Classes, Research and More
Knight Fellows learn quickly that one of the world's great learning institutions lies waiting for them. Fellows spend the academic year, from early September to mid-June, pursuing their interests in a variety of ways. They take courses in all departments, including such professional schools as Law, Medicine and Business. They connect with experts at Stanford's more than 100 research centers and institutes. And they work with mentors on a specific journalism problem, challenge or opportunity of their choosing.
Fred Turner teaching Digital Journalism
A Fellow's path over the course of a year is as individualized as the journalist. Candidates outline how they would use their year at Stanford, including the element of journalism they propose to focus on, as part of their application. Once they get here and during the year, they use faculty, staff and the advice of former fellows to find the combination that works best for them.
Knight Fellows have no prescribed curriculum. Knight Fellows attend classes as auditors and they do not receive course credit. Most fellows do all or most of the work in some classes, as a way of challenging themselves. And if no regular course meets their specific needs, they often follow self-directed reading programs, with the guidance of key faculty members.
By the end of the year, Fellows are expected to have something tangible to show for their year - perhaps a symposium they have organized, or the beginnings of an creative plan for a journalism innovation, or ways that writers might use new storytelling tools. These are published on the Knight Fellowships website, so that others can benefit from them.
