Journalism & Media Training | SRI | Robert R. McCormick Foundation

SRI: Covering the New Veterans

FREE — Plus, each attendee to receive $25 gas card and complimentary lunch!

Registration is limited. Act now!

MAY 8 IN SPRINGFIELD & MAY 10 IN CHICAGO

More than 2 million American troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since the start of American operations there more than a decade ago. Many Veterans of those wars have returned home; many more will return in the months and years ahead, seeking jobs, housing and health care for themselves and their families. What the New Veterans find, however, is that government cannot meet those needs. That’s why a nationwide effort is underway to persuade private agencies and businesses to fill the gap. This day-long program, offered in Springfield on Wednesday, May 8, and in Arlington Heights on Friday, May 10, is designed to help journalists tell the stories of America’s New Veterans and their efforts to fully rejoin their communities.

View this flyer for more information.

SRI Application Timeline

November 15: Deadline to apply. You will receive an email confirming that your application has been received.

December 1: Applicants will learn if they are finalists for funding. Finalists may be asked for additional information.

December 15: Deadline for finalists to submit supplemental information.

January 15: Finalists will be notified if they are recipients of funds to host an SRI.

Poynter's Role in the SRI Program

The McCormick Foundation partners with The Poynter Institute to administer the Specialized Reporting Institutes Program. Poynter oversees the application process, answers applicants’ questions, works with McCormick to select SRI hosts and then serves as a resource for hosts as they carry out and evaluate their events. Poynter will also work with hosts to extend the learning from their event through a resource page on News University, a Webinar at Poynter's NewsU, and a live chat on Poynter.org. Through this partnership, McCormick and Poynter hope to ensure a diversity of participants and speakers at each SRI, increase the online reach of the training, build community around the training events, create consistency within the SRI program and enhance the evaluation of the work.

For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still need assistance, please send an email to McCormickSRI@poynter.org

The McCormick Foundation is offering grants to fund six to eight Specialized Reporting Institutes (SRI) in 2013. Each SRI should focus on a timely, important topic for working journalists and provide intensive training for journalists and others who are reporting, writing or teaching on that topic.

SRIs are designed to meet the growing need to provide journalists and others with subject-specific expertise and practical reporting training in key issues. An SRI is organized and administered by a host (typically a non-profit or university), which plans and carries out the program. The training event convenes a diverse group of journalists, often from small to mid-sized news organizations, plus educators, for a program lasting about two days. Participants represent all media platforms, and grant funds cover all of participants’ travel, lodging and tuition. SRI hosts typically receive $30,000-$50,000 to cover the costs of the institute.

The McCormick Foundation, working with The Poynter Institute, invites applications to host an SRI in 2013. If you would like to host a Specialized Reporting Institute in 2013, please review the guidelines for submitting an application and developing an SRI program, the goals of the SRI program, and then complete the online application. The application deadline is 5 p.m. EST on Nov. 16, 2012.

How to Apply

Be familiar with the goals of a Specialized Reporting Institute to ensure that your proposal will seek to achieve those goals.
Know these requirements for an SRI and be prepared to address them in your application.
Select your topic and plan the key components of your proposal: location, faculty or workshop leaders, participant recruitment, the topic and timing of the online chat, Webinar and any other elements that will enhance the effectiveness and impact of your SRI. (Here are previous SRI topics, hosts and locations.)
Prepare a budget. You'll find a budget template on the application form. You may allocate 7.5 percent of the SRI funds to indirect costs. In your budget, please identify those indirect costs.
Fill out the online application by 5 p.m. EST on Nov. 16, 2012. Note: You must register as a user at Poynter News University to apply.

SRI: Covering the New Veterans

SRI Application Timeline

Poynter's Role in the SRI Program

How to Apply

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