Applications are open for the Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism 2024. O’Brien Fellows spend nine months reporting stories with the power to compel change. Backed by Marquette University, the O’Brien Fellowship helps news professionals dig deep while mentoring student journalists.
The program honors Marquette alumni Alicia and Perry O’Brien. Their daughter, Patricia Frechette, and her husband, Peter, donated $8.3 million in 2012 to create the fellowship. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a co-founder and partner.
About Marquette University
Marquette University /m??r?k?t/ is a private, coeducational Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the central United States. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of Milwaukee.
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Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship
Aim and Benefits of Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship
- A stipend of $75,000 for nine months for your salary, paid to your sponsoring organization, or directly to the fellow in the case of independent journalists.
- A residency allowance based on family requirements for fellows moving to the Milwaukee metropolitan area for the duration of the fellowship: up to $7,000 for a single, married or partnered fellow, up to $9,000 for a fellow with one child, up to $10,000 for a fellow with two children, up to $12,000 for a fellow with three or more children. Fellows submit rent receipts from the rental property owner. The allowance is paid in equal monthly installments over the course of the fellowship.
- A moving allowance of up to $7,000. (Fellows from the Milwaukee metropolitan area are not eligible for a moving allowance.)
- A travel and research allowance up to $9,000. This covers project-related travel as well as technology, data and document costs and equipment needs.
- Employee benefits continue to be paid by the fellow’s employer, where applicable. Independent journalists can choose to select Marquette employee health insurance.
- Fellows and their spouses are eligible during the fellowship for tuition remission (up to seven credits) for courses offered by Marquette University.
Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship Courses
Requirements for Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship Qualification
- Open to staff-employed or independent journalists residing in the United States or its territories.
- Applicants should have at least five years of professional experience and produce journalism regularly as an employee or freelancer.
- Applicants may be connected to print operations, radio, television, websites, podcasts, online publications, wire services, or magazines of general public interest.
- There are no academic prerequisites.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Marquette University O’Brien Fellowship
- A proposal to produce a rigorous, multimedia public service journalism project with the potential to have major impact, lead to significant reform, and explain how individuals and groups can identify creative solutions to social problems.
- The ability to complete the project during the fellowship.
- The ability to integrate Marquette students as part of a reporting team.
- The capacity to ensure the greatest possible exposure for the reporting once completed.
- An advisory committee consisting of distinguished journalists and Marquette faculty and alumni interview candidates from a pool of finalists recommended by College of Communication journalism faculty. Following those interviews, the advisory committee will send a list of recommended fellows to the dean of the Diederich College of Communication for final review.
Application Deadline
January 19, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
Marquette University on www.marquette.edu to apply
For more details visit: Marquette University website.
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