Reporting awards for science, engineering & medicine

Prizes totaling $20,000 are available for excellent reporting in science, engineering, and medicine. Categories include: Book; Magazine/Newspaper; Film/Radio/TV; and Online.

Nomination deadline is April 14. For more info and to apply, click here to visit the website for the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative.

Paid Fall internship @ Discover magazine

Discover, a monthly 850,00-circulation magazine that covers science for a general audience, is offering a paid Fall internship in its New York City office.

They're seeking "candidates who are enrolled in or have completed a graduate-level science-writing program, but other graduates who demonstrate an interest in science journalism will be considered. A monthly stipend is offered with this position. Duties include, but are not limited
to, researching and fact checking, developing and writing stories for our news section, and performing other duties to assist the editors in producing the magazine. Internships are for four months, and start Monday, September 25th."

Click here for more info and to apply.

Freelancers @ men's lifestyle website

Asylum.com, which bills itself as "the largest men’s lifestyle site on the Web," is seeking freelance journalists to contribute stories about weird news, science, food, true crime, sex, politics, video games, entertainment and/or travel.

"We’re looking for writers who can report original stories and humorously analyze new trends -- everything from the latest wave of serial killer memorabilia sites to new concoctions that bring oversize donuts to amazing heights," the ad states. "We’re also looking for writers who can cover local stories in places such as Los Angeles, Florida, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin. We want people who have a passion for breaking new stories, not just re-hashing stories they’ve read. If you’re willing to scour through records, pound the pavement, search for the unusual, channel the zeitgeist and come up with intriguing stories, we’re interested in hearing from you."

Send resume, pitches and relevant clips or links to asylumapplicants@gmail.com.

5-month paid science writing internship

Nature Medicine, a highly-regarded monthly academic journal covering biomedical science and translational research, is offering a 5-month paid science writing internship.

The full-time internship starts in June, is based in New York City and pays $1,000 per month.

"The intern will be closely involved in the editorial process and write news articles and briefs, as well as blog entries," the ad states. "This is not a paper-pushing internship! The person selected for the position will be reporting stories and working on editorial content full-time."

Apply online by May 20.

Location: New York, New York

Paid internship @ science magazine

SEED magazine, an international science magazine, seeks a paid intern to assist with its website.

The position is based in Manhattan and pays a monthly stipend. The intern will work closely with the editorial team in production of daily content and maintaining the website.

Applicants should be fluent in basic HTML, image preflighting, Photoshop and web image formats.

To apply, e-mail your resume along with a cover letter to: hr@seedmediagroup.com. Type "SEEDMAGAZINE.COM Online Intern" in the subject line.

Location: New York, New York

Entry-level writer @ Smithsonian magazine

Smithsonian, a 2 million-circulation monthly magazine about science, culture and history, offers a full-time paid writing internship. If you're looking to break into magazine journalism, this opportunity is a rare plum.

The 6-month internship begins in July and involves writing and reporting, primarily for the "Around the Mall" department and the magazine's Web site.

"Candidates should have a proven aptitude for writing and, preferably, a strong background in science, culture, history or one of the other areas in which the magazine specializes," the ad states. "A recent undergraduate or graduate degree is a must."

By May 1, send a cover letter, resume, contact info for three references and 3-5 clips to Megan Gambino, Attn: Intern Application, Smithsonian Magazine, Capital Gallery, Suite 6001, MRC 513 Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013. If sending by FedEx or other courier, send to Megan Gambino, Smithsonian Magazine, Capital Gallery, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 6001, Washington, DC 20024.


Location: Washington, D.C.

Editorial assistant @ Popular Science magazine

Popular Science, a 1.5-million circulation monthly magazine on science and technology, seeks a temporary editorial assistant.

Full-time position pays $600 per week and is based in New York City. Assistant will work on magazine's annual Best of What’s New awards program and special issue. Position starts May 4 and ends September 11.

"The primary duty entails contacting companies (by phone and e-mail) to solicit entries for the program, as well as assisting edit staff in finding and vetting award candidates, and helping art staff with photo research," the ad states.

To apply, e-mail mike.haney@bonniercorp.com.

Location: New York, New York

Paid science journalism internship @ The Economist

The Economist, a renowned London-based 1.3-million circulation news magazine that focuses on international affairs, is offering a paid summer internship writing about science and technology.

"Our aim is more to discover writing talent in a science student or scientist than a scientific aptitude in a budding journalist," the ad states. "Applicants should write a letter introducing themselves and an original article of about 600 words that they think would be suitable for publication in the science and technology section. They should be prepared to come for an interview in London or New York, at their own expense. A small stipend will be paid to the successful candidate."

Applications must be sent by February 20 to: casement2009@economist.com.

Location: London, United Kingdom

$60K science journalism fellowship for Canadians

A $60,000 science journalism award provides training and writing opportunities overseas for a young Canadian journalist.

The fellowship is being funded by the International Development Research Centre, a Canadian organization aimed at providing research assistance to the Developing World, and Nature, the leading international scientific journal.

The IDRC Nature Science Journalism Award provides travel, living expenses and administrative costs for the winner, who will work in the London, England, office of Nature starting in Spring 2009. The winner will attend the World Conference of Science Journalists in summer 2009, and will also spend between two to four months in one or more developing countries as a science reporter.

"Nature’s editorial team will provide advice, training and support suited to the award winner’s skills and intentions in order to help him or her get everything possible out of the opportunity," the announcement states. "The intention is that the award will lead to a substantial body of work to be published by Nature. This could include work online, in print, in podcasts or all of the above."

Applicants should be either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has at least three years experience as an English language journalist either in print, the broadcast media or online.

Applicants will be evaluated according to their current abilities and perceived promise; previous work on scientific topics and a proven interest in development issues will be taken into account. Every candidate should provide samples of his or her work, a CV and a covering letter as well as an outline of particular topics he or she would wish to cover in the field – a proposal, as it were. A clear and compelling plan for the use of reporting time will be rated very highly.

Application deadline is February 20. E-mail Oliver Morton, Chief News and Features Editor of Nature, at o.morton@nature.com with "IDRC Nature Award" in the subject line.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Media fellowship for U.K. scientists

If you're a scientist living in the United Kingdom and curious about how the media works, apply for a British Science Association Media Fellowship.

These fellowships offer researchers with at least 2 years of postgraduate experience the opportunity to spend between 3 and 8 weeks working with a print, broadcast, or online media organization. These fellowships are intended for scientists who want to stay in research (which doesn't mean you can't use one to make a career switch to science journalism).

Deadline for applications is March 10.

London, United Kingdom