ACES: The Society for Editing and the Dow Jones News Fund have created the Richard S. Holden Diversity Fellowship, a pilot program dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion by advancing early- and mid-career professionals in their work as editors and aspiring industry leaders.
Our goal is to enable participants to obtain the training and support they need for a faster track to success.
“In his decades of work with the Dow Jones News Fund and then ACES, Rich Holden helped launch the careers of hundreds of editors. The fellowship is our tribute to Rich, but it is also his gift to us: It would not be possible without all that he achieved through the years. Our two organizations are committed to carrying forward his advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the ranks of editors everywhere.”
"Rich Holden was generous with his journalistic talent, his time, and his heart for people. He showed he cared in tangible ways. It is wonderful to see support for his vision to increase diversity in the ranks of editors that will continue to grow for years to come."
Now Accepting Applications
The organizations will initially award up to three fellowships up to $3,000 each. Candidates from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. The grants are intended to enable Holden Fellows to enroll in established training programs, attend seminars and conferences, or pursue other activities aimed at advancing their careers. Fellows may apply their funds to travel, course tuition, conference fees, or other costs related to their continuing career development and skill-building.
Support the Holden Fellowship
Startup funding for the Holden Fellowship has been provided by grants of $7,500 each from the ACES Education Fund and the Dow Jones News Fund, as well as generous donations from individual members of the ACES Education Fund board of directors. Consider supporting the Holden Fellowship by donating today.
In Memory of Richard S. Holden
The fellowship recognizes the work of the late Richard S. Holden, a giant in the world of news editing, and his dedication to promoting diversity.
Rich was a lifetime member of ACES and a longtime member of the board of the ACES Education Fund, the organization’s fundraising and scholarship arm. He was one of the first industry leaders to join ACES after its inception in 1997 as the American Copy Editors Society.
Through its scholarship programs, ACES has helped more than 100 young editors to complete their college studies and advance into the professional ranks of the news industry, corporate and nonprofit editing, academia, book publishing, and other fields. Read more about the impact Rich had, including a tribute written by ACES Education Fund board member and ACES executive committee member Merrill Perlman.