Top journalism scholarships for you

The brutal attack that killed Vincent Chin occurred late at night with few people around, but its reverberations spread across the country and have lasted for decades. Asian Americans came together to demand justice and found a common voice and purpose. Yet questions remain and justice goes undelivered. The Vincent Chin Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Chin thanks to the generosity of Joe Grimm, a former newsroom recruiter and staff development editor for the Detroit Free Press. This scholarship will be awarded to a student journalist for an insightful essay related to Vincent Chin's life, death and legacy. Other selection criteria include academic and journalistic achievement, financial need, commitment to journalism and a sensitivity to AAPI issues. Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited college or university (including junior and community) in the United States or one of its territories. They must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing journalism as a career. Applicants must demonstrate the following: journalistic excellence by submitting current works (digital, photography, video/audio), a strong interest in pursuing journalism as a career, and a commitment to community involvement. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Ken Inouye Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a college journalist of color and is aimed at increasing ethnic diversity in newsrooms. Ken Inouye was a 22-year-old cameraman for the International News Service, covering the Korean War, when he was killed aboard an Army aircraft. Students from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties who have completed at least their freshman year of college, as well as graduate students from those same counties, are eligible to apply for all scholarships. Students enrolled in college in another state who have graduated high school in Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura counties may also apply. Applicants must submit proof of enrollment or acceptance in a journalism program at a two-year or four-year college or university. Students completing pre-journalism programs must provide proof they have been admitted to a journalism program. Students must have completed at least their freshman year in college and have at least one semester to complete in a journalism program after the award of the scholarship. Graduate students in journalism programs are eligible. Applicants must submit a resume that should contain a record of their school and/or professional journalism experience. This should also include journalism honors and awards, and scholarships or achievements in any field. Applicants must also submit their work samples with their application online via email, scanning, attaching and/or providing links to their work samples in acceptable formats. For Text submissions, at least three samples of the applicant's best published work must be provided. For broadcast, multimedia and photo submissions, five samples of published work are required. Applicants are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from one of their journalism professors or instructors. The instructor can email a letter directly to SPJLA. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Carl Greenberg Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a college student pursuing investigative or political reporting. Carl Greenberg was a political reporter at the Los Angeles Times, famed for being singled out by Richard Nixon as the only reporter who covered him "fairly." Students from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties who have completed at least their freshman year of college, as well as graduate students from those same counties, are eligible to apply for all scholarships. Students enrolled in college in another state who have graduated high school in Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura counties may also apply. Applicants must submit proof of enrollment or acceptance in a journalism program at a two-year or four-year college or university. Students completing pre-journalism programs must provide proof they have been admitted to a journalism program. Students must have completed at least their freshman year in college and have at least one semester to complete in a journalism program after the award of the scholarship. Graduate students in journalism programs are eligible. Applicants must submit a resume that should contain a record of their school and/or professional journalism experience. This should also include journalism honors and awards, and scholarships or achievements in any field. Applicants must also submit their work samples with their application online via email, scanning, attaching and/or providing links to their work samples in acceptable formats. For Text submissions, at least three samples of the applicant's best published work must be provided. For broadcast, multimedia and photo submissions, five samples of published work are required. Applicants are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from one of their journalism professors or instructors. The instructor can email a letter directly to SPJLA. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Helen Johnson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a college student pursuing broadcast journalism. This award honors the late Helen Johnson, a producer of "Channel 4 News Conference" and an associate producer of "Meet the Press." Students from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties who have completed at least their freshman year of college, as well as graduate students from those same counties, are eligible to apply for all scholarships. Students enrolled in college in another state who have graduated high school in Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura counties may also apply. Applicants must submit proof of enrollment or acceptance in a journalism program at a two-year or four-year college or university. Students completing pre-journalism programs must provide proof they have been admitted to a journalism program. Students must have completed at least their freshman year in college and have at least one semester to complete in a journalism program after the award of the scholarship. Graduate students in journalism programs are eligible. Applicants must submit a resume that should contain a record of their school and/or professional journalism experience. This should also include journalism honors and awards, and scholarships or achievements in any field. Applicants must also submit their work samples with their application online via email, scanning, attaching and/or providing links to their work samples in acceptable formats. For broadcast, multimedia and photo submissions, five samples of published work are required. Applicants are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from one of their journalism professors or instructors. The instructor can email a letter directly to SPJLA. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Bill Farr Memorial Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors or college students who demonstrate a strong intent to pursue a career in journalism. Students from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties who have completed at least their freshman year of college, as well as graduate students from those same counties, are eligible to apply for all scholarships. Students enrolled in college in another state who have graduated high school in Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura counties may also apply. High School seniors from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties are eligible to apply for the Bill Farr Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must submit proof of enrollment or acceptance in a journalism program at a two-year or four-year college or university. Students completing pre-journalism programs must provide proof they have been admitted to a journalism program. Students must have completed at least their freshman year in college and have at least one semester to complete in a journalism program after the award of the scholarship. Graduate students in journalism programs are eligible. Applicants must submit a resume that should contain a record of their school and/or professional journalism experience. This should also include journalism honors and awards, and scholarships or achievements in any field. Applicants must also submit their work samples with their application online via email, scanning, attaching and/or providing links to their work samples in acceptable formats. For Text submissions, at least three samples of the applicant's best published work must be provided. For broadcast, multimedia and photo submissions, five samples of published work are required. Applicants are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from one of their journalism professors or instructors. Rising college freshman students must provide a letter from their high school teacher outlining their journalism goals. The instructor can email a letter directly to SPJLA. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Coastal Camera Club Scholarship is open to students enrolled in the Photo Imaging program at the Owens Campus. Preference is given to students with financial need. Students may visit the scholarship's website or contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information.

SAJA is committed to promoting high-quality journalism. The SAJA Scholarship Program helps students afford tuition and other costs associated with higher education to pursue their journalism degree. Applicants must be students continuing their studies in the fall of 2025 at a university in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants must either be of South Asian descent (includes: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and people of South Asian origin from the Caribbean) or demonstrate an interest in covering South Asia and/or the diaspora. Immediate relatives of SAJA Board members and judges are ineligible to apply. Applicants must submit a short statement describing their financial need, including student loans and a summary of all other financial aid they have received or hope to receive; and 2-3 clips (or, if the applicant does not have published clips, then 2-3 writing samples) of their published work. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Northwest Journalists of Color Visual Journalism Scholarship will be awarded to an aspiring photo and/or video journalist who meets the same eligibility criteria for the NJC Scholarship. One recipient will receive a used professional camera kit (average value between $2,500-$5,000), donated by The Seattle Times Photo Department, to help launch their career. Applicants are eligible if they are either: on the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school; or attending a public or private college in Washington state. Applicants do not need to identify as a student of color to apply for this scholarship. Strong preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the importance of diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences in newsrooms. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The AAJA Seattle Founders' Scholarship will be awarded to those who would like to attend the 2024 national Asian American Journalists Association convention in Washington, DC. Applicants are eligible if they are either: on the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school; or attending a public or private college in Washington state. Applicants do not need to identify as a student of color to apply for this scholarship. Strong preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the importance of diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences in newsrooms. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.