The Knight Center for Specialized Journalism is offering fellowships to journalists to attend a seminar on "Covering Digital Culture: Gaming to Government" to be held September 11-14, 2007.

From e-mailing to shopping to reading the news, 70% of adults in this country used the Internet last year, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Online shoppers accounted for almost 5% of retail sales in 2005, spending $113.6 billion. YouTube has become ubiquitous and the online game "Second Life" attracted more than 1 million visitors in the past month alone. Text messaging is the new way of communicating and has a language all its own. The Knight Center seminar will take an in-depth look at the ways in which digital technology is transforming how Americans and people around the world live, work and play.

Applications are invited from print, broadcast and online journalists. Seminar speakers will be experts from top research institutions, government, business and the media. Participants will gain valuable sources and engage in thought-provoking discussions with colleagues from around the country. The application deadline for this seminar is July 27.

Topics covered during the seminar may include:

* Business of the Web
* Internet's Hidden Economy
* Physiological Impact of the Internet
* User Groups: Divided by Age, Economics, Education
* Social & Psychological Impact of the Internet
* Political Impact
* Doing Business Online
* Online Truth/Untruth...and Consequences
* Present & Future Trends: What's Next
* Privacy in the Internet Age
* Digital Democracy

Knight Center fellowships cover all seminar costs, including reference materials, hotel lodging, meals and a travel subsidy. The travel subsidy is a reimbursement of half the cost of travel up to a maximum subsidy of $300. Seminars are held at the University of Maryland, in the metro Washington, D.C. area.

Applications must be received by the July 27 deadline.

To apply, send three (3) complete sets of material, each of which includes the following:

* A resume, including work street address, phone number and e-mail address
* A statement of up to 500 words giving the reason for applying
* A supervisor's strong nominating letter. The letter must include the organization's commitment to cover salary and partial travel cost. Freelancers send a letter of recommendation from an editor you have worked with.
* Three published articles with publication name and date. Editors may send samples of edited work. Broadcasters send one CD, audiotape or videotape. Articles from electronic archives are accepted.

We do not accept e-mailed or faxed applications.

Send applications to:

Carol Horner, Director
Knight Center for Specialized Journalism
University of Maryland
1117 Cole Field House
College Park, MD 20742-1024

The Knight Center is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and is a professional program of the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Participants stay in a hotel on the University of Maryland campus. Applicants must work for independent news organizations. The Knight Center seeks diversity among participants.

Contact the Knight Center at 301/405-4817, or e-mail us at knight@umd.edu.