The New England First Amendment Coalition provides a free mentorship program for journalists working in the region. Reporters, editors and producers looking for guidance in a variety of professional areas can apply to be paired with a veteran journalist with relevant expertise.
Program Overview
Applicants must submit the form linked below and email their résumé with links to their portfolio. When applying, applicants will be asked to name their top three mentor choices based on their specific goals and mentorship needs. Once the application materials are received, NEFAC will begin working to pair the applicant with a preferred mentor. When a match has been made, the applicant will be notified.
Mentors are required to provide at least an hour of their time each month for six months as part of the program, but mentees can agree to other time arrangements that work for both parties. Due to demand and the limited availability of mentors, NEFAC will only respond to applications once a match has been found.
Testimonials
• “NEFAC Mentors helped support me through the beginning of my first reporting job. I felt encouraged by my mentor and know we’ll stay in touch into the future.”
• “I was very grateful to participate in NEFAC Mentors. My mentor was always happy to share feedback and ideas over coffee about whatever I was working on, and I enjoyed learning more about the stories he was pursuing. The best part about NEFAC is how many committed journalists and professionals are involved in the organization and how willing they are to pass on their knowledge to a new generation.”
• “The time I spent learning from my mentor was invaluable to me and my career. I discovered a lot about myself and what I really want to do as a writer, and I am excited to continue to implement the things he taught me in my writing.”
• “NEFAC Mentors was an invaluable experience. My mentor was readily available to talk through story ideas, provide feedback on pieces and help me think about what is next for my career. As a new journalist in their first job, I’m grateful for the resources this program offered and the time and generosity of my mentor!”
• “NEFAC Mentors was an extremely engaging and rewarding experience — I learned relevant journalism skills that I applied to my own work!”
How to Apply
Step 1: View our list of mentors and mentorship areas.
Step 2: Submit application.
Step 3: Email résumé and link to portfolio to justin@nefac.org.
Once we receive all your application materials, we’ll begin looking for a match based on your mentorship preferences. When a match has been made, we’ll provide an introduction to your mentor.
Program Materials
• Journalism Mentorship Plan Form
• Post-Mentorship Evaluation for Mentees
• Post-Mentorship Evaluation for Mentors
Resources
Are you a new mentor looking for guidance on how to create a successful mentorship? Feel free to contact those below who have mentorship experience and will share their tips and best practices.
• Maggie Mulvihill | mmulvih@bu.edu
We also recommend you review some of the following materials. While they focus on different aspects of mentorship for various groups and needs, they all provide helpful general guidance that can be applied to your own mentoring experience.