BREAKING NEWS :

Overview

To “grow” our journalist talent, we offer scholarships to select and groom suitable candidates for middle to top management positions in the newsroom.

The SPH Scholarships are open to those with outstanding academic profile, strong language skills and impressive co-curricular activities record. Based on your own merits, you may seek admission to a recognised university of your choice, whether local or foreign. You can pursue most fields of study, except for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, architecture and law. Existing polytechnic and university undergraduates can also apply.

SPH scholars are required to complete the full course of study for a first degree, including an Honours and Master’s degree where applicable, within four years.

The scholarship award covers all tuition and compulsory fees, and maintenance allowance. If you are pursuing a degree in a foreign university, the scholarship also covers clothing, settling-in and book allowances as well as return air tickets.

We want talented people with curious minds, eager to get out there and discover what is happening in the world, and to tell everyone else about it.

You must be ready and willing to take up a career in journalism with one of our publications. The minimum period to serve with us upon graduation is six years for overseas scholarships, and four years for local ones.

Types of Scholarships

SPH offers the following scholarships:

(a) Overseas Undergraduate Scholarship
(b) Local Undergraduate Scholarship
(c) Mid-Term Scholarship
(d) Masters Scholarship

How to Apply

The SPH Scholarships Application Exercise is now open. Applications will open from October onwards and will close 1 week after the release of the GCE “A” Level results. GCE “A” Level students can submit your application using your preliminary results.

Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.sph.com.sg/careers_forms.shtml.
You can email your application to scholars@sph.com.sg.

Application deadline is 7 March 2010.

Supporting documents:
Completed application form, resume, all educational certificates, CCA record, testimonials, SAT I & II Test Results (if applicable) and ORD certificate (if applicable).

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will have to do a writing exercise and attend an interview if they clear the exercise.  Successful candidates will be given an opportunity to get first-hand experience of what it is like to be a journalist. During the internship, newsroom supervisors will assess the candidate’s performance as a journalist. They would recommend those who have performed well during the internship for the final interview. Candidates who have cleared the final round of selection interview will be offered the scholarship.

Potential Scholar Internship Programme

This opportunity is unique to SPH and there are only limited places for interns. Selected candidates will work as intern reporters in the newsrooms.  They will meet newsmakers, gather facts and information and present the information in an interesting way. They are expected to build up a network of contacts and initiate their own stories.

Career Development

To hone their journalistic skills, undergraduate scholars will return to the newsrooms for summer internships. They will be posted to various sections / beats for greater exposure and insights to the workings of the different sections and newsrooms. Upon graduation, scholars will also be rotated to work as a sub-editor to gain a holistic view of the journalism profession.

Scholars can opt for either the “supervisory” or “professional-ladder” career track. As a supervisor, they will manage a section or a desk. For the “professional-ladder” track, they can opt to become a columnist on a subject.


Popular Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is internship compulsory?

Yes, internship is part of our selection process. Only those who do well for internships will be recommended by their supervisors for the final round of interview.

2. What is the duration of internship?

You can intern from December till a month prior to the start of your school term. However, either party can give a day’s notice to end the internship stint.

3. My prelim results are poor. Do I stand a better chance if I apply after the release of GCE “A” Level results?

We are less stringent when you apply using your prelim results. Besides, if you apply to us early, you will get an opportunity to work as an intern reporter in the newsroom. If you apply to us after the release of the results, you will have a very steep learning curve to showcase your published work. It is difficult for your supervisor to assess your journalism potential unless you are able to produce outstanding assignments within a short period of time.

4. What are the different areas in the Company that I may intern at?

Interns usually work at the local news desk in The Straits Times or The New Paper. Those with Economics background may be considered for The Business Times or The Straits Times Money Desk. Other areas include The Straits Times Sports or Life! or The Sunday Times.

5. When will I know the outcome of scholarship application?

We will let you know if you are shortlisted for the final round of interview sometime in late April. Successful candidates will be informed of the outcome sometime in May.

6. When should I apply for mid-term scholarship?

You can apply anytime from November onwards. If you are successful, we will arrange for you to intern from April/May till end-July.

7. When should I apply if I am a male candidate and will be enlisted for national service?

You can apply anytime from October onwards or after your ORD. Successful candidates who will be enlisted in April can still intern prior to their enlistment. Otherwise, we will KIV your application till your ORD.

