NEW YORK: To help develop a new generation of investigative reporters in an era of cutbacks at major news organizations, UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism has announced a call for entries for its second annual competition for three year-long fellowships in investigative reporting. Funded by the Sandler Family Supporting Foundation, The Einhorn Family Charitable Trust, Scott and Jennifer Fearon and Ian and Rita Isaacs, the fellowships will be awarded in May 2008.

They are open to all working journalists, but preference will be given to graduates of UC Berkeley's master's program in journalism. Applicants will be chosen based on their qualifications as well as their potential, and on the proposed areas of investigation they intend to pursue during the year-long program. There are no educational prerequisites. Fellowships will be administered by the school's Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) and the program's advisory board. The board comprises representatives from some of the nation's top media outlets.

 "More than last year, supporting the development and practice of in-depth journalism in the public interest is critical given continuing cutbacks in broadcast and print newsrooms across the country," says Lowell Bergman, the director of the Investigative Reporting Program. "The IRP's fellowship program is unique in the country. Our goal is to provide a model for academic and non-profit organizations everywhere who are dedicated to nurturing the kind of critical cutting-edge reporting that makes democracy possible."

Fellows will be salaried employees of the University of California with the job classification of staff research associate II and with an annual salary of approximately $45,000, with health benefits. They also will beable to audit UC Berkeley classes and use campus research facilities. The fellowships have been established to augment an endowment created bythe Reva and David Logan Foundation that funds a permanent program ininvestigative reporting at the journalism school.

That endowment and elated programs and scholarships are also funded by gifts from Robert Bishop, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Lynn and Jules Kroll Fund, the Pearson Foundation (UK) and the Gladys P. & Alfredo I. Rodriguez Fund. The deadline for fellowship applications for the academic year 2008-2009is April 1. This year's recipients will be announced on May 17. Thefellows' year-long tenure will begin on Sept. 1.