Fasih Ahmed, Pakistan Assistant news editor Fasih AHMED, 26, is responsible for copy editing, assigning stories, coordinating between news desks, reporting and production for The Friday Times. He simultaneously acts as copy editor for the Daily Times. Previously he worked as a features writer, features editor and columnist at The Friday Times (1995-2002), as a senior sub-editor and designer at the Daily Times (2001-2002), and as a freelancer from 1995-97 for the national daily, The News and a fashion and lifestyle quarterly, Libas. Ahmed holds a B.A. in film and theatre arts from Columbia University in New York. He was a Jefferson Fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii in 2003. Assignment: The Wall Street Journal, Washington, DC bureau
	Maha Al-Azar, Lebanon Since 1998, Maha AL-AZAR, 30, has been reporting for The Daily Star on entertainment, news, politics, environment, law and human rights. Since 2001, she has edited the English-language version of the World Health Organization’s regional bi-monthly newsletter. In addition, she wrote and edited the English-language newsletter of a local NGO that promotes entrepreneurship in rural areas. In 2002, she participated in environmental reporting workshops offered by Reuters and Sweden’s Institute for Further Education of Journalists. Al-Azar holds a B.S. in biology from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Public Health from the American University of Beirut. Assignment: The Washington Post
	Ana Cristina Flor, Brazil Since 1998, Ana Cristina FLOR, 28, has worked for Jornal Zero Hora — first as a reporter and then as assistant editor. In 2003, she also became a reporter for Correio Braziliense. She previously worked as a reporter for Jornal NH (1995-96). In 2001, Flor spent two months in Germany on the International Journalists Programme which teaches how to be an effective correspondent for a newspaper. In 1999 she received the Scientific Journalism Award from the Medical Association of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Flor holds a B.A. in journalism from Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos. Assignment: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
	Laura Lica, Romania Investigative journalist Laura LICA, 25, reports for Evenimentul Zilei on justice, human rights, social issues and corruption. She formerly reported for Curentul (1997) and Privirea (1996-1997). In 2002, she participated in short-term workshops in Europe on topics such as the image of religious minorities and mentally ill people in the media as well as the relationship between security forces and the media. In 2002 she received the Excellency Prize for Print Journalism (features section) and Grand Prize for Print Journalism. Lica holds a B.A. in journalism and communications from the Superiour School of Journalism in Bucharest (2000). Assignment: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
	Sebastian Lupak, Poland Since 1999, Sebastian LUPAK, 31, has reported on arts for the Gazeta Wyborcza Trojmiasto in Gdansk. He writes reviews, features and a weekly column and supervises several other reporters. From 1997-98 he reported for the music magazine Gazeta Muzyczna and the student newspaper Vivat Academia. In 2002, Lupak traveled to Russia for a conference for central and eastern European journalists and to Germany to cover “Artgenda,” an arts festival. Lupak received an M.A. in English literature from the University of Gdansk in 1997, and an M.A. in nationalism studies at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary in 1999. Assignment: Saint Paul Pioneer Press
	Gideon Nkala, Botswana Gideon NKALA, 34, has been a features editor for Mmegi since 2000 and an editor for the weekly Mmegi Monitor since 2001. He writes stories, assigns reporters to work on different stories, determines which stories make it into the paper, and holds mentoring workshops for journalists. In 2000, he won two awards—Journalist of the Year and Environmental Journalist of the Year. He is a member of the Media Institute of Southern Africa and was named Business Reporter of the Year in 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in library and information studies from the University of Botswana. Assignment: The Kansas City Star
	Paola Ochoa, Colombia Since 1999 Paola OCHOA, 27, has been a reporter at Semana in Bogotá. She writes business and economic articles that appear in the weekly magazine as well as stories on international news, politics, war and public affairs. She has written many stories on corporate issues such as hostile take-overs and the economic impact of the Colombian armed conflict. She has attended promotional conferences in Argentina, Brazil, France and Uruguay on topics including technology, telecom and finance. Ochoa holds a B.A. in business and an M.A. in journalism from Los Andes University in Bogotá. She is writing a book called “Personal Finance for Everyone.” Assignment: The Philadelphia Inquirer
	Surendra Phuyal, Nepal Since 1996, Surendra PHUYAL, 27, has been working at The Kathmandu Post. He started as an intern reporter in 1997, was promoted to reporter/sub-editor in 1999, and became assistant senior sub-editor/reporter in 2001. He writes stories on the environment, water and politics, assigns stories to national and city reporters, and assists the news editor and news coordinator. Phuyal holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communications and a M.A. in sociology from Tribhuvan University. Phuyal is a member of the Nepal Forum for Environmental Journalists, won the Kantipur Journalism Award in 2000 for scoring the highest marks in his undergraduate level examinations, and won Travel Writer of the Year in 2001. Assignment: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
	Tristana Santos, Ecuador In 1997, Tristana SANTOS, 28, began working for Diario El Universo as a coordinator for the TV magazine She became a features reporter in 1998 and Sunday magazine coordinator in 2002. She writes, plans and edits other reporters’ pieces, and supervises the design and photographic work for the section. In 2001, she attended a workshop on literary journalism at Fundación para el Nuevo Periodismo Latinoamericano in Cartagena, Colombia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and international journalism from Universidad de Especialidades Espiritu Santo in 2001. Assignment: Denver Rocky Mountain News
	Szabolcs Tóth, Hungary In 2000, Szabolcs TÓTH, 30, joined Magyar Nemzet as an editor. His responsibilities include co-editing the weekend magazine, supervising reporters and layout coordinators, and regularly contributing to the op-ed pages. Previously he worked for Napi Magyarorszag (1998-2000), Budapest Week (1997-98) and Uj Magyarorszag (1997). In 2002, Tóth participated in both a newswriting course organized by the Guardian in London and a NATO reporting tour organized by the U.S. Department of State. In 1995 Tóth earned his master’s degree in English and Hungarian literature from Eotvos Lorant University of Sciences in Budapest. Assignment: The Boston Globe Top of Page