African Journalism Trip Up for Winning

Friday March 23, 2007

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof made lots o' bloglines last year when the newspaper offered up what turned out to be an inaugural contest: a trip to Africa with the OpEd columnist for a student deemed deserving of learning journalism the dirt-road Kristof way (much was made of language regarding masochism, yelping jackals, bedbugs, malaria -- you get the drift -- in that trip's announcement). Well, the NY Times has announced the second annual all-expenses-paid bedbug-journaling opportunity: if a gritty (literally) field trip to Africa appeals to you and you're a US college student over 18, submit a 700 word essay explaining why you should get the chance to blog an African journey from camelback or other exotic conveyance in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kristof's company.

This year's contest includes a chance for a teacher to come along, as well: applying educators must be teaching sixth grade or above in a US middle or high school, according to the official rules.

The "Win a Trip with Nick Kristof" contest closes April 6, 2007, results will be announced in May, and the trip possibly starts mid-June. The traveling student will be vlogging the journey, actually -- an NY Times multimedia producer, Naka Nathaniel, will be along to help create and file presentations. Check out the blog from Casey Parks, last year's trip winner (who, by the way, writes of her entry, "I almost didn’t even apply for the contest... What chance could I possibly have?").

Kristof says that he'd rather winning travelers *not* have extensive travel experience, as well as preferring (though not requiring) that the student have some writing, blogging or journalism experience. Refreshingly, this trip's resulting reports will be free to those with an .edu address (I couldn't help but note last year that the perenially penny-pinching student demographic Kristof hoped to reach probably wouldn't pony up $25-50 annually to read the winner's blog behind the Times$elect wall).

Read the rules and the introductory letter from Kristof and, if it's for you, good luck!