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In May 2004, the centre launched a fellowship program for Australian and regional mid-career journalists, with the inaugural program focusing on Islam in Indonesia.
Nine journalists from Australia joined six Indonesian journalists on a study tour through Indonesia's most populous island, Java, visiting Islamic institutions and communities, and meeting religious and political leaders, editors and journalists.
The program was led the former national desk editor of The Jakarta Post, Santi Soekanto, and APJC program director John Wallace.
Feedback from the Australian participants was very positive, with all reporting amongst other things that the program had given them a better understanding of Islam generally and of the diversity of Islamic expression in Indonesia.
At a farewell dinner in Jakarta, sponsored by the Jakarta Editors Club, former Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Pak Sabam Siagian said the APJC fellowship program would help improve media performance in the region, and relations between its countries.
A recent report by the Australian parliament's joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade has endorsed the aims of the APJC Fellowship Program. The committee, which was inquiring into Australia's relationship with Indonesia, has recommended that the program should be conducted on an annual basis.
The 2004 APJC Fellowship Program was supported by the Myer Foundation under its Beyond Australia program, with additional funding and support from the employers of participating journalists, the Jakarta Post and the Jawa Pos Group.
Assistance was provided by the Jakarta Editors' Club, the Liberal Islam Network (JIL) in Indonesia, the Muslim Journalists Association and the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI).
Participants
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Australian journalists
Ms Diana Bagnall, feature writer, The Bulletin (national news magazine)
Mr Marcus Cheek, producer/journalist, ABC Asia Pacific TV News (overseas TV service)
Ms Lisa Clausen, senior journalist, Time Magazine (South Pacific edition)
Ms Trudy Harris, senior journalist, The Australian (national newspaper)
Mr Michael Kenny, journalist, SBS Radio (multicultural radio station)
Ms Philippa McDonald, national communications reporter, ABC News (radio and TV)
Ms Karon Snowdon, finance correspondent, Radio Australia (overseas radio)
Mr Geoff Strong, senior news and feature writer, The Age (daily newspaper, Melbourne)
Mr John Van Tiggelen, feature writer, Good Weekend (weekly magazine)
Indonesian journalists
Ms Elly Burhaini, foreign affairs correspondent, Suara Pembaruan (evening newspaper)
Mr Luqman Hakim, reporter, Gatra (weekly news magazine)
Ms Uly Siregar, feature writer, Femina (women�s magazine)
Mr Pambudi Utomo, managing editor, Hidayatullah (Islamic magazine)
Mr Supriyatno, editor, Radio 68H (radio news magazine)
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| Feedback from APJC Fellows |
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"The program provided unique and extraordinary access to places normally off limits to Westerners. We were privileged to be the beneficiaries of the efforts of the organisers on this inaugural tour. Thank you. This was an incredible journey which challenged prejudices I didn't know I had. I feel incredibly lucky and will cherish this experience. Please do this again."
"I came with very open expectations, but whatever they were, this trip has far exceeded all of them on so many levels."
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"All in all, can I just say that it was a superb trip, superbly organised. Whether professionally it was a life-changing experience, I'm not yet sure, but it may well be. It certainly provided invaluable context and perspectives for anyone contemplating any sort of future in foreign correspondence."
"Please do this again. There's next to no professional development for working journalists. Asia should be a top priority for us: Sumatra, Thailand, Philippines, China, Vietnam."
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Asia Pacific Journalism Centre Fellowships: Journey into Islam in Indonesia