New York Times Announces David Carr Fellowship

The perfect tribute to a media columnist and innovator

The New York Times is establishing a fellowship named after late media columnist David Carr, the paper announced Monday. (Photo:Kimberly White/Getty Images)
The New York Times is establishing a fellowship named after late media columnist David Carr, the paper announced Monday. (Photo:Kimberly White/Getty Images) (Photo: Kimberly White/Getty Images)

The New York Times announced Monday morning that it would sponsor a fellowship named after David Carr, the beloved media columnist who died in February. Associate editor Sam Dolnick first proposed the idea.

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The David Carr Fellow will spend two years at the Times media desk. In a nod to Mr. Carr’s varied interests and online platforms, the fellow’s work could focus on “steady, sustained news stories; magazine-style features; investigative efforts; videography; or a mix of approaches,” a Times press release said.

An ideal candidate will have three years of experience, especially in digital and new media, and be eager to experiment further in these areas. They should also share “Mr. Carr’s commitment to holding power accountable and telling engaging, deeply reported stories,” the Times statement said.

It’s no surprise that the fellowship is seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds—after all, Mr. Carr was a drug-addicted single parent on welfare and writing for alternative weeklies before coming to the Times, where his fame grew thanks to both his incisive writing and his starring role in Page One, a documentary about the Times.

The educational aspect of the fellowship is particularly fitting, because Mr. Carr taught a communications course at Boston University last year.

Applicants need only submit a resume, five clips and a short (1,000 word essay). The application is due Nov. 14.

Bonus: The Times announcement includes a link to some of Mr. Carr’s best known columns and essays, which are worth reading as a reminder of his wit and emotional honesty.

New York Times Announces David Carr Fellowship