Media Fellows update 

After three decades, 350 Fellows, thousands of articles, and countless people engaged with the biggest scientific news stories of our time, the British Science Association has announced the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) as a new partner to deliver the Media Fellowship programme from 2022 onwards. You can read the full announcement here. 

The BSA believes that ABSW are an ideal partner for Media Fellowships, as they are well-connected with media professionals, already run training and development programmes, and have an active network of members. This decision will enable the BSA to devote more resources to growing our programmes that embody our vision of enabling science to be more relevant, representative, and connected to society.  

We'd like to express our gratitude to all the Fellows, media hosts, sponsors, organisations and individuals that have been a part of the scheme since 1987. Your support has enabled the programme to grow and be successful for all these years.

Find the full list of Media Fellow alumni here and a Media Fellow alumni learnings resource here.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Media Fellowship scheme, please contact [email protected].

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Essential documents and timeline 2020/2021

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions that aren't answered in these documents: 

• Terms & Conditions which includes a summary of the financial support provided during a placement
• Letter to confirm your employer supports your participation 
• Person Specification for Media Fellows
• May-August 2020: Open call for applications within sponsoring institutions
• September - October 2020: Applications close/shortlisting process. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by BSA. All applicants are notified about the outcome of their application as they are selected
• November 2020: virtual briefing/training sessions
• November 2020: Placements allocated
• January - March 2021: Fellows complete a two-to-six week placement, booked according to the availability of the media host and Fellow
• Mid 2021: Leadership day 
• For more information on becoming a Potential Fellow, please download this overview. 

The BSA is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and want Media Fellowships to be open to all. There are a number of ways we are working to support participation in the scheme: 

• We collect anonymised diversity data as part of the Media Fellow application process 
• We provide guidance for our partners to reduce bias in the promotion, application and shortlisting process
• We work with Fellows to accommodate requests for part-time, remote, and flexible working 
• We offer placements in a range of UK locations
• We ask all Media Hosts for their diversity policy and accessibility statements. 

Eligibility

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer Media Fellowships to freelancers, undergraduate students, those who work in PR or communications, those who are based outside the UK, or those who want to change career full time into science communication.

To be eligible to apply for the Media Fellowships scheme you have to fulfil the following criteria:

• are a practising scientist, social scientist, clinician or engineer and have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in your field following your highest degree. PhD students are eligible although we don't recommend it due to the heavy workload
• are employed, and based part or full time in the UK 
• work at any level in an academic or research institution, industry, civil service or any other similar organisation
• have your employer's/funder's consent to be released on full pay for the period of the Fellowships. Annual leave may be used for part of the placement.
• agree to all the terms and conditions of the Fellowship, including mandatory attendance to the training/leadership days and the financial support provided