grow. (Our new membership structure shares some similarities with theirs. Interesting how that happened. Nowhere near as pricey as others.)

So the big question: what are we going to do with your money? It’s an important one and we will always be transparent about that. We have some minor backend costs like website fees, but the bulk of our budget is dedicated to real programmatic costs like paying for Adobe Premiere subscriptions for our upcoming workshop on video journalism, held in partnership with the University of Mississippi and FUJIFILM.

MVJ is never going to be a massive veterans organization bringing in millions of dollars every year. We have programmatic needs within our community but they are finite. We have big dreams (and if you know someone who can give us millions of dollars, hit me up). Point is: we are nimble and budget conscious. Every dollar we spend is carefully spent.

Next question: What do I get out of this? First of all, you’ll have bragging rights about being a member of MVJ. That’s pretty cool. But more importantly, we are offering you a range of unique programs and opportunities tailored specifically to vets in journalism. For example, our mentorship program pairs you with seasoned professionals. We offer (paid) internships through our media partners. (NPR received 20,520 applications for 27 internship spots this fall. One MVJ member was guaranteed a spot in the program.) We are developing year-long (paid) fellowships and we have some really exciting opportunities in the works that I can’t wait to share with you, once the details are hammered out.

As you’ll see, we have multiple membership levels with varying levels of annual fees:

The vast majority of you will be Professional members with $30 due each year.

Some of you will be Student members at $25 annually.

Active duty service members dues are $20 per year.

Important: We want everyone to remain a member of MVJ. We are issuing no-questions-asked financial waivers each year. (Details on membership are included within the hyperlink of the first sentence.)

I know this is a lot but we want to be open with you about where we’re coming from and why these changes are necessary. You are always welcome to email me with ideas, thoughts, criticisms, whatever you want.

Sincerely,

Zack Baddorf
Executive Director, MVJ

Aug 27

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MVJ-Washington Post Internship
By MVJ News, Resources

We’re proud to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism has partnered with the Washington Post to help get more vets into America’s newsrooms.

As part of its 2021 Summer Internship program, the Washington Post will select one military veteran through MVJ to participate in its paid internship program.

The Post selects interns to fill various roles for reporters, visual journalists, multiplatform editors, multiplatform producers, news and digital designers, graphics reporters and developers, audience producers, and audio producers. (For summer 2020, the salary was $750 per week.)

This will be an important early career step for veterans working to advance within the media field. Each applicant must have had at least one professional news media job or internship.

Washington Post interns have become Pulitzer award winners and executive producers and editors. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at Washington Post.

Applications for internships may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2020 at 6pm Eastern.

APPLY NOW and then email the required supplementary documents to [email protected] .

Aug 12

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Army National Guard Officer and Freelancer Gets Published Thanks to MVJ Mentorship Program
By MVJ News

Pictured are Army National Guard Officer Davis Winkie, a mentee in the MVJ mentorship program and his mentor, an award-winning journalist named Erin Siegal McIntyre.

NEW JERSEY- Military Veterans in Journalism highlights the benefits from its mentorship program with a recent testimonial from Award-Winning Journalist Erin Siegal McIntyre and Army National Guard Officer Davis Winkie.

Mentorship plays a key role in shaping professional and personal development in both the military and civilian sector. One of the main resources offered by Military Veterans in Journalism is its mentorship program, where a newly-transitioned veteran is paired up with an experienced media professional. Mentors and mentees have the opportunity to learn from one another within the program.

Director of Digital Strategy and Content Babee Garcia understands the value and importance of having a mentor in journalism.

“Networking is crucial in journalism,” said Babee Garcia. “This mentorship program helps build confidence and credibility for our mentees. Few of them earn success on their own, and need someone with insight to advance them in their careers. From personal experience, I am lucky to have great mentors, to include college professors and MVJ President Russell Midori.”

