The Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families is a national resource for journalists who cover children and family issues. Its mission is to enhance reporting about issues and institutions affecting disadvantaged children and their families and to increase public awareness about the concerns facing at-risk children. The Center is funded by The Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Md., the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated exclusively to improving the futures of disadvantaged children. The Center is part of the University of Maryland College of Journalism.
Annual fellowships for print and broadcast journalists to attend an intensive week-long conference on children's issues cover instruction, lodging, meals and reading material and a travel subsidy of up to $300. Previous conferences on "The American Family: A Tradition Under Siege," "Violence and the Young," "Protecting the Welfare of Children," "Rewriting the Social Contract: Are Families Better Off?," "Rethinking the Blame Game: New Approaches to Covering Child Abuse and Protection" and "Mapping the Maze of Children's Health from Infancy to Adolescence" have attracted a strong field of applicants. Thirty fellowships are awarded annually. The annual conference is held in June each year, with application deadlines in March. Participants join leading authorities from government, universities, research groups and the private sector for discussions on policy issues as well as practical reporting techniques and new models of children and family reporting from around the country. Previous speakers include Attorney General Janet Reno, Children's Defense Fund president Marian Wright Edelman, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, former Philadelphia Inquirer editor Eugene Roberts and other key decision-makers and journalists. Previous recipients have said: "Among the most useful conferences I've ever attended."--Barbara Vobejda, The Washington Post. "Better focused and better people who are doing real things than anything I have been to in 22 years in this business."--Jane Daugherty, Detroit Free Press.
The Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism honor distinguished coverage of disadvantaged and at-risk children and their families, and the institutions and agencies charged with serving them. First-place winners in ten categories receive $1,000 awards and are eligible for $2,000 study/travel grants. Categories include newspapers, magazines, television, radio and photojournalism. In 1995, a radio documentary entitled "Little Wanderers", produced by Tovia Smith for the radio series SOUNDPRINT, won a Casey Medal. Applications for the 1996 awards are due in August each year. Work published or broadcast from June to June is eligible.
Cathy Trost, Director
Casey Journalism Center
8701-B Adelphi Road
Adelphi, MD 20783
Phone: 301-445-4971
Website: http://casey.umd.edu