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"AFPF made me a complete journalist." Ranee Mohamed, Sri Lanka, 1987 | |||
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Program Overview for Potential Participants
Applications:
Journalism Links
"The AFPF fellowship has affected me more than I had thought it
would. It's an eye opener…I have come to appreciate specialization more.
I saw American journalists specializing on what they know and like to do
best and wish we could do the same here....As an Alfred Friendly Fellow
you're more sure of yourself…you feel you can adapt to the writing style
of any paper or magazine in any part of the world." "The program - the way it has been set up, its scale,
family-like, friendly atmosphere - is truly excellent."
"Their bylines enlarged our staff as they enlarged our understanding."
"I believe I have what it takes to be a good journalist, but I
strive each day to be a better one. The program went a long way to
reinforce those positive feelings I had about
myself." |
Frequently asked questions by Fellows How do I apply? A complete application consists of the following: application form, CV/resume, personal statement (one-to two-page essay), fellowship goals essay (one-to two-page essay), two letters of reference, employer’s endorsement and guarantee of salary, four articles (must be in English or translated to English), passport size photograph of yourself, one issue of the publication for which you work, a copy of your press credentials, and a copy of your valid passport. I can't download the application from the website. Can you send me one? Applications are not available until three months before the August 15, 2007 application deadline. If you are unable to download the application, we can send you application materials via email or postal mail. Please email us at info@pressfellowships.org. When are applications due? Completed applications for the 2008 fellowship year must be in the AFPF office by August 15, 2007. Applications received after the deadline are not considered for that year’s program. Am I eligible? You are eligible if you possess the following:
A typical AFPF Fellow is approximately 29 years old with six years of print journalism experience and little or no previous experience in the United States. Applicants who have visited as tourists or on high-school exchanges often prove to be successful Fellows. I'm working in the United States for a newspaper from a developing country, do I qualify for the program?No, you must currently be working in a developing country. Are permanent residents or citizens of the United States eligible? No, Fellows must come from a developing or transitional country with an emerging free press. Individuals with U.S. citizenship are not eligible for the program. Please visit www.icfj.org for their "ICFJ Fellowships and Exchanges for U.S. Journalists Abroad" for suggestions on programs available to American journalists. I work in broadcast journalism, can I apply? No, AFPF is exclusively for print journalists. Please visit www.icfj.org for "A Guide to International Journalism Fellowships" for suggestions on programs available to broadcast journalists. My paper cannot pay my salary while I am away. Am I disqualified? No, but your editor, in writing a letter of reference, should explain that limitation. AFPF gives high priority to applicants who are committed to return to journalism in their own countries, and the payment of even a partial salary is taken as evidence of that commitment. Do I have to know how to drive? No, but the ability or willingness to learn how to drive will offer a wider range of placement options with host papers. In addition, driving skills will help widen the range of your assignments and your social life outside the newsroom. Do you give any other kinds of grants or fellowships? No, the fellowship program is designed exclusively to give print journalists the opportunity to work for five months at U.S. news publications. AFPF is not an academic course, nor does it or the Alfred Friendly Foundation provide funding for grant proposals or academic studies. AFPF does not award fellowships to journalists from countries with a well-established free press. What kind of visa do I get? AFPF provides documentation to secure a J-1, Exchange Visitor visa (trainee designation). Can I bring my family with me? AFPF discourages Fellows from bringing family members with them to the United States and will not provide visa documentation for family members to apply for J-2 visas. Should family members decide to visit the Fellow, they should not travel to the United States until the Fellow is well established in the host city and no earlier than July 1. Visits should last no more than one month and must be discussed with AFPF staff in advance. AFPF does not provide financial support for spouses or other family members. The Fellow is responsible for all costs incurred for and by family members. May I fax or e-mail my application? No, AFPF only accepts applications by postal mail. When does the 2008 program start? Fellows will arrive in Washington, DC, in mid-March for a two-week orientation seminar before starting their fellowship at their host newspaper. When does the program end? Fellows return to Washington in late August for a four-day final debriefing seminar. Fellows return home from Washington after that. What does the fellowship provide? Fellows — but not their dependents — receive:
Which newspapers host Alfred Friendly Fellows? In recent years, publications such as the Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rocky Mountain News, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have participated in the program. List of Current and Former Host Papers ApplicationLearn more about how to apply.
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