Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association Scholarships
Offered by Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association / Midwest Broadcast Journalism Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, the six-state regional association for radio and television newsrooms in the upper Midwest, awards two $1,500 scholarships each year through its Midwest Broadcast Journalism Foundation. The Jack Shelley Scholarship honors the legendary WHO Des Moines anchor and Iowa State University professor and recognizes outstanding promise in electronic journalism, while the MBJF Diversity Scholarship recognizes the same promise in a student who would improve the diversity of Midwest newsrooms.
Eligibility follows the association's service area: applicants must either live in or attend an accredited school in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students with at least one academic term remaining after the spring semester in which they apply.
Judges weigh three things across both awards: demonstrated dedication to broadcast journalism as a career, academic achievement, and hands-on experience — internships, part-time or full-time newsroom jobs, and volunteer work in broadcast journalism all count.
Eligibility
- Home address in — or attending an accredited school in — North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, or Minnesota
- Full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- At least one academic term remaining beyond the spring semester before graduation
- Demonstrated dedication to a broadcast journalism career
How To Apply
- Complete the scholarship application posted on the MBJA scholarships page during the application window and submit materials documenting your broadcast journalism experience, academics, and career plans by the mid-February deadline. One application covers consideration for both the Jack Shelley and MBJF Diversity scholarships as applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jack Shelley?
Jack Shelley was a pioneering broadcast journalist at WHO Radio in Des Moines who covered World War II and later spent decades teaching journalism at Iowa State University. The MBJA's top scholarship carries his name.
Do I need to study in the Midwest?
You qualify if you either have a home address in the six-state region (ND, SD, NE, IA, WI, MN) or attend an accredited school there — so a Minnesota native studying out of state can still apply.
Can graduate students apply?
Yes. Both scholarships are open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students with at least one term of school remaining after the spring semester.