The application process has been closed for WABJ’s newly created scholarship programs for students studying journalism at a college or university in the D.C. metro area. Thank you to those who applied.

Our inaugural scholarship winners will be notified and announced by Friday, Nov. 17. They will also be recognized at the WABJ Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Howard University, and paired with a professional mentor for one year based on their career interests.

WABJ Paul Brock Journalism Scholarship

This scholarship honors the late Paul Brock, WABJ’s founding president who also served as the founding executive director of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). NABJ Founding President Chuck Stone once described Brock as the “Henry Kissinger of Black journalists” because of his outstanding talent at organizing. Brock passed away in March 2021 of compilations from diabetes.

The WABJ Executive Board established this scholarship to honor Brock’s legacy and exemplary contributions to the media industry, and to support local journalism students. 

Requirements:

• Currently a rising college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student.
• Applicants must be paid student members of WABJ.
• Major course of study: journalism or a communications discipline.
• Enrolled full-time at the time of application, and throughout the scholarship award term, at an accredited U.S. college or university in the D.C. area.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale). You must submit an official or unofficial transcript.
• Written essay (no more than 800 words) or a video (3 to five minutes) describing why you want to be a journalist, plans for your journalism career, what it means to be a Black journalist today, and why you deserve the scholarship.
• Updated one-page resume.
• Three examples of published journalism work (links preferred)
• One recommendation letter from a professor, employer/internship supervisor or faculty advisor who is familiar with your academic and journalism work. The recommender must sign the letter and include their contact info.

WABJ Investigative Journalism Scholarship

This scholarship program furthers the organization’s efforts to increase the representation of Black journalists in investigative reporting, thanks to a $10,000 seed investment MGM’s Orion Pictures and United Artists presented at the inaugural WABJ Special Honors Gala last year. 

Requirements:

• Currently a rising college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student.
• Applicants must be paid student members of WABJ. (Join HERE or email membership@wabjdc.org to inquire about your membership status.)
• Major course of study: journalism or a communications discipline.
• Enrolled full-time at the time of application, and throughout the scholarship award term, at an accredited U.S. college or university in the D.C. area.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale). You must submit an official or unofficial transcript.
• Written essay (no more than 800 words) or a video (3 to five minutes) describing why you want to be an investigative journalist, plans for your journalism career, what it means to be a Black journalist today, and why you deserve the scholarship.
• Updated one-page resume.
• Two published clips showcasing your investigative journalism work (links preferred).
• One recommendation letter from a professor, employer/internship supervisor or faculty advisor who is familiar with your academic and investigative journalism work. The recommender must sign the letter and include their contact info.