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 54 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: four two-week professional exchanges for print and online journalists, broadcast reporters, editors, and media managers; two one-month fellowships for 10 participants selected from the first two cohorts; and $20,000 in targeted assistance awarded to four of the 10 fellows’ media organizations in Armenia to adopt approaches to build resilience to misinformation and promote journalism’s role in a free society.
More information on the three main segments of the program:
Two-Week Professional Exchanges:
- 54 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 first two cohorts will consist of 18 print and online journalists (May 2024) and 16 broadcast journalists (October 2024), while the second two cohorts will consist of 10 editors and 10 media managers in 2025.
One-Month Fellowships:
- 10 selected participants from the first two cohorts will take part in a one-month long fellowship program directly following their two-week professional exchange, where they will be placed at a U.S. media organization in a mid-tier media market or work on a month-long reporting project. The Poynter Institute’s extensive network of connections in the media field will drive the selection of fellowship hosts that are tailored to the needