Application Deadline: Sunday, December 15, 2024, 10:00 AM (PS
CatchLight is committed to harnessing the power of visual storytelling to drive meaningful change. The Fellowship is designed to support individuals who seek to engage audiences in innovative ways, amplifying the impact of their work through creative distribution strategies.
Interested individuals can explore the work of past and current Global Fellows.
Fellowship Overview
The CatchLight Global Fellowship focuses on knowledge-sharing and collaboration within the CatchLight community and the wider visual storytelling field. Fellows are expected to share their progress and insights through three key reporting methods during the Fellowship year:
- Regular updates on shared work
- Presentations of work and findings
- Visual documentation and data collection
An ideal candidate for the CatchLight Global Fellowship may be:
- A long-form storyteller with a project focused on creating tangible impact
- A leader with a vision to advance or grow the field of visual storytelling
- An educator developing innovative approaches to mentoring emerging storytellers
Proposals will be assessed based on how they employ and strengthen new methods, aiming to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
- Innovative Distribution: Testing new distribution methods for an existing project to effectively engage a specific audience through visuals.
- Community Activations: Exploring how visual storytelling can be used to engage targeted communities and address specific information needs.
- Field Sustainability: Developing systems and models that push the boundaries of the visual storytelling field or contribute to the overall media ecosystem.
CatchLight Global Fellowships are awarded for life. Fellows are encouraged to continue sharing their expertise beyond their fellowship year, offering mentorship and engaging with the community throughout their careers.
Fellowship Benefits
- $30,000 award
- Potential for additional funding through the CatchLight Impact Fund
- Paid travel and accommodations for the 2025 CatchLight Visual Storytelling Summit in San Francisco
- Personal development opportunities, including executive coaching
- Impact strategy and networking support from CatchLight staff and the extended network
- A dynamic community of Fellows and industry professionals, with opportunities for mentorship, education, and speaking engagements
Application Requirements
Applicants will be asked to provide the following:
- Fellowship Statement (200 words): A statement describing how visuals in general, and the applicant’s work specifically, engage audiences and create long-term impact.
- Project Description (250 words): A description of the proposed work, including its objectives.
- Distribution and Impact Plan (250 words): An explanation of how the applicant’s distribution, engagement, and/or impact strategies differ from current industry trends and how they identify the target audience.
- Impact Feedback Plan (100 words): A plan for gathering feedback to assess the impact of the proposed work.
- Timeline: A timeline for the proposed project, which may extend beyond the grant period.
- Budget Estimate: A budget estimate for the proposed work, detailing how CatchLight funds will be used (can exceed the award amount).
- Three Topics for Sharing Learnings: Three proposed topics for sharing insights with the CatchLight community.
- 10-20 Images: Images that, if awarded the fellowship, CatchLight can use in promotional materials.
- Three Professional References: Contact information for three professional references, including email and phone number.
- Short Bio
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
The CatchLight Global Fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity to help shape the future of visual storytelling. Applicants are encouraged to apply and share their work with a community of like-minded professionals committed to making a lasting impact.
