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The Scholarship
In memory of Bridget O’Brien’s spirt of exploring the world and forging bridges between geographies and cultures, the scholarship funds original student journalism with a global reach and local consequence.
After her last quarter at UCLA, Bridget lived with coffee farmers in Nicaragua. She documented the experience in photos and words in a feature she wrote called, “A Cooperative Cup,” published in The Bruin on March 15, 2004 and her photos were published in USA Today.
Bridget’s reporting represented the Daily Bruin at its very best — ambitious, enlightening, captivating. The scholarship committee wants Bridget’s Nicaragua trip to be a model for applicants and provide the opportunity to send Bruin photographers, reporters and other journalists on similar journeys.
Using scholarship funds, individual Bruin staffers or small teams could go to all corners of the globe to report on issues that affect UCLA. They could follow the work of UCLA researchers, report on student movements at campuses in Europe or Asia. They could visit villages in Africa or Latin America where UCLA basketball and soccer stars learned their sports.
Bridget’s enterprising example should guide applicants, but don’t worry about mimicking her project.
How to Apply
Deadline: Midnight (PST) on Friday, January 27, 2012.
Finalists will be interviewed at UCLA
Step One: Each individual must register with the Foundation.
Step Two: Answer the following three questions and e-mail a single Word document and Excel file to apply@rememberingbridget.com.
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Outline your journalistic background and ambitions. (300 words or fewer; each applicant on a team should answer this question separately)
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Describe your project proposal. Descriptions should include destination details, the topic you want to cover, any logistical concerns or roadblocks and, most importantly, explain the topic’s relevance to The Bruin’s readership.
If you are applying with a team, explain each member’s expected contribution.
You should research and, ideally, contact potential sources both at UCLA and abroad to ensure the feasibility of the topic. If selected, you are expected to produce work based on your application proposal.
(1,500 words or fewer; one response per project)
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Draft a complete travel budget and itinerary according to the best estimates possible. Costs should include transportation, lodging, equipment rental/purchases, per diem requirements and any other expenses.
Please include as much detail as possible (i.e. Web site references to support your travel estimates).
Final award amounts are flexible and at the discretion of the scholarship board, but keep in mind these budgetary guidelines: not more than $3,000 per individual or $2,000 per team member. Your estimate should be as accurate as possible; should you be chosen you will be expected to spend close to your estimated budget. Your itinerary should reflect a realistic schedule abroad, as well as your publishing schedule upon return. (One response per project, preferably a single-page spreadsheet).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the most important aspect of the application?
The selection committee strongly considers the relevance of proposed stories to the campus community. Because UCLA is a major research university, the school has initiatives and connections on every continent. The foundation encourages applicants to pursue topics that directly affect student life at UCLA, which may or may not have institutional ties to UCLA such a research center or a visiting professor. Consider the full spectrum of student life: academics, sports, art, immigration, politics, activism, finances, commercial enterprises and much more.
Q. Are teams more likely to be selected?
Previous projects were typically reported and produced by two-person teams. However, the foundation encourages submissions from individuals or 3-4 person teams. In any configuration, be specific in your application about the expected role of each contributor. The scope of your project should be an appropriate fit for the team.