Davis Winkie, a Human Resources Officer (42B) in the Army National Guard, has many accomplishments under his belt, including a tour as an Administrative Officer for an engineering task force that planned field hospitals in North Carolina during COVID-19. Prior to his military service, he was a historian with a desire to research and write. He noticed the similarities between historians and journalists as both work to find the truth within storytelling. Determined to combine his skills and experiences, Winkie found his purpose —reporting with immediacy and a sense of urgency.

Since being a part of Military Veterans in Journalism’s mentorship program, Winkie has had a byline in The New Republic, Task & Purpose, VICE, and other national news publications. Winkie encourages veterans, who are pursuing a career in journalism, to take advantage of the tools and opportunities offered at MVJ.

“Programs like MVJ’s mentorship are extremely important to folks like me without traditional journalism backgrounds who have potential, but just need a little guidance,” said Davis Winkie.

He is currently still training in the U.S. Army National Guard while working as a freelancer and a contract job with the Digital Library of Georgia. He is building a digital exhibit about the history of racial violence in his hometown of Forsyth County, GA.

Erin Siegal McIntyre is an accomplished investigative journalist and author. In 2012, Beacon Press published her award-winning book “Finding Fernanda”- the basis for an hour-long CBS special investigation that was awarded a 2015 News Emmy. Throughout most of her career, she has been a freelancer, who published stories in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Latino USA, and various other media outlets.

For McIntyre, this has been her first time providing guidance for her mentee. She speaks highly about Winkie’s work ethic and how the experience has been both instructive and inspiring.

“I’ve been impressed with his high level of organization, his excellent and prompt communication, his wit and humor, and his ability to consider immediate and long-term career options simultaneously—not to mention drafting and publishing pieces while on duty,” said Erin Siegal McIntyre. “Who wouldn’t be impressed? Vets have a skillset that lends itself well to both collecting and organizing information, which is basically the core of what journalists do. He’s also ambitious, which is a quality any journalist needs in today’s market. When I was starting out, many of my opportunities arose from the kindness of others. It’s really satisfying for me now to be able to open doors and help the next generation.”

McIntyre recalls a long phone conversation with Winkie, where they shared insight on professional networking, strategic planning, resumes, cover letters, planning a career trajectory, and other important building blocks to sustain a successful journey into journalism. They spoke about one of Winkie’s stories, brainstorming how to approach certain sources, and how to acquire certain kinds of information.

“I was so surprised to hear how fluent he is in public records requests; that’s a quality of utmost importance and he’s already very experienced,” said Erin Siegal McIntyre.

In some instances, McIntyre became the student, as Winkie taught her about his area of expertise.

“Davis was recently a PhD student in history at UNC-Chapel Hill, immersed in academic writing, research, and classroom instruction, and so our conversation ended with the tables being flipped: he gave me some advice on university culture and provided an insider’s on-the-ground perspective on the institution’s more recent history related to Confederate monuments on campus,” said Erin Siegal McIntyre.

She also spoke positively about giving back through mentorship and how it helps other journalists, saying “It’s nearly impossible to get anywhere in journalism without a robust network and a few people guiding you, at least a little. Even informal mentorship can be of outsize value; my fellow journalists are almost entirely accessible, generous, and kind…Those of us already working in the field consider it a privilege to help and pass along what we’ve learned.”

Potential volunteers can sign-up on MVJ’s website to participate in the mentorship program.

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Jun 09

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2020 NPR Internship is On Again, and fully remote!
By MVJ News, Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is excited to announce that the internship program with National Public Radio (NPR) is on again! It’s specifically for military veterans, and it’s paid.

The best part? It’s completely remote.

The deadline to apply is Friday July 10 at 6 pm EST through MVJ at this link.

An internship is a great way to get your start in journalism. It allows for networking and getting hands-on experience, positioning you for a full time role. NPR Interns will gain exposure to training, NPR’s daily operations, and work alongside world-class journalism professionals. Thank you NPR for your role in supporting military veterans seeking to get started in the journalism world!

