Lee Thornton Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Radio Television Digital News Foundation
Introduction / Background
The Lee Thornton Scholarship honors the legacy of Lee Thornton, a pioneering journalist who broke racial and gender barriers in American news. Thornton was the first African-American woman to cover the White House for a major network (CBS) and the first African-American host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. She served on the faculty of Howard University’s School of Communications and earned tenure there. Later she taught at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism and even served a term as interim dean. Thornton held a master’s degree from Michigan State University and a doctorate in mass communications from Northwestern University. She died in 2013 at age 71 and directed a gift in her estate to establish this scholarship.
Award and Preference
- Scholarship amount: $2,000
- The recipient will also receive an invitation to the RTDNA conference and is expected to attend RTDNA’s First Amendment Awards event in Washington, D.C.
- Preference will be given to students from the University of Maryland and Howard University.
Who May Apply
- Undergraduate students who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the time the scholarship is awarded and who are preparing for careers in radio, television, or digital journalism.
- Applicants must plan to continue their undergraduate studies in the Fall semester following the award.
- Eligibility is limited to students and professionals studying or working in the United States.
- A student may not receive this same scholarship more than once; however, past recipients remain eligible to apply for a Fellowship in the future.
Important Dates
- October 16, 2025: Applications open (online application available)
- November 14, 2025: Application deadline (all materials must be submitted)
- December 2025: Scholarship recipients notified
- March 12, 2026: Recipients attend RTDNA’s First Amendment Awards event in Washington, D.C.
How to Apply (Application Checklist)
Complete the online application and include the following:
1. Basic information
- Contact details and summary of experience.
2. Work samples
- Provide URLs to 3–5 examples of your work.
- Samples should be broadcast pieces (television or radio) or online news stories.
- Upload or host pieces on sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, or similar platforms and submit the links.
3. Supplemental documents (uploaded)
- Cover letter that:
- Describes your current and past journalism experience
- Explains how you would use the scholarship funds
- Discusses why you chose a career in journalism
- Resume
- Letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor, or supervisor
Application Rules
- Applicants may apply for only one scholarship or fellowship opportunity. Submitting applications for more than one award will result in disqualification.
Questions about the application process or eligibility should be directed to the scholarship administrator listed on the application site.