Participant Application Form: U.S.-Armenia Professional Partnership in Journalism Program
In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, World Learning and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies are implementing the U.S.-Armenia Professional Partnership in Journalism (PPJ) Program. This program will enable 84 Armenian journalists to visit the United States in a training program to improve their understanding of disinformation, strengthen their reporting skills, and cultivate U.S. relationships.
The PPJ Program will consist of three main segments: eight two-week professional exchanges for print and online journalists, broadcast reporters, editors, media managers, and government communicators; two one-month fellowships for 20 participants selected from the print and online journalists and broadcast reporters cohorts; and $40,000 in targeted assistance awarded to eight of the 20 fellows’ media organizations in Armenia to adopt approaches to build resilience to misinformation and promote journalism’s role in a free society. The third cohort is scheduled to take place in the United States from May 10 – 24, 2025.
More information on the three main segments of the program:
Two-Week Professional Exchanges:
- 84 selected participants will take part in one of four two-week training programs on fact-checking, media literacy, reporting, leadership, digital transformation, and audience engagement in-person at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, with some time likely spent in Washington, D.C. The upcoming cohort will consist 10 editors.
By participating in these exchanges, Armenian journalists and media professionals will return home with new ideas, expanded professional networks, and increased knowledge of how informational and investigative journalism can advance civil society and inform the public about critical issues facing Armenians and the South Caucasus region. By providing participants with the resources and professional connections to amplify their work, this program will promote journalism’s role in a free society and encourage Armenian journalists and media organizations to adopt approaches to build resilience to misinformation.
Participants will:
- Be professionals working in the Armenian media sector as editors with at least two years of experience in the field
- Be proficient in conversational English
- Have interest or expertise in fact-checking, media literacy, reporting, leadership, digital transformation, and audience engagement
- Be able to work effectively with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
We also seek candidates with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrated leadership potential, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and a commitment to the program and follow-on activities. Those selected will come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, organizations, and political orientations. We also aim for gender balance.
The program organizers will arrange and cover FAA-compliant economy-class flights, all program-related transportation, medical insurance during the program, double-occupancy hotel accommodations, COVID testing as needed, meals, and social activities during the event. The program organizers will also make visa arrangements for all participants in coordination with U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.
Please find the application form below. The application must be completed in English and must be submitted by December 31, 2024. Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will only contact semi-finalists following the closing of the application. No phone calls or emails, please.
We appreciate your interest in this program and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Vlad Spencer
Manager, Professional Exchanges and Global Networks
World Learning