USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Masters the USA

Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship 2027 - $2,000

Deadline October 22, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern 396 days left · Hosted by RTDNA Foundation · Published

The Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship 2027 honors a radio news pioneer who became NBC''s first vice president of news and later helped shape RTDNA''s educational mission. The RTDNA Foundation awards $2,000 to graduate students enrolled in an accredited program who plan careers in electronic journalism, whether your degree is in journalism or another field. You submit one RTDNA scholarship application only, with URL links to three to five broadcast or digital news samples hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, or similar platforms, plus a cover letter, resume, and professor or supervisor recommendation uploaded as PDF. Winners are invited to the RTDNA Foundation First Amendment Awards in Washington, D.C. with travel support. For the upcoming cycle, plan on a September 2027 opening, an October 22, 2027 deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, December notification, and March 2028 events.

Graduate award
$2,000
Electronic journalism
Graduate
11:59 p.m. ET
22 Oct 2027
One RTDNA app only
U.S. study
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship?

The Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship is RTDNA''s graduate-level award for students heading into radio, television, or digital newsrooms. Schechter started in newspapers, moved into radio, served General MacArthur''s public affairs team in World War II, and later became NBC''s first vice president of news before helping build Mutual Broadcasting and a long public relations career. RTDNA''s board raised the fund after Schechter and his wife died in a 1989 accident, and the Foundation still pairs the $2,000 check with a Washington trip that puts young journalists in the same room as working news directors.

Graduate enrollment is the hard gate, not your department name. RTDNA allows any major when your cover letter and clips prove electronic journalism intent. That means a data journalism master''s student or a documentary filmmaker in a communications program can compete if the hosted samples look like news.

The portal rules are strict. You get one RTDNA scholarship or fellowship shot per cycle, so do not checkbox Abe Schechter and a reporting award in the same year. Upload PDF cover letters and resumes, link three to five hosted pieces, and have your recommender send you a letter to upload yourself. Judges read the tape and the narrative together.

October 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern is the recurring deadline, with September openings and December notifications. Winners fly to the First Amendment Awards the following March. For parallel funding, compare clip requirements with the NPPF Still and Multimedia Scholarship 2027 or the Kit C. King Graduate Scholarship 2027, but keep Abe Schechter samples focused on broadcast and digital news rather than still photography alone.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Enrollment in a graduate program
    You must be officially enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application. RTDNA lists the Abe Schechter fund specifically for graduate students rather than undergraduates.
  • ✓
    Career intent in electronic journalism
    Your cover letter and work samples should show that you are pursuing radio, television, or digital news careers. Any graduate major is acceptable when your stated intent is electronic journalism.
  • ✓
    Study or work in the United States
    RTDNA scholarship eligibility covers students studying or working in the United States. International applicants should confirm current rules on the live portal before submitting.
  • ✓
    One RTDNA scholarship or fellowship only
    You may apply for only one RTDNA scholarship or fellowship opportunity each cycle. Selecting more than one disqualifies your entire submission.
  • ✓
    Strong work samples and narrative
    Judges weigh hosted news pieces plus your cover letter, resume, and recommendation. Samples should be broadcast or online news work with clear descriptions of your reporting, producing, or editing role.
  • ✓
    No repeat Abe Schechter award
    Students may not receive the same RTDNA scholarship more than once, though you could pursue a fellowship in a future year if you later meet professional eligibility.
What you get

Benefits

  • Scholarship payment $2,000
  • Career field Electronic journalism focus
  • First Amendment Awards trip Travel and lodging support for winners
  • Professional development day March D.C. training with industry leaders
  • Repeat same scholarship Not allowed
  • Salary replacement Funds support education, not full living costs
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    RTDNA online application via secure platform
    Log in or create an RTDNA account at rtdna.secure-platform.com before you start. Progress saves only when you authenticate through your RTDNA profile.
  • ✓
    Cover letter (PDF upload)
    Discuss past journalism experience, how you will use the funds, and why you chose electronic news. Upload as PDF per RTDNA FAQ guidance.
  • ✓
    Resume (PDF upload)
    Summarize education, internships, campus media, freelance clips, and skills. Include plain-text URLs for portfolios because hyperlinks may not download correctly for judges.
  • ✓
    Three to five hosted work samples
    Provide URL links to broadcast or digital news pieces on YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, or similar hosts. Non-English samples need translations included.
  • ✓
    Letter of recommendation
    Ask a professor, advisor, or supervisor to send you a PDF or Word letter to upload. RTDNA does not accept direct recommender submissions outside the portal upload fields.
  • ✓
    Contact and experience fields
    Complete every experience and contact section in the portal so judges can reach you for December notifications and March travel planning.
Step by step

How to apply

Read every scholarship description on rtdna.org/scholarships-and-fellowships and commit to the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship because you may file only one RTDNA opportunity.
Authenticate through RTDNA before opening the secure-platform application so your draft saves between sessions.
Select broadcast or digital news samples that show reporting, producing, or editing skill. Host each file on a public platform and test every URL in a private browser window.
Explain how the $2,000 will advance your graduate training and name concrete beats or formats you want to cover after graduation.
Ask a professor or newsroom supervisor who knows your clips to deliver a signed PDF recommendation you can upload yourself.
Submit the complete package by October 22, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. RTDNA rejects incomplete files and disqualifies duplicate scholarship entries.
Winners hear in December and attend First Amendment Awards events in Washington, D.C. the following March with RTDNA travel support.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
October 22, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern
396 days left
Sep 2027
RTDNA Foundation scholarship applications expected to open, following the early-September pattern used in recent cycles.
Sep - Oct 2027
Graduate applicants finalize hosted clips, cover letters, resumes, and recommendation PDFs.
22 Oct 2027
Application deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern through rtdna.secure-platform.com.
Dec 2027
RTDNA notifies scholarship recipients across all Foundation funds.
Mar 2028
Winners travel to Washington, D.C. for the First Amendment Awards gala and professional development day.
2027-28 academic year
$2,000 applied toward graduate study costs per RTDNA Foundation payment rules.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship?

It is a $2,000 RTDNA Foundation scholarship for graduate students who plan careers in electronic journalism. The fund honors Abe Schechter, a radio news pioneer and NBC's first vice president of news, and is administered alongside other RTDNA journalism scholarships.

How much is the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship worth?

The award pays $2,000 to help further your graduate education in electronic journalism. Amounts differ across RTDNA funds, so confirm you selected the Abe Schechter entry in the portal.

When is the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship deadline?

RTDNA lists October 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern as the application due date for its scholarship cycle, with a September opening date. For 2027, expect the same calendar and verify the live portal when applications launch.

Who is eligible for the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship?

Officially enrolled graduate students who intend careers in electronic journalism may apply regardless of major, provided they study in the United States and submit only one RTDNA scholarship or fellowship application.

Can I apply for more than one RTDNA scholarship with the Abe Schechter application?

No. RTDNA disqualifies applicants who submit more than one scholarship or fellowship in the same cycle. Pick the single best fit, such as Abe Schechter for graduate electronic journalism students.

What work samples does RTDNA require for the Abe Schechter scholarship?

Provide URL links to three to five broadcast or online news pieces hosted on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud. Judges expect clear news content and descriptions of your role in reporting, producing, shooting, or editing.

Does the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship cover travel?

The $2,000 supports education, but RTDNA also invites scholarship winners to the First Amendment Awards in Washington, D.C. with travel and lodging support separate from the cash award.

Can I win the Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship twice?

RTDNA states that students are not eligible to receive the same scholarship more than once. You may pursue a fellowship later if you meet professional eligibility rules.

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