The program runs from September 8, 2020 to December 11, 2020. We’re really excited to offer this opportunity to MVJ members and hope that it will be the first of many internship/fellowship partnerships to come! Once again, the link to apply is here.

May 24

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A Memorial Day Reflection During COVID-19
By MVJ News

5/23/20 WASHINGTON DC: Riders with Flags of Honor arrived in Washington, D.C., to pay their respects to those who have give the ultimate sacrifice this year on Memorial Day weekend. Photo Credit: Andrew M. Byers

By Guest Contributor Jeff Walsh

Edited by MVJ Blog Editor Erich Reimer and Director of Digital Strategy and Content Babee Garcia

In October 1990, I took the oath of enlistment and honorably served in the military for 15 years. It has been another 15 years since my transition into the civilian sector again, but my pride as a veteran remains strong. Each Memorial Day, I reflect on my brothers and sisters in arms, who have inspired so many and paved the way for so many soldiers like myself. However, this year’s Memorial Day brings many obstacles in how to properly honor those who died and grieve.

COVID-19 has impacted us all, and made us adapt during these unprecedented times. On this Memorial Day weekend, we are not all enjoying a large backyard BBQ. There are no restaurants to sit in and social distancing is encouraged in every direction. Many parades and ceremonies are cancelled or moved virtually this year. Although we cannot celebrate this occasion under normal circumstances, we must pause to honor the brave men and women soldiers, sailors, Coast Guard, Airmen, Marines and National Guardsmen who lost their lives in service to the red, white and blue. We must reflect about the servicemen and servicewomen lost during World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, during and post 9/11, conflicts from Panama to Grenada, and other deployments.

At the same token, we should also pause for a moment of silence to honor those Americans, our fallen band of brothers and sisters, who left us much too soon due the silent and deadly coronavirus. Many of the newly departed will not have a proper burial or funeral for many months to come. We should also take a moment to thank the new modern-day heroes of this new global war that is being fought day and night in hospital wards and emergency rooms.

Some veterans continue serving others in different careers fields during COVID-19, including the medical profession. I was grateful enough to have worked within a medical-related MOS in the U.S. Army. From personal experience, some of my fondest memories were from the Medical Corps with two different MOS’ and two distinct medical jobs. First, I served as a 91B Army medic with the 2nd I.D.“Second to None” at Camp Casey, South Korea and then with 1st Armored Division “Old Iron sides” at Fort Riley, Kansas including a deployment to Kuwait. I also served as a 91Q Pharmacy Technician at Reynolds Army Community Hospital at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

This photo was taken in 1999 at Camp Casey in South Korea just 10 miles from the DMZ. Pictured are Jeffrey Walsh and his Army medical platoon of 1/503 Infantry Battalion.

As someone with a medical and military background, I empathize with the hardships that our frontline workers may be experiencing. Some of them will contract COVID-19 and risk the possibility of bringing it into their homes. Others will develop symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression. Some of them go above and beyond to communicate with loved ones via Skype or Facetime when in-person visits are restricted. These courageous men and women are going through similar challenges that military service members experienced. I admire their bravery and acknowledge them as well not only on occasion, but each and every day.

According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University and U.S. National Archives, there are over 5 million confirmed cases and there are at least 100,000 lives lost in the United States— more lives than the Korean War and more lives than the Vietnam War. As we have discovered on our mighty fleet of aircraft carriers and at our nation’s VA centers and veteran’s homes, the virus does not discriminate between military personnel, veterans or civilians. Let us also pause for a moment on this Memorial Day to also reflect on the veterans, who have lost their lives. Twenty years from now, some will tell their grandchildren that they were “Veterans of the COVID-19 Worldwide Pandemic.”

Let’s acknowledge the frontline workers, who are substituting kevlars, fatigues and combat boots with PPE. This new war is being fought day and night by a vast army in scrubs, masks and surgical gowns.

