University of Witwatersrand Ruth First Fellowship Program 2021

The Ruth First Fellowship is a prestigious award made by the University of Witwatersrand that enables journalists, writers, researchers, filmmakers or photographers to pursue in-depth projects that can be presented in ways that influence thinking, discussion and debate in South Africa. Their goal is to support a new generation of public intellectuals capable of immersing themselves deeply in the most pressing issues and ideas of the day, engage in original research and tell great stories – presenting their work in ways that can engage a new generation of audiences.

The fellowship is intended to allow Fellows to pursue an in-depth project of original research. It should be ground-breaking and in keeping with the tradition of Ruth First’s politically and socially relevant research and journalism.

Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.

The theme for the Ruth First Fellowship Program 2021 would be Big Tech and the Public Sphere. This year’s Ruth First fellowship will seek to tease out the meaning, paradoxes and contradictions of the impact of the big technology companies and their instruments with regard to the public sphere. The fellows would They will be expected to devote at least 50% of their time in April-July 2021 to the Fellowship. work at the Annual Ruth First Memorial Lecture in August and to submit it for publication in appropriate forums.