Enter the Authentic Letter Scholarship Contest
February 25, 2004
Pass This Along to a Talented Writer
Dear Friends of Narco News,
This year's full session of The School of Authentic Journalism promises to be better than ever. An absolutely astounding
faculty of gifted and renowned journalism professionals is being put together for this intensive ten-day program, and
this year's campus has the space for a significantly larger student body. This can mean more journalism students than
ever before and more Authentic Journalists, trained in the skills, ethics, and issues of reporting on the drug war and
democracy from Latin America, who will be challenging mass media distortions in the years to come.
The Narco News School of Authentic Journalism has offered one scholarship slot to The Fund for Authentic Journalism as a
special incentive to help us to recruit good writers in our fundraising campaign on behalf of Narco News. This
scholarship provides the ability for somebody to attend the ten-day session, tuition free, with room and board included.
Narco News already has a rigorous application process for finding the most promising scholarship applicants. Duplicating
it didn't seem to make sense. Since the art of good writing and the art of successful fundraising are so entwined, here
is what we're going to do:
Announcing: The Authentic Letter Scholarship Contest
Award: One scholarship to the next full session of The School of Authentic Journalism.
(The exact dates will soon be announced: The session will begin in late July and run through early August.)
This scholarship covers all costs for room, board, meals, educational supplies, field trip expenses and all else
required for full participation in the full ten-day intensive course: everything except the transportation costs to the
South American city nearest to our campus (the winner will be met at the airport).
This scholarship is perfect for aspiring journalists or interested non-journalists, especially talented writers and
community organizers, who wish to take advantage of a rare and unique educational opportunity.
The scholarship winner will be invited to attend all sessions of the J-School and will be subject to the same privileges
and requirements as the other scholarship recipients.
Entering the Contest:
To enter, submit a letter appealing to your fellow readers for contributions to fund Narco News and the J-School.
Letters will be reviewed and edited as appropriate by Narco News, and those letters accepted will be sent, via email, to
more than 2,000 subscribers on the Narco News alerts list. They may also be published on The Narcosphere and or Narco
News itself.
Whichever letter generates the most response (readers, as well as your own friends and supporters, will be able to
donate through a specific online credit card link bearing your name, or mark your name on or inside the envelope bearing
their check sent by postal mail to P.O. Box 71051, Madison Heights, MI 48071.
We'll be measuring response in terms of total funds raised in contributions of $100 dollars or less, or the first $100
of any larger contribution, in specific response to your letter, and received by midnight, March 18, 2004. The winner
will be announced by the end of March, leaving time for runners up to apply for the regular Authentic Journalism
scholarships.
As of this writing, we need to raise $6,500 to qualify for the next installment of our matching grant. When we meet that
goal, Narco News will be able to announce J-school details, exact dates, and open up the regular scholarship process.
Please submit your letters to info@authenticjournalism.org, with the word "CONTEST" in the subject title. Early
submissions may have a competitive edge because there will be more days prior to March 18 for readers to respond to your
letter. So get writing and good luck to all!
FAQ
Q: What language does my letter have to be in?
A: Your letter can be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Q: Is there any reason to enter the contest if I know I won't be able to attend this J-school?
A: Yes! In addition to helping a cause you believe in, we'll name the scholarship after you. If you win the contest, but
can't attend, we will honor you by naming this special scholarship after you and granting it to the most promising
applicant Narco News can find. Both you and your replacement at J-School will receive a certificate of your
accomplishment suitable for framing.
Q: I was hoping that through winning the regular scholarship from Narco News I might also be able to get at least some
of my travel expenses covered. If I win this contest, would I still be eligible to apply for such travel assistance if
it is available?
A: Yes. You would still be fully eligible to apply for any travel scholarships being offered by Narco News for this
J-School session.
Q. If I have already attended the School of Authentic Journalism, or I've been invited back as a professor this time, or
if I'm an experienced journalist who may be more appropriate as a professor than as a student, may I still enter this
contest?
A. By all means, yes: We imagine that graduates and professors from last previous J-School sessions have great potential
to write a successful fund appeal, because you can write articulately from personal experience about the importance of
the J-School. Narco News does reserve final decisions regarding the promotion of professors and will be the final
arbiter of any proposed amendments to the award by the winner. However, if you've already attended the J-School, or have
been asked to teach at this upcoming session, winning this Fund for Authentic Journalism scholarship will assure that
your room and board are paid for by us, which, as professors know, because they pay their own room and board for the
privilege of working with the outstanding students and fun of being with each other, the award does count for something
extra.
Fine print: Narco News reserves the right to use or not use any letter submitted for any reason. In entering this
contest you agree to indemnify Narco News and The Fund for Authentic Journalism from any claim, expenses, or problems
you may encounter as a result. The idea is to support a great cause, and have a good time doing it, and this contest is
offered in that spirit.
********
Andrew Grice, Treasurer The Fund for Authentic Journalism P.O. Box 71051 Madison Heights, MI 48071 http://www.authenticjournalism.org