Wallace Chuma, Zimbabwe
Since 2001 Wallace CHUMA, 27, has been the news editor at the weekly The Zimbabwe Mirror.
As such he is responsible for conceptualizing and managing news stories, copy editing and production.
Previously he worked as a senior features writer at The Daily News (1998-2001) and as a general reporter at
The Herald (1997-1998). Chuma holds a B.A. in English literature and an M.A. in media and communication studies from the University of Zimbabwe. Recently Chuma has participated in short-term media training programs in Botswana and South Africa.
Assignment: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Daikha Dridi, Algeria
Daikha DRIDI, 32, reports for the online magazine Algeria-Interface.com which is based in Paris to avoid
government censorship. From Algiers Dridi writes features about Algerian society, human rights issues,
terrorism and economics. She formerly reported for La Tribune (1995-96), Le Matin (1997) and
Le Quotidien d'Oran (1997-2001). Dridi holds a four-year degree in French and English literature from the
University of Yaounde in Cameroon. In 2001 she participated in a training program sponsored by Freedom House
which allowed her to spend time with Human Rights Watch and Mother Jones.
Assignment: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Alia Ibrahim, Lebanon
Political reporter Alia IBRAHIM, 28, has been writing news and features for The Daily Star in Beirut since 1998.
From 1998 to 1999 she was also a producer for Nomad Productions with shows on major Arab television networks. Ibrahim holds a B.A. in political science from the American University of Beirut and is currently studying for her master's degree in political science and public administration there. In 2001 she attended an environmental journalism seminar in Sweden sponsored by the Institute for Further Education of Journalists.
Assignment: The Washington Post
Thomson Kashisha Khanje, Malawi
Thom KHANJE, 29, got his start in journalism with Michiru Sun (1994-96). He has since worked with The Star (1996),
The Nation (1996-98) and Your Market (1998-2000). In 2000 Khanje returned to The Nation as a senior business reporter and in April of this year became Lilongwe bureau chief. Khanje completed a one year journalism training program at the Malawi Polytechnic of the University of Malawi in 1994. He has pursued additional journalism training programs in Zambia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Assignment: Chicago Tribune
Vladimir Kovalev, Russia
In 1999 Vladimir KOVALEV, 31, joined The St. Petersburg Times as a staff writer. Previously he reported for
Smena daily (1992-94) covering local government, Nevskoye Vremya (1994-96) concentrating on politics in
the Baltics, Moskovsky Komsomolets (1996-97) as a freelancer and Novaya Gazeta (1997-99) covering city news. From 1991 to 1996 Kovalev earned his bachelor's degree in English and German literature from the St. Petersburg State University.
Assignment: Denver Rocky Mountain News
Duc Tan Le, Vietnam
Since 1995 Tan LE, 27, has reported for the Vietnam Economic Times in Hanoi. As their chief reporter Le writes
the monthly cover story and other features for the magazine on topics that range from banking and finance to trade and investment, agriculture, infrastructure and education. In addition he supervises the reporters in the news section. In 1995 Le received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Banking College in Hanoi. Le is a member of the Vietnam Journalists' Association.
Assignment: Saint Paul Pioneer Press
Rose Moses, Nigeria
In 1991 Rose MOSES, 35, began working with Satellite newspapers. In 1993 she joined Champion as a features writer becoming deputy features editor in 1999. In this position she edits, writes, plans pages, supervises and trains reporters. Moses holds a bachelor's degree in dramatic arts from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria (1989) and a master's degree in international law and diplomacy from the University of Lagos (1998). In 1996 and 2001 Moses attended month-long training programs in Cairo and Washington, DC respectively.
Assignment: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Sarah Namulondo, Uganda
Since 1997 Sarah NAMULONDO, 30, has worked with The Monitor. She began as a sub-editor (1997-99), became the
up-country editor (1999-2000) and is now the gender editor. Namulondo is a founding member of a group of 36
African women journalists who have launched a monthly web-based paper called AfricaWoman which develops stories about African women and women's issues, primarily for use by community-based radio. She received her B.A. and M.A. in literature from Makerere University. Namulondo is a part-time lecturer at her alma mater.
Assignment: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kwesi Wrekon Obeng, Ghana
As news editor of both Public Agenda and Weekend Agenda in Accra, Kwesi OBENG, 29, is responsible
for assigning projects, assisting colleagues with their responsibilities and sub-editing. Previously Obeng was a
staff writer on politics and education with Public Agenda (1998-2001) and a reporter for the Daily Graphic (1996-97). Obeng holds a diploma in journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. In 2000 he attended the Thomson Foundation's Advanced Training in Journalism course in Accra.
Assignment: St. Petersburg Times
Franklin Awori Obudo, Kenya
Franklin AWORI OBUDO, 31, a news/feature writer for the Kisumu bureau of The East African Standard for seven years, was awarded a prestigious national media award for best correspondent in Kenya last year. Also in 2001 Awori participated in a Reuters Foundation journalism training program on environmental reporting. He is a founding member of the Network of Environmental Journalists, which promotes environmental journalism and media ethics. He holds a degree from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in Nairobi.
Assignment: The Kansas City Star
Isabel Ordóñez, Ecuador
Assistant editor for Cash magazine, Isabel ORDÓÑEZ 28, also writes for the Ecuadoran versions of PCWorld
and Computerworld. Cash, which primarily covers economic issues and news, is the largest monthly opinion
magazine in Ecuador. Isabel has also worked with Radio Coló (1994), Estadio magazine (1994-96),
El Comercio (1996-98) and Diario HOY (1998-2001). She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Central University of Ecuador in Quito. In 2001 Ordóñez won a worldwide essay contest and received the Holbein Memorial Award.
Assignment: San Antonio Express-News
Marina Walker Guevara, Argentina
Since 1998 Marina WALKER GUEVARA, 27, has been a staff writer at Los Andes in Mendoza where she conducts
investigations on political corruption, social conflict and economic crime. In 2001 she received the National Prize
for Journalism for the Common Good for the publication of a section she created called "Vidas Solidarias" which reports on the work of community organizations and NGOs. While earning her degree in social communication from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo she freelanced for Presencia magazine (1995-2000).
Assignment: The Philadelphia Inquirer
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