Newswise — UCG and the University of Maryland jointly announced today the creation of a new scholarship program for students pursuing careers in business journalism. The UCG Business Journalism Scholarship will be awarded annually to a Philip Merrill College of Journalism undergraduate who has demonstrated an aptitude and interest in business writing and reporting. The scholarship includes a $5,000 award, a paid summer internship at UCG and a part-time fall academic internship.

The UCG Business Journalism Fellowship will be awarded annually to anincoming journalism master's degree candidate interested in businessjournalism. The fellowship includes UCG's award of $10,500, which thecollege will match, a $7,000 stipend and payment of all tuition by theUniversity. The fellowship also includes a paid summer internship at UCGand a part-time academic internship.

"Journalism has never had greater need of reporters who can understandand convey the complexities of business," said Journalism Dean ThomasKunkel. "We want to thank UCG for this very generous commitment tobusiness journalism and to our students."

UCG publishes a wide variety of award-winning business-to-businessnewsletters and magazines on such topics as health care,telecommunications, banking, high technology, tax and the oil industry."The scholarship and fellowship programs are a natural extension of theexcellent relationship that has formed over the years between UCG andthe University of Maryland," said Dan Brown, UCG partner and seniorpublisher.

"The program will help Maryland's journalism school attract the highestcaliber student and it paves the way for the high-achieving graduates tojoin the editorial team of one of the country's leading B2B publishingcompanies," he continued.

"Those who qualify for the scholarship will receive great training andbusiness journalism experience at an exciting company" added LisaGetter, a Pulitzer Prize team winner and UCG's new corporate editorialdirector. Getter joined UCG after working as an investigative reporterfor the Los Angeles Times and The Miami Herald.

UCG employs 1,000 people and is headquartered in Rockville, Md. It alsohas offices in Boston, Florida, Washington State, California and Maine.The company is privately held.