8. Is the scholarship open to foreigners?

Our scholarship is open to Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents only.
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SCHOLARS’ QUOTE
Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain, 29
Correspondent at The Straits Times Political Desk, English/Malay Newspaper Division

Zakir graduated from Oxford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History and Politics. He has also completed Masters of Science in Journalism at Columbia University, USA.

"I'm glad for the opportunity to study and follow the media in the UK - it's developed my interest in journalism and let me hear from, meet and question newsmakers and journalists in person outside the classroom. In my first year at Oxford, I've listened to journalists from Jon Snow to Yvonne Ridley debate and interviewed CNN international correspondent Nic Robertson for the student newspaper Cherwell on reporting from the frontline, in his words "doing what we all enjoy, finding and telling the truth". The presence of a rival student newspaper made chasing that campus scoop worthwhile, and travelling on a student budget during vacations didn't just offer much to write about - it was a great way to see how the other side of the developed world, and the developing one, live. And notwithstanding the differences between the undergraduate essay and the newspaper article, looking back on my recent internship, small tutorial group sizes and heavy reading lists were great training for conducting interviews and writing pieces that required much research in a short time!"
Chan Cheow Pong

Chan Cheow Pong, 31
News Editor at MyPaper, Chinese Newspapers Division

Cheow Pong graduated from London School of Economics with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and completed Masters of Arts in International Development Economics at Yale University.

What makes SPH scholarship special?
"Personally, I find the SPH scholarship unique as the selection process is to a very large extent, mutual, between the organisation and potential scholars. Applicants need to perform a period of internship with the company, and after having a taste of the life of a journalist, make a decision when they are finally offered the scholarship. Thus, SPH is very much in the business of matching aspirations.
I am impressed by the flexibility of the management in allowing scholars to make their own decisions in terms of their country of study and their university courses. As a scholar from the Chinese Newspaper Division, I had the opportunity to read Economics in London and soon I will be leaving for the United States for my Masters course. Such decisions represent the confidence SPH have in their scholars and at the same time, demonstrates their belief that scholars need to acquire a range of exposure."

Life overseas:
"Essentially, studying overseas may not be as 'glamorous' as others may perceived. For many, it would be the first time leaving home for such a long period of time. Naturally, there would be a mixture of fear and anticipation. From my own experience, life can be a struggle sometimes but by overcoming those difficulties, coping with solitude and becoming emotionally independent, I have become a much stronger person.
Studying overseas means that you make your own mistakes and you are wholly responsible for yourself. There will be classes, assignments, deadlines and exams to worry about but there are also parties, gatherings, weekend trips and long backpacking travels to look forward to. Make the best out of it and I am sure everyone will have their own interesting stories to tell!"
Teh Jen Lee

Teh Jen Lee, 30
Correspondent at The New Paper

In her final year of scholarship, Teh Jen Lee fulfilled her dream of travelling to England, Tanzania, India, Philippines and Mexico in an 8-month International Honors Program. She got to meet many unique communities like these Maasai guides in northern Tanzania, Africa

"Scholarships provide a chance for you to pursue your life goals. So get to know your passion and develop it. Most importantly, keep your dreams alive. Looking back I am surprised at how many of my dreams have come true."
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Tips on how to be a good journalist:
Have something to write about before you try writing it. If you can’t write it down, you don’t have an idea, let alone a story.
Tell your readers something new. That’s why they pay for the newspaper. Keep them in mind.
Write plain, simple English. Simple words are the most powerful. Remember, easy reading is really hard writing. If you can, make your words sing. If you can’t, at least make them clear.
Write so your reader will say, “I feel as though I have actually seen what you have described.”
Learn to edit your own copy. The easy part about writing is you don’t have to get it right the first time - unlike, say, in brain surgery. Besides, a good story does not need decoration.
Read every day - three, four books at a time and all the magazines you can lay your hands on. Read as much as you can of the best writers.
Feed your mind as you feed your body every day. Keep your mind open to new ideas and think.
Be obsessed with accuracy. It is paramount. If you don’t treat facts as sacred, you should be a fiction writer.
Learn your craft. As you learn, some grinding of the teeth is allowed, but not too much. No one puts a gun to your head and orders you to be a journalist.
Join us. All great journeys begin with the first step.
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