The Literary Reportage concentration brings together traditional journalism's emphasis on rigorous reporting and research with the emphasis of the MFA writing workshop model on close professional faculty mentorship. To this we add the methods NYU Journalism has developed in its Portfolio honors track, in which students learn how to build a coherent body of work. The aim is to publish in professional venues during the course of study and, of course, beyond.
Literary Reportage students take the basic sequence of Writing, Research and Reporting I and II, and the two-course Portfolio Workshop sequence from the Specialized Reporting group of courses. In addition, they take courses designed to deepen their reporting and research skills as well as their understanding of literary technique. There is an apprenticeship opportunity and a master's project in the form of a substantial piece of literary reportage of up to 10,000 words in length.
We believe that the finest long-form nonfiction is always in conversation with the best thinking of traditional academic disciplines. Therefore, in addition to their writing workshops and reading seminars that NYU Journalism offers, Literary Reportage students will be directed towards the parts of the university where they can gain mastery in the subjects they propose in their application.
How is the Literary Reportage concentration different from the existing field of study in Magazine Writing or from CRC, BER, SHERP, Reporting New York, or Reporting the Nation? Applicants to Literary Reportage must have a detailed project in mind in order to apply. A general interest in culture, science, business or politics is not enough. Students in the Magazine Writing track, by contrast, need not propose or pursue a specific project.
How To Apply
Have a question about Literary Reportage? Please contact Professor Robert Boynton at robert.boynton@nyu.edu
The online application is available from the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) admissions website.
Come visit us at our new state-of-the-art facility at 20 Cooper Square. Applicants are encouraged to attend classes and talk to current and past students.
Because Literary Reportage developed out of the Portfolio program, it may be useful for you to look at previous Portfolio applications.
Here are some questions to think about while applying:
1. Describe your project and your plan for building a portfolio of work at NYU.
Do some research and reporting before you respond. Big ideas are essential, but just as essential is to think of specific stories-real names, real places-through which you can explore those ideas. Describe the portfolio of work you would like to complete during your studies at NYU. Which form — or combination of forms could you imagine your Literary Reportage project taking? A series of reported pieces, profiles, a multi-part series, an investigation, a book proposal? Some combination of these? What might the title of your portfolio be? Think of a mock headline that captures the spirit and content of the prospective body of work. We expect your work to evolve as you rethink your original ideas, so your agenda is not set in stone.
2. What kinds of work do you bring to graduate study in journalism?
Describe your existing "body of work" as a journalist, blogger, critic or just someone who writes. What have been your major themes? Where do your strengths and weaknesses lie as a writer or journalist?
3. What kinds of experiences inform your desire to become a journalist? What are your commitments, passions and interests?
Tell us about your background academic degree(s), intellectual interests, work experiences, life experiences, other sources of inspiration and explain how it informs your proposal.
4. What kind of writing do you care about?
Good writers are good readers. Who/what have you read/seen and been inspired by? Why, and in what way, have those particular works inspired you? Be specific: refer to particular authors, books and articles that have influenced you. Think analogically: what works of journalism would you compare your portfolio project to? What gap in the world of journalism do you envision your project as filling?5. Why NYU? Why New York?
Tell us specifically how you plan to report on your subject during the school term using New York and its vast resources as your primary operating base. All projects must have a strong NYC-orientation. It can be a project of national or international scope, but one that can be reported effectively from the city and its environs (with the usual extensions of email and telephone). You should not plan a project for which travel is pivotal. If you do plan to include travel, it should be supplementary and confined to the vacation periods.
New York Times Company Foundation Fellowship in Literary Reportage
The New York Times Co. Foundation Fellowship in Literary Reportage is intended to help diversify the group of students pursuing intensively reported, long-form journalism in the inaugural class. The fellowship consists of one-semester's worth of tuition (12 credit points) and insurance, and an $11,500 stipend. There is no need to apply separately for this award; the winning candidate will be chosen from the Literary Reportage applicant pool.
For more information about the Foundation: http://www.nytco.com/company/foundation/