Here’s all the info on the new fellowship for citizen journalists in Detroit — apply by June 20.

Overview

Detour Media is pleased to announce the Emerging Voices program, which will select six fellows from neighborhoods across the city of Detroit for an immersive training in citizen journalism best practices. Fellows will be paid by Detour to produce stories for the Detour newsletter and partner news outlets, and to hold public events in their neighborhoods, facilitated with Detour. Emerging Voices is designed to tell the story of Detroit’s present and future in the voice of its residents.

Detour Media LLC is the publisher of Detour Detroit, a digital-first local news outlet designed to grow community and help Detroiters access journalism relevant to their lives. The Emerging Voices fellowship is funded through the Detroit Journalism Engagement Fund, a partnership between the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, the Ford Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Apply online by 11:50 p.m., June 20.

Who should apply

The Emerging Voices fellowship is open to candidates of all ages and backgrounds who live in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck and have no experience in professional journalism or are early in their careers. If you are passionate about your community; have a love for writing or listening to and telling stories; and would like to strengthen your skills as a writer, you are encouraged to apply.  

This program aims to deepen coverage of underrepresented communities in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. We will give preference to residents who have lived here most of their lives, and are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who live outside of Greater Downtown.

How the fellowship works

Fellowship dates: July 2019 – January 2020.

Fellows will be expected to participate in an initial day of training and monthly workshops, and will work closely with Detour staff to produce several articles over the course of the fellowship, as well as a community event in their neighborhood. They will gain hands-on journalism skills as they work to tell stories about their own neighborhoods for a local audience. They will have the opportunity to learn from local media experts, work closely with an editor and mentor at Detour, see their work published and foster engagement while planning an event for their peers.

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $200 and should expect to spend about 12 hours a month on fellowship-related work, trainings and activities. Detour will work with fellows to accommodate scheduling constraints due to work, school, childcare or other responsibilities.

How to apply

Fill out this online form by 11:50 p.m. on Thursday, June 20. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis (so it’s to your benefit to apply sooner than the deadline). Candidates will find out if they have been selected by early July.

We are hosting three public info sessions in June to answer questions about Detour, the fellowship and the application process. Event details and links to RSVP on Facebook:

June 10, noon-2 p.m.: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, 1211 Trumbull Ave., Detroit

June 10, 6-8 p.m.: Eastside Community Network, 4401 Conner St., Detroit

June 13, 6-8 p.m.: Neighborhood HomeBase, 7426 W McNichols Rd., Detroit

If you need help with your application, have concerns that aren’t addressed here or aren’t sure if you qualify, you can contact fellowship coordinator Ken Coleman with questions.