In March, I published a long, essayish post titled “What’s the Matter with Conservative Journalism?” Among numerous lamentations about the right’s inability to produce serious journalism and serious journalists, I wrote:
The liberal tilt of mainstream newspapers and magazines certainly has something to do with the professional networks within which editors find writers for their stories. But it also has something to do with conservative journalists rarely operating outside their zone of comfort. And especially in magazine articles, they tend to add commentary to existing stories rather than going out and finding new ones.
This is how it works: Liberals get reporting jobs. Conservatives get opinion columns.
Obviously, I’d like to see that change. Just as obvious is that this is a long-term project, and though other factors are involved, substantial and sustained investment is a must. So let me point out one place where this is happening: The Phillips Foundation is one such organization, and just this week they put out a call for applications to its 2009 Journalism Fellowship Program. From the release:
Print and online journalists with less than 10 years of professional experience are eligible. The Foundation created this program to provide fellowships for projects by journalists who share the Foundation’s mission to advance constitutional principles, a democratic society and a vibrant free enterprise system.
The Phillips Foundation awards $75,000 and $50,000 full-time fellowships and $25,000 part-time fellowships to undertake and complete a one-year project of the applicant’s choosing focusing on journalism supportive of American culture and a free society. In addition, there are separate fellowships on the environment, on the benefits of free-market competition, and on law enforcement.
I think anyone would call that substantial, and considering that the program is going into its 15th year, sustained it is, too. Applications are due by March 2, so if this is your kind of thing, you better get cracking.
