Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships 2005

On March 28, 2005, eight developing-world journalists participating in the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship  program came to the National Press Foundation to discuss freedom of the press and U.S. coverage of international issues with fellow journalists.

The first session, on Freedom of the Press, was led by a former journalist, Gregg Leslie, the current legal defense director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and by Salameh Nematt, the bureau chief for the London-based Arab daily newspaper, Al-Hayat.  The speakers focused on the Constitutional history of the freedom of speech and of the press, and on the balance in today's world between press freedom and national security.

The second session, on U.S. Coverage of International Issues, was led by former international correspondent Susan Bennett, the current director of international exhibits at the Freedom Forum's Newseum, and by Sonya Ross, of the Associated Press, and former head of World Services in Washington.  This session focused on the change in U.S. coverage of international news after September 11th.  The practice of US journalism has changed dramatically in response to the American public's new awareness of global issues.  The Friendly Fellows engaged the speakers in a conversation about how the US media reports on events taking place in their home countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

 

This collaboration with the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship is part of the NPF's continuing efforts to expand its commitment to the education of journalists from around the world.  Our goal is always improved press coverage, nationally and globally.