Visiting Arab Journalist Program

The Wilson Center 

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the official memorial to our nation’s 28th president. More than just a collection of marble pillars and famous quotes, the Center is “a living memorial,” a gathering place for some of the best and brightest scholars and experts from around the world. Their work is the centerpiece of our activity and informs the nation’s public policy debates with nonpartisan and relevant research and information.

Eligibility

This competition is open to Arab men and women from, and working in, the Middle East or North Africa in the Arabic media. Applications will be accepted from members of the print, television, radio or electronic media. Candidates must be currently working as reporters and columnists or broadcasters.

Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience and must be able to work in both written and spoken English and Arabic. Applicants must be able to hold a valid passport and obtain a J1 visa.

The Center will assist in the visa process.

Length of Appointment and Responsibilities

Journalists will be in residence for three months at the Woodrow Wilson Center from April 1 - June 30, 2024. While at the Wilson Center, they will be expected to carry out a full schedule of independent research and writing based on the topic outlined in the research proposal submitted at the time of application. They will also be strongly encouraged to participate occasionally in conferences organized by the Center's Middle East Program, and in other ways to participate in the intellectual life of the Wilson Center and the larger community of Middle East observers in Washington.

Stipend

The stipend provided is $5,000 per month. In addition, the Wilson Center will pay roughly three-quarters of the health insurance premiums for the visiting journalist, and the journalist will pay roughly one-quarter of the cost. The journalist will be provided with suitable work space, a Windows-based computer, and where feasible, a part-time research assistant. The Wilson Center Library provides access to digital resources, its book and journal collections, and to the Library of Congress, university and special libraries in the area, and other research facilities.

Procedures and Deadline for Applications

Applications must be submitted by February 7, 2024.

Applicants should submit the following materials in English electronically to mep@wilsoncenter.org. All documents must be in PDF format. Email subject line should read "VAJP 2024 - Applicant Name". 

1) Completed Application Form, found at the top of the page. 

2) a 1,000 word maximum description of a proposed project that would benefit from a stay in Washington, D.C.
- a detailed explanation of the research topic relevant to the Middle East and the United States;
- including the importance and originality of the project; and
- the significance of the project to contemporary Middle East/ United States policy issues;

3) a CV or resume

4) a writing sample

5) two letters of recommendation, one of which should not be from someone with whom the applicant has worked.

Recommendation letters should address the quality and significance of the research, and the capabilities and achievements of the applicant.

Application letters and letters of recommendation should be sent to

E-mail: mep@wilsoncenter.org

All applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Final selection will be made by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Evaluation Criteria

The basic criteria for selection are:
1) the importance and originality of the research project,
2) the quality of the proposal in definition, organization, clarity and scope,
3) the quality of the writing sample, and
4) the professional achievements of the applicant.

*This program is made possible by the generous grant provided to the Woodrow Wilson Center's Middle East Program by Dr. David Ottaway, a Middle East Fellow.