World Health Organization's 2003 Journalism Fellowship Programme
Ebola Outbreaks . . . . Eliminating Polio . . . . Bioterrorism and Smallpox . . . . Tobacco’s Impact . . . . . Violence and Public Health . . . . Heart Disease in Developing Countries . . . . Malaria, TB, HIV. . . . and the Link between Disease, Poverty and Conflict
These are just a few of the topics selected reporters will be able to explore at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva during a two week fellowship in October. A third week allows fellows to pursue their self-selected research topic anywhere in the world.
The goal of the WHO Journalism Fellowship Programme is to provide reporters with an understanding of the forces shaping global public health. The programme uses several methods to achieve this goal. In Geneva, WHO Fellows attend daily briefings on a range of international public health issues. Also in Geneva, fellows have the freedom to pursue their own special interests by attending meetings, lectures and seminars, by interviewing technical experts, and by using WHO's extensive research resources. And in the field, WHO fellows study one public health issue, important to their home audience, in a different cultural and political context.
Candidates must have a minimum of five years experience in medical, health or foreign affairs reporting in print or electronic media. One applicant will be selected from each of seven regions of the world. Selections will be made by an independent board of senior journalists.
This year’s fellowship programme will be held in October and conducted in English. All transportation, housing and moderate living costs will be provided for work in Geneva and for the third week of fieldwork.
Fellows will produce two written pieces. One will be a 100-word profile of an incoming fellow. The second is a 2,000-word piece on the fellow’s self-selected research focus. Both of these pieces will be used in the Fellowship Bulletin.
An application form can be found on WHO's website at www.who.int. The completed application and supporting materials must be received in Geneva by 30 April 2003 to be considered by the judging committee. Selected fellows will be notified in May.