Student Applications Wanted for ASA/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship

Students, are you interested in journalism? Do you want an invaluable experience that also advances a statistical perspective? If so, apply for the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship. The selected fellow will spend 10 weeks with a media outlet next summer as the ASA-sponsored Mass Media Fellow (MMF).

“If the idea of turning the devilish trickiness of statistics into something the general public can enjoy is something that appeals to you, the fellowship is the place to be,” says Nick Thieme, the ASA’s inaugural MMF. “The AAAS Mass Media Program is a chance to reach out to hundreds of thousands of people and share with them knowledge they wouldn’t otherwise have. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. If your time with the program is anything like mine, with no exaggeration, it will change your life!”

An undergraduate major in statistics at Carnegie Mellon University and then a graduate student in computer science at the University of Maryland, Thieme spent 10 weeks with Slate in its NYC and DC offices, publishing more than 20 pieces. He also wrote two engaging pieces for ThisIsStatistics, including “Stats in Action: 3 Data Journalism Skills I’ll Take Back to Grad School.”

Besides the impact of his time as a fellow, Thieme commented, “The summer is also an incredibly fun time. I was nervous all summer long … but there was nothing quite like the joy that I felt during and at the end of the program.”

Led by AAAS and supported by many organizations, the fellowship is a highly successful program designed to “enhance coverage of science-related issues in the media in order to improve public understanding and appreciation of science and technology.” The program has supported more than 700 fellows in its more than 40-year history.

Applications will be accepted through January 15 on the AAAS website.

For more information, visit the ASA’s website.