JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism
Applications have now closed.
Applications have closed for the JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism.
The objective of The J.B. Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism is to encourage quality coverage of rural and regional affairs by Australian journalists. The Award has been established through a private donation by Mr. J.B. Fairfax, AO, and is managed by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF), in collaboration with Rural Press Agricultural Publishing.
As a range of existing awards are already available for professional practitioners of rural journalism, The J.B. Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism deliberately focuses on encouraging undergraduate or postgraduate students of studies relevant to rural affairs to consider a career in rural journalism upon graduation.
One award of $10,000 is offered annually to a student to be used towards the costs of the student’s education.
Applicants for the award must:
- be enrolled in any undergraduate or postgraduate degree of relevance to rural affairs at an approved Australian education provider
- be aged 30 years or under
- submit a feature article of up to 1,200 words, exploring a contemporary issue, trend or activity of interest to rural and regional communities, of publication standard and including a minimum of four sources in the article; and
- demonstrate an active interest in rural affairs and a commitment to pursuing a career in rural journalism upon graduation.
The student whose application is judged as most meritorious will receive an award of $10,000 to be contributed towards the costs of their study. In addition, the student’s article will be published in a major Rural Press publication after the award is announced.
Articles submitted will be judged against the following criteria:
- appropriateness and significance of topic;
- use of quality resources;
- originality;
- clarity;
- accuracy; and
- grammar and writing style.
The selection panel will be comprised of Mr. J.B. Fairfax, AO, a representative of Rural Press Agricultural Publishing and a representative of the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation.
Timeline / How to Apply
Applications are now closed.
Further Information
For further information or if you have any questions please call (02) 9704 1234 or email foundation@rasf.org.au
Eligibility
Applications are open to students enrolled, or intending to enroll, in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in 2010 relevant to rural affairs. Evidence of current and/or proposed enrolment is required.
2009 Award Winner
The inaugural J.B. Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism was awarded in 2009 to Queensland University student Ms Brooke Hargraves. Brooke impressed the judging panel with her feature article "Emissions Omissions", helping her to win the $10,000 scholarship. Her writing skills and passion for rural affairs and her commitment to carving out a career in rural journalism convinced the judges that Brooke had a promising future.
Click here to read Brooke's article "Emissions Omissions" as published in RAS Times, the members' magazine of the RAS of NSW, June 2009, volume 7 #2.
Click here to read the press release.
