New scholarship for environmental reporting announced by Medill and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy
Students admitted to Medill’s graduate journalism degree can receive funding
EVANSTON, ILL. -- Today Medill announced the Trienens Institute Scholars program – a scholarship that will support two journalism graduate students each year, starting with the 2024-25 academic year.
The Trienens Institute Scholars program, with funding from Northwestern’s Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, will support students committed to covering environmental stories with a focus on solutions, health and ecojustice. Trienens Institute Scholars will be selected for their academic excellence, their passion for covering social and sustainability issues, and their vision for the role of journalism in spurring action on these issues. The scholarship program is available to students who are admitted to the graduate journalism Health, Environment and Science specialization. Each student will receive a $15,000 stipend toward their tuition.
The program provides additional support for dynamic reporting projects that Scholars will follow locally, regionally and globally with a mission to:
- Produce high-impact environmental stories through immersive field reporting.
- Encourage further stories to engage hearts and minds in decision-making and action.
- Publish stories to major media for wide audience engagement.
- Promote continuous impact through career-focused environmental communicators.
“Some of the most critically important news stories today highlight how environmental issues are affecting all aspects of our lives,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “We need more reporters who are well versed in how to report on these issues so that policy makers and citizens can understand them. These new scholarships with the Trienens Institute and Medill will help prepare the next generation of journalists highlighting these important issues.”
The Trienens Institute supports global sustainability and energy solutions through transformational research, interdisciplinary education and public engagement. Medill’s Trienens Institute Scholars program advances to the current generation the work of the late Paula M. Trienens (BSJ47), a Medill alumna and a woman ahead of her time who took leadership roles at Northwestern and in environmental and science institutions with global results. The Scholars program also builds on a long history of collaboration between Medill and the Trienens Institute, including opportunities for embedded journalism with Trienens partners and researchers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Medill to support the development of journalists who are committed to accurate, timely reporting on the critical issues we all face as citizens on this planet,” said Ted Sargent, co-executive director of the Trienens Institute, Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “This scholarship builds on our existing educational offerings across programs at Northwestern.”
Students admitted to the Health, Environment and Science specialization who are committed to environmental reporting are automatically considered for the scholarship.