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International Catholic Fellowships for Research in
Media, Religion and Culture

This is a text-only site. If you would like to visit the mirror site containing full graphics, click here. Sitio en Español Seleccione Aquí MENU: Overview of the Fellowship Program Framework and Areas of Research Members of the Fellowship Committee Time-line for Applying Application Form Checklist of items required for application Links to Fellowships at Other Institutions Introduction A program has been established to provide fellowships for research at the doctoral level into media, religion and culture. The fellowships are open to applicants who are members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe regions. . Purpose The program extends the work of the International Study Commission on Media Religion and Culture by promoting research into practical and theoretical dimensions of the interface between media, religion and culture in Eastern Europe and Asia. Its aim is also to develop scholars who can return to provide intellectual and practical leadership in the field within their home countries and regions. Nature of the Fellowships A fellowship will provide: the cost of tuition fees for a doctoral program at an approved university the cost of tuition fees for a master degree if necessary as a previous step to the doctoral program travel costs for the Fellow to the place of study a resettlement allowance. Research fellows will be required to find their own support for meeting all other expenses required in completing the program of study, including: living expenses for themselves and/or their family education expenses such as books, computer, etc. application and other fees, such as university tests, visas, etc. The Fellowship Program will include periodic scholarly seminars amongst the Fellows. The cost of attending the seminars will be met by the Fellowship Committee. Location of the Fellowships The fellowships will be provided for doctoral study with one of the academic members of the Study Commission or at a university with a supervisor approved by the Fellowship Committee. For this reason applicants should apply for a fellowship prior to applying to a particular university and prior to finalizing their specific research topic. If selected, an advisor will be appointed to work with the fellow in identifying an appropriate institution and focusing the specific topic of their research project. Theoretical framework and areas of research The intended research assumes a cultural understanding of media wherein media are understood as providing the constantly changing web for cultural activity. Individual media serve as interactive sites for cultural and sub-cultural negotiation. They also serve as sites for the construction of meaning and of identity. Religion and spirituality within this framework are seen as cultural and sub-cultural interests and impulses that take shape through this constant negotiation and construction of cultural meaning and identity Examples of research areas are: Religious or spiritual dimensions of everyday media practice, production or reception The interaction of the culture of media with established religious traditions Media and emergent social and religious movements Visual and material constructions and mediations of religious thought and practice Religious or spiritual dimensions of changes in patterns of cultural symbols and meaning-making Media, religion and the construction of cultural order These are indicative, not definitive. Further information about this theoretical framework and research projects is provided on the Research Theoretical Framework page. Preparation for intellectual and/or practical leadership One of the aims of the program is to develop scholars who will provide intellectual and practical leadership in this field within their home countries or regions. For that reason, the committee will be looking for research projects that engage the interaction of media and religion within the cultural contexts of Eastern European Countries and Asia-Pacific. The Fellowship Committee will also be looking for applicants who have the practical and pastoral support of home institutions or communities. An indication of this support will be sought both at the time of application and also in a continuing relationship between the fellow and his or her home community during the time of study. The Fellow will be required to submit an annual report on her or his study and personal progress to the Fellowship Committee and to the supporting home institution or community. Continuation of the fellowship will be dependent on reports of satisfactory progress from the Fellow and the master or doctoral supervisor. Application Applicants will need to demonstrate: Their interest and planned future use of doctoral study Their academic readiness for undertaking a doctoral program Support from an appropriate institution or community Their ability to support themselves to completion of the program For further information For further information about the fellowship program or how to apply Contact: Adán M. Medrano, Executive Secretary of the Fellowship Program JMCommunications 1402 Banks Street Houston TX 77006 USA E-mail address: adan@jmcommunications.com

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