5/23/20 WASHINGTON DC: Riders with Flags of Honor arrived in Washington, D.C., to pay their respects to those who have give the ultimate sacrifice this year on Memorial Day weekend. Photo credit: Andrew M. Byers

EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece reflects the opinion of one of our newest Jeff Walsh, who served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard from 1990-2005. He was on guard duty at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was stationed in South Korea near the DMZ.

May 13

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MVJ To Host First Virtual Career Fair
By Devon Lancia Career Opportunities, News, Resources

MVJ is excited to announce our first virtual career fair! This opportunity will offer MVJ members a chance to network and potentially interview for positions with some of the biggest names in the journalism industry. The event will take place via Zoom on July 1, 2020 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The registration deadline is June 22.

Sign Up for the MVJ Career Fair

The following are just some of the newsrooms attending this event:

New York Times

NPR

WSJ

Penske Media Corporation

ProPublica

NBC

CNN

FOX

The Daily Caller

Military Times

DiversityComm

Stars & Stripes

Task & Purpose

Forbes

Verizon Media

In order to help interested members be as prepared as possible for this career fair, we’re partnering with Penske Media’s Andy Limpus. Andy will join us for a virtual resume workshop, where he will share his biggest tips for resume success from over 25 years of experience. The workshop will take place via Zoom on June 3, 2020 from 12 PM to 1 PM. The registration deadline for this event is May 27.

Sign Up for the Resume Workshop

May 08

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Spring 2021 MVJ Video Journalism Workshop at Ole Miss
By MVJ News

We are very excited to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism will host eight (8) online sessions for a video journalism workshop for 10 military veterans in the early stages of their journalism careers in spring of 2021. The Walton Family Foundation sponsored this workshop.

Applications for this event are closed. However, we encourage you to check out our website for upcoming events and resources. COVID-19’s future impact on bringing people together in the coming months (and years) is still unknown. For now, we are moving forward with planning for these dates, but the timing may have to shift.

✏ In partnership with the University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media and with the support from FUJIFILM, this is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the most renowned professors in the field. Duy Linh Tu, Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University, will be the lead instructor. He’s a journalist and a documentary filmmaker, focusing on education, science, and social justice.

This course will teach you how to tell stories through video, focusing on the essentials:

• conceiving and structuring a story

• how to handle a camera

• using post-production software

• combining audio and visual components to deliver a story

Prior experience working in video and journalism, defined broadly, is preferable but not necessary. In addition to the video training, we will have several guest speakers throughout the week. As you know, video is a valuable skill for new journalists to bring to the table as they seek employment. This workshop will set you up for success and give you an edge up on the competition.

May 07

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COVID-19 Support Resources for Veterans and Journalists
By MVJ News, Resources

COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives. Below are resources that we hope will help journalists, veterans, and others make it through this extraordinary time. Continue Reading COVID-19 Support…
Read More

Feb 26

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Apply Now For The (Paid!) 2020 NPR Internship for Military Veterans in Journalism!
By MVJ News, Resources

Update: This internship opportunity is on hold as a result of COVID-19. We will provide updates as soon as we have more details on rescheduling this chance to work for NPR.

Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is excited to announce that we’ve partnered with National Public Radio (NPR) to offer a paid internship in Summer 2020 specifically for military veterans! It’s paid, will be in either Washington DC, Los Angeles, or New York City, and the deadline to apply is March 6 at 6 pm EST through MVJ at this link.

An internship is a great way to get your start in journalism. It allows for networking and getting hands-on experience, positioning you for a full time role. NPR Interns will gain exposure to training, NPR’s daily operations, and work alongside world-class journalism professionals. Thank you NPR for your role in supporting military veterans seeking to get started in the journalism world!

The program runs from June 1, 2020 to August 21, 2020. We are really excited to offer this opportunity to MVJ members and hope that it will be the first of many internship/fellowship partnerships to come! Once again, the link to apply is here.

