Call for applications for the Fully Funded Exchange Program funded by the U.S. Department of State. he U.S. government-sponsored East-West Center exchange program deadline has been extended until January 13. The East-West Center is excited to announce four workshops it is offering next year in Kathmandu for Pakistani and Indian journalists.
All the expenses of the exchange programs in Nepal will be covered by the U.S. Department of State. The fully-funded exchange program for journalists will cover round airfare, accommodation, local transportation, meals incidental allowance, visa fees and allowance for work when the participants return to their home country.
bout East-West Center Journalism Programs: Based in Honolulu, Hawaii the East-West Center has offered media programs for U.S. and Asia Pacific journalists for 52 years. More than 4,000 journalists have participated in EWC journalist exchanges, study tours, conferences, dialogues, and training, including many from India and Pakistan.
Fully Funded Exchange Program 2020 Details:
Host Country:
- Nepal
Implemented By:
- the East-West Center, a public, non-profit organization.
Funded By:
- U.S. Department of State
Program Location:
- Kathmandu
You might be interested in the Hansen Summer Exchange Program [Fully Funded] in the USA
Program Dates:
- Economy, trade, and entrepreneurism on March 22-29
- Environment, ecology, related science tentatively in June
- Agriculture, food production, water-sharing tentatively in September
- Health, related science tentatively in December.
Applicants must identify which workshop they are applying for.
No. of Participants:
- 10 journalists from each country (a total of 20 participants) will be chosen for each workshop.
- A selection committee will choose all 80 participants for the four workshops from this initial application period.
- Journalists must signify what workshop they want to attend in their application
Program Benefits/Financial Support:
- Roundtrip economy airfare
- Hotel accommodation
- Ground transportation
- Meals
- Modest allowance for incidentals
- Visa fees if required.
- Participants will also receive a modest allowance to spend on story-related expenses when they return to their home country.
Program Details:
- Expert U.S. and Asian media trainers will lead sessions on best practices in reporting the workshop topic; cross-border collaboration techniques; multimedia skills and technology in the newsroom; data-base and investigative reporting; and other skills and issues.
- The cross-border teams will map out their collaborative stories during the weeklong workshop.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Working print, broadcast, and on-line journalists in India and Pakistan.
- At least 5 years of experience preferred.
- Free-lance journalists must show work that has been published or broadcast in media outlets over the past year.
- Applicants must have the ability to communicate in English in a professional environment.
- Participants are not expected to be specialists on the workshop topics but experience in reporting/editing these topics will strengthen applications.
Program Requirements:
- Each cross-border team will plan a collaborative story during the weeklong workshop in Kathmandu. When journalists return to their home countries, they will continue to collaborate with their team member and complete the cross-border story for publication or broadcast within three months after the workshop finishes
- Participants will be required to submit a 2-page paper on an issue in their country that falls under the workshop topic before the workshop begins and also give a short panel presentation on the topic
- Join social media groups with workshop participants
- Complete program surveys and evaluations.
How to apply for an international exchange program for journalists?
Submit the following forms by email to [email protected]. Please only submit what is required.
1) Fill out the workshop application form.
- Download the application form and save a copy of it to your computer
- Fill out the form and save it one more time before sending it as an attachment with the other application materials listed below
2) Letter of Interest (maximum of three pages, double-spaced) that includes:
- A brief description of your news organization and your role.
- Clear articulation of the relevance of the workshop topic and the importance of the topic to your viewers, readers, and listeners.
- Topic you propose to address in your 2-page (maximum) paper and presentation during the workshop. This should be a perspective from your own country on an issue or issues related to the workshop theme.
- What story issues you want to explore during the workshop that your team can consider for your cross-border story.
- Clear articulation of why cross-border media collaboration between the two countries is important for viewers, readers, and listeners in your country; and how this cross-border workshop will enhance your work as a journalist.
3) “Employer’s Statement of Support” completed by your supervisor/employer showing you have permission to attend the workshop. Free-lance journalists must also submit the Employer’s Statement of Support form. Please write “Freelancer” for the employer name. Follow the same instructions as the application: copy form on your computer; fill out the form on your computer; save it as a PDF; attach PDF to email.
4) Letter of recommendation on official letterhead from your supervisor/employer describing your suitability for the workshop and the benefit your organization hopes to derive from your participation in the program. Free-lance journalists should send a letter on official letterhead from a media organization that regularly accepts and publishes or airs your work.
5) References: Names, titles, addresses, phone/fax numbers and e-mail of three people who may be contacted by the East-West Center as references.
Application Deadline:
- The deadline for the Fully Funded Exchange Program in Nepal is January 13, 2020.
