
N.S. Bienstock Fellowship
An award established in 1999 by Richard Leibner and Carole Cooper, the original owners of N.S. Bienstock. Acquired by United Talent Agency in 2014, the firm now known as Bienstock, a UTA Company has been a leading talent agency in news and reality-based programming for more than 50 years and is a long-time member of RTDNA. This award recognizes a promising minority journalist in radio or television news.
In addition to the $2,500 award, winners are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Congratulations to the 2020 Bienstock Fellow!
Michele Clark Fellowship
Congratulations to the 2020 Bienstock Fellow!

RTDNF's first fellowship is named for Michele Clark, the CBS News correspondent who was killed in a plane crash while on assignment in 1972. This fellowship is awarded to a young, promising minority professional in television or radio news.
In addition to the $1,000 award, winners of the Michele Clark Fellowships are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Congratulations to the 2020 Michele Clark Fellow!
Vada and Col. Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship
In addition to the $1,000 award, winners of the Michele Clark Fellowships are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Congratulations to the 2020 Michele Clark Fellow!

Established by the RTDNF Board of Trustees in honor of Vada and Col. Barney Oldfield. Barney and Vada served in WWII and both had illustrious military careers. Barney's long and impressive career included a stint as a Hollywood studio publicist, WWII Army and post-war Air Force public relations officer, author, and lecturer. Col. Oldfield was also a businessman and philanthropist who founded over 40 private foundations including RTDNF. This fellowship is awarded to a reporter or producer in radio or television news engaged covering national defense and security
In addition to the $1,000 award, winners are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Congratulations to the 2020 Oldfield Fellow!
Jacque I. Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship
In addition to the $1,000 award, winners are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Congratulations to the 2020 Oldfield Fellow!

This award was created to honor former news director and Medstar executive Jacque Minnotte, who died in 1993. This fellowship recognizes excellence in health or medical television and radio reporting.
In addition to the $2,000 award, winners of the Jacque I. Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Fellowship applications are accepted in the fall and awarded in May.
WHO CAN APPLY
In addition to the $2,000 award, winners of the Jacque I. Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship are invited to attend the RTDNA conference.
Fellowship applications are accepted in the fall and awarded in May.
WHO CAN APPLY
- Professional broadcast or digital journalists with fewer than 10 years of experience.
- Journalists may apply for only one RTDNF fellowship
- Past RTDNF fellows are not eligible.

- Complete the online application form, including:
- Contact information
- Experience
- URL links to 3-5 work samples
- Work samples should be broadcast (television/radio) or online news pieces
- Work samples should be uploaded to a host site like YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, etc.
- Upload the supplemental materials:
- Cover letter
- Discuss your current and past journalism experience
- Describe how you intend to use the funds
- Discuss your choice to pursue a career in journalism
- Addressed to RTDNF Scholarship Committee
- Resume
- Letter of recommendation
- From a professor, advisor, or supervisor
- Addressed to RTDNF Scholarship Committee
- Cover letter
PAST WINNERS
2019 | Stephanie Serrano | KUNR Public Radio | N.S. Bienstock |
Tiffany Liou | WFAA-TV | Michele Clark | |
Anh Nguyen Gray | KUNR Public Radio | Minnotte | |
Beverly Banks | Medill School of Journalism | Barney Oldfield | |
2018 | Jessica Mezaros | WGCU Public Media | N.S. Bienstock |
David Pierce | University of Illinois | Michele Clark | |
Isabella Gomes | Johns Hopkins University | Jacque Minnotte | |
2017 | Jacob Faber | 1st Infantry Division - U.S. Army | Barney Oldfield |
Quincy Walters | WGCU Public Media | N.S. Bienstock | |
CB Cotton | WITN-TV | Michele Clark | |
2016 | Melina Tupa | UC Berkeley | N.S. Bienstock |
Chernéy Amhara | KVUU-TV | Michele Clark | |
Nadine Sebai | AJ+ | Jacque Minnotte | |
Liberty Zabala | NBC 7 San Diego | Barney Oldfield | |
2015 | Niha Masih | Columbia University | N.S. Bienstock |
LaCrai Mitchell | Florida A&M University | Michele Clark | |
Veronica Zaragovia | KUT Radio | Jacque Minnotte | |
2014 | Angela Chen | KTRK-TV | N.S. Bienstock |
Crystal Clark | WTOL-TV | Michele Clark | |
Erika Beras | WESA-FM | Jacque Minnotte | |
2013 | Patricia Guerra | Columbia University | N.S. Bienstock |
Chanteé Lans | WPRI-TV/WNAC-TV | Michele Clark | |
2012 | Alexis Morgan | Columbia University | N.S. Bienstock |
Rosa Flores | CNN | Michele Clark | |
Lara Salahi | ABC News/Boston Globe | Jacque Minnotte | |
2011 | Anayansi Diaz-Cortes | Freelance- public radio | N.S. Bienstock |
Ashley Singh | Fox43 | Michele Clark | |
Euna Lhee | WMFE-FM | Jacque Minnotte | |
2010 | Emilia Askari | University of Michigan | N.S. Bienstock |
Ko Im | WBOC-TV | Michele Clark | |
Sabriya Rice | CNN | Jacque Minnotte | |
Jamie Mannion | AFN Korea | Barney Oldfield | |
2009 | Tina Martin | WFSB | Jacque Minnotte |
Ana Allen | AFN | Barney Oldfield | |
2008 | Hatzel Alejandro Vela | WCSC-TV | N.S. Bienstock |
Lila Merideth | APTV | Michele Clark | |
2007 | Michaelene Tetteh | WAFF-TV | N.S. Bienstock |
Gene Kang | WSJV-TV | Michele Clark | |
Elizabeth Wooley | WICS-TV | Jacque Minnotte | |
Raymond Flores | Soldiers Radio & Television | Barney Oldfield |
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Frequently asked questions
Application tips and checklist
CONTACT: If you have questions about scholarships and fellowships, please contact us.