Feb 21

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NPR Internship for Military Veterans in Journalism
By Devon Lancia Career Opportunities, News, Resources

In partnership with the non-profit organization Military Veterans in Journalism, NPR is proud to be part of an effort to create a pipeline to get more vets employed in America’s newsrooms.

As part of its Fall 2020 Internship program, NPR will be selecting one American military veteran to serve as an intern from September 8, 2020 – December 11, 2020. This internship is fully remote and paid.

This will be an important early career step for veterans working to break into the media field. The NPR internship program has a rich history. Nearly 10% of our current staff — including Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and many more — were discovered as interns.

From day one, interns at NPR are given real-world, hands-on responsibilities. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at NPR. Find out how you can contribute your diverse talents to gain invaluable experience at the heart of a thriving multimedia organization.

Interns at NPR play a vital role in the organization’s daily operations in almost every division — from NPR News, Programming and Music, to Communications and Engineering. Interns are also offered a broad variety of training opportunities.

Who Should Apply:

We’re looking for military veterans who are intelligent, creative, and curious. We need strong researchers and excellent writers who work well on diverse teams and can also thrive with individual assignments.

Candidates don’t need to know everything about NPR or public radio, but it helps to be at least a little familiar. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to love NPR.

Qualified applicants must a) have been discharged from active duty, b) a reservist with at least four years of service, or c) a National Guard member with at least four years of service.

Applications for internships may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is July 10 at 6pm Eastern.

The application requires:

a cover letter;

a writing sample;

your resume;

your DD-214 form (with social security number redacted);

names and contact information for three references (reference letters are not required), at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s research and writing skills;

and, any unofficial transcripts from universities.

Jan 29

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Student Press Freedom Day And The Power Of Free Expression
By MVJ News, Resources

Student Press Freedom Day is a reminder of the importance of free speech and thought for all, including students continuing their studies at a time when their minds are encouraged…
Read More

Oct 21

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Celebrating Excellence in Journalism
By MVJ News

For the past 48 years, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has recognized important contributions in broadcast and digital journalism. Amongst this year’s student Edward R. Murrow award recipients were my team and I for “Montclair News Lab: Hurricane Recovery In Puerto Rico” in the Excellence in Video Reporting category.

In March 2018, I joined a team of student and faculty journalists to document aid and recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria struck the island. Within a week’s time, our team explored areas that were impacted including education, tourism, businesses, destruction of homes, food distribution, and agriculture. We also formed friendships, overcame challenges, and created memories that will last a lifetime along the way- all while understanding the purpose and power behind journalism.

To have earned a Murrow award in the same room full of talented journalists, who have worked in the industry for years from various news organizations, was truly an honor. As I reunited with peers and faculty from my alma matter, I embraced this moment of recognition. I reflected on how valuable this trip was for our professional growth and development as the next generation of storytellers.

10/14/2019 NEW YORK, NY: The team from Montclair News Lab: Hurricane Recovery in Puerto Rico spoke to CBS National Lead Correspondent David Begnaud at the 2019 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala. Photo Credit: Laura Galarza

MVJ Social Media Coordinator and Marine Corps veteran Babee Garcia poses with her team’s Edward R. Murrow award at Gotham Hall for their team project “Montclair News Lab: Hurricane Recovery in Puerto Rico.” Photo credit: Alfredo Garcia Rodriguez

It was a great opportunity to not only celebrate our achievements, but to network amongst other media professionals. CBS National Lead Correspondent David Begnaud took some time to congratulate my team. He also gave us great advice on continuing to spread awareness with our storytelling efforts, “Make sure you are promoting it [your work] as much as you can cause that’s how we serve a purpose.”

As a fan of David’s reporting in Puerto Rico, it was personally one of the best highlights of the night. It seemed as if our encounter had come full-circle since we had all told important stories from the island. As we walked on to accept our award, I acknowledged David was clapping and cheering for us backstage. Later that evening, we had also met Senator Bill Bradley, CBS News President Susan Zirinsky, and many others.

