For over 130 years, National Geographic has been deploying the power of storytelling to inspire a spirit of adventure, desire to explore, and a passion for the planet. These stories and the people telling them have not always been representative or reflective of all members of our diverse global community. In keeping with Nat Geo’s ongoing commitment to elevating and supporting Black storytellers, the National Geographic Media Scholarship has been created for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to join the next generation of storytellers.
Recognizing that HBCUs are a significant driver of diverse talent, National Geographic’s program will provide $10,000 scholarships to students attending HBCUs across the United States. Additionally, recipients will have the opportunity to participate in a unique two-week immersion program at National Geographic’s headquarters in Washington, DC. While there, participants will gain valuable real world experience working alongside some of the best and brightest storytellers in the world. They will also be assigned a Nat Geo mentor, who will remain committed to supporting their mentees’ journey through their eventual entry into the workforce.
“As the Chair of National Geographic’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team, we are very proud to see the National Geographic Media Scholarship launch, demonstrating the real investment being put towards recruiting diverse talent at every level,” said Karen Greenfield, National Geographic’s Senior Vice President of Content Planning & Operations. “The scholarship program is our latest effort in working towards our long-term goal of building a stronger talentpipeline to ensure diverse voices are represented among our community of employees and storytellers.”
Last year, a year-long residency program for emerging BIPoC journalists and content creators was established. Open to candidates in the early stages of their careers, the program brought residents into various areas of the organization while receiving close mentoring from Nat Geo staff. For more on National Geographic’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.