Washington – The best defense of press freedom is journalism that improves the lives of citizens. The Knight International Journalism Fellowships program, administered by the International Center for Journalists, does just that. For more than 14 years, the program has helped 30,000 journalists and media managers make a difference around the world.

In the past year, the Fellowships have been redesigned to have maximum impact. Fellows are now responsible for driving high-impact projects in countries where there are great opportunities for change. On Nov. 13, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced a three-year, $3.8 million grant to continue these innovative Fellowships.

In addition, the program is launching new health journalism Fellowships to develop a cadre of journalists who can provide insightful coverage of important health issues, including HIV/AIDS. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided a three-year, $1.7 million grant to support health Fellowships for journalists in sub-Saharan Africa.

“These Fellowships are so vital because they will not only generate better information, but in many cases they will help save lives,” ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan said.   
 
Fellowships now last a year and they are open to the most qualified candidates from around the world. Fluency in the local language is required. The program also dispatches short-term Fellows who can respond rapidly to calls for assistance.  Regional advisory committees comprised of international experts help identify the best projects and Fellows.

The International Center for Journalists, a nonprofit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition. Aiming to raise the standards of journalism, ICFJ offers hands-on training workshops, seminars, fellowships and international exchanges to journalists and media managers around the globe. For more information, visit www.icfj.org.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance journalism quality and freedom of expression. Knight Foundation supports ideas and projects that create transformational change. For more information visit: www.knightfdn.org.