I felt proud that our work has been highly recognized by the Television Academy Foundation in California and RTDNA this year. However, our greatest reward throughout our journey had been having our stories being visible, shared and heard.

Our expectations in Puerto Rico were simple- to share stories with the intent to understand and capture the destruction of Hurricane Maria. It took a village, including the extraordinary leadership of our professors, to shape us into the skilled journalists we are today.

This entire experience has made me appreciate the value of journalism across all levels. Whether it is contributing to college journalism or a news organization with a large market, our voices matter. We, as journalists, work hard to highlight injustice and people serving their communities in hopes of getting others to listen.

If we are exercising the ethics, putting in the time, and sharing content, then we are all winners. With and without the awards, we continue to make a difference in bringing local and national attention on stories that need an active voice.

I am humbled by all of the amazing people I met and who have encouraged me thus far. After transitioning from the Marine Corps in 2016, I received the best college education from Montclair State University. Working with the students and faculty convinced me to seize every opportunity I could to be a versatile journalist, including traveling to Puerto Rico. I would like to thank everyone there, who helped foster my creativity and fuel my passion in journalism.

I would also like to thank Military Veterans in Journalism, a non-profit organization that serves others through impactful storytelling, for their continuous support. I am grateful to be a part of their team as Social Media Coordinator.

10/14/2019 NEW YORK, NY: From left to Right: Mariano Arocho, Krystal Acosta, Genesis Obando, Madj Traore, Laura Galarza, Babee Garcia, David Sanders, Kathleen Reddington, and Steve McCarthy at the 2019 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala in Gotham Hall. (Not pictured: Thomas E. Franklin, Natalie De La Rosa, and Madison Glassman) Photo credit: Alfredo Garcia Rodriguez

Jun 10

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Join us: We are looking for interns
By MVJ News

Want to start on the ground level and work with an organization that is growing fast? Become an intern with Military Veterans in Journalism.

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets.

We launched on May 2 this year, and we are looking for an intern to support our membership and outreach efforts. Depending on how that goes, we’ll ask for you support in creating partnerships with journalism universities and veteran student groups.

We are looking for people with creativity who have ideas of how to improve the organization. Since we’re new, you’ll have the chance to make a big impact in our community.

We will train you on membership outreach and partnership creation.

We’d like someone to volunteer 10 hours per week but more time would be great, too.

Join our team and work with us as we move forward in our mission. Email us your résumé with a quick note about why you are interested. Let us know if you have any questions.

May 02

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Military Veterans in Journalism officially launches
By MVJ News

We’re proud to announce the official launch of Military Veterans in Journalism!

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that creates community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for increasing newsroom diversity through hiring more vets.

While there is limited data available on how many military veterans now work as journalists, it’s clear they are underrepresented. Whether they worked as a culinary specialist, an EOD tech, or a public affairs officer, we believe veterans bring a diversity of thought and experience that should be more significantly leveraged by media outlets.

We will address this by talking to leaders in newsrooms and their human resources departments about the value that vets bring to the news industry as a result of their military service.

Further, we know veterans have a tough time breaking into journalism as a career. To address this, our all-volunteer staff will run a mentorship program to support veterans as they progress professionally in the media industry. We will also create community (mostly online but also through in person events) that will give vets a chance to network and support each other.

We invite you to browse around our website to learn more about our programming.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

If you’re a veteran working in journalism or aspiring to work in journalism, we invite you to become a member.

If you’re a journalist (veteran or not) interested in mentoring veterans, we invite you to become a mentor.

If you have any ideas, thoughts or want to get involved, feel free to get in touch: [email protected] . We’d love to hear from you.

While we are just getting started, we look forward to supporting our fellow veterans in media.

We will be holding an informally launch celebration with supporters at Alligator Lounge in Brooklyn, New York, at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Thanks in advance for your support!

— Russell Midori (MVJ’s President) & Zack Baddorf (MVJ’s Executive Director)