The Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the New York-based Endeavor Foundation Inc. are pleased to announce the launch of the Liang-Zhou Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.
Established with a generous $1.5 million endowment gift from the Endeavor Foundation, the Liang-Zhou Nieman Fellowship Fund will support journalists selected for the Nieman program who work in or are from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The fund may additionally be used to finance journalism programming and initiatives that support coverage of those areas.
Given China’s global significance, the Nieman Foundation is eager to bolster independent journalism that raises awareness of the issues and events unfolding in the country and has welcomed more than 30 journalists from China as fellows since 1981. Six have come to Nieman from Hong Kong and three from Taiwan. Nieman also has hosted numerous journalists from other countries with experience covering China.
The Liang-Zhou Fund honors the memory of the influential Chinese political theorist, philosopher and journalist Liang Qichao and his eldest grandchild, Zhou Nianci.
Zhou’s daughter Ann Bennett Spence (Bian An), an Endeavor Foundation board member and author of books on China, said, “Coming from both China and the U.S., and having close family in both countries, I understand firsthand the importance of encouraging the exchange of journalism and narratives that will allow readers in both countries better understand one another. After all, that’s what my great-grandfather Liang Qichao sought in his journalism, and what my mother Zhou Nianci also sought throughout her life.”
Nieman Foundation Curator Ann Marie Lipinski added: “Accurate journalism about China is vitally important to advancing our understanding of the nation and Nieman has long been committed to supporting this work. We are grateful to Ann Bennett Spence and her colleagues at Endeavor Foundation for their generous commitment to this new initiative.”
Journalists selected for the Nieman Fellowship program spend two semesters at Harvard University, where they take a broad range of courses, participate in seminars with leading professors and researchers, develop new skills in workshops and writing classes and collaborate with Nieman classmates — all distinguished journalists from around the globe — as well as with Harvard students and faculty. Following their year on campus, the fellows join a global network of Nieman alumni who support each other in their professional work.
The Liang-Zhou Nieman Fellowship Fund may be used in the future to finance articles in Nieman publications relating to China and media news in the country; the translation of articles from English to Chinese and from Chinese to English; events such as conferences, seminars, trainings and workshops; and special projects that reflect the spirit of the gift, such as photo essays, podcasts, online articles, documentaries and other reporting that illuminates developments in China that might otherwise go uncovered.
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard educates leaders in journalism, promotes innovation and elevates the standards of the profession. In addition to its fellowship program, the foundation publishes Nieman Reports, a website and print magazine covering thought leadership in journalism; Nieman Journalism Lab, a website reporting on the future of news, innovation and best practices in the digital media age; and Nieman Storyboard, a website showcasing exceptional narrative journalism and nonfiction storytelling.
