Six Australian journalists join Development Fellowship to Cambodia

PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release

March 12, 2015

Six Australian journalists begin an intensive 10-day visit to Cambodia this Monday (March 16) aimed at enhancing their understanding of economic and social development challenges in the Asia Pacific region.

The journalists will conduct field visits to a range of aid and development activities across Cambodia, and meet with representatives of local communities, Cambodian government agencies, international and local NGOs, UN organisations, and private sector supporters of agricultural development.

The International Development Journalism Fellowship is an initiative of the Melbourne-based Asia Pacific Journalism Centre (APJC), endorsed by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). The inaugural program is being run in collaboration with one of Australia’s leading development agencies, World Vision Australia.

The fellowship aims to equip the journalists with improved knowledge and understanding of the issues facing developing countries and to enhance their ability to report effectively on development and humanitarian affairs in the region.

The participants represent media across Australia: Christie Cooper, Seven Network; Erin Handley, The Northern Daily Leader; Sonia Kohlbacher, The Australian; Lauren Novak, The Advertiser; Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Special Broadcasting Service; and Sarah Whyte, The Sydney Morning Herald.

“The International Development Journalism Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for Australian journalists to develop skills for reporting on the international relief and development sector and its increasingly important role in national politics and international relations,” said APJC director John Wallace.

The Cambodia field trip will be preceded by a three-day masterclass in Melbourne from March 12 to 14, led by experts in development, NGOs and the media. The masterclass is being supported by La Trobe University’s Institute for Human Security and Social Change.

APJC aims to run the fellowship twice a year in partnership with a rotating development NGO which will provide access to their work in the field for participating fellows.

ENDS

For more information, contact:

Deborah Muir, Program Manager, APJC: 03 93879740 / dmuir@apjc.org.au

Mary-Louise O’Callaghan, World Vision Australia media team: 0427 413 816 /
mary-louise.ocallaghan@worldvision.com.au

 

Click here to download the press release as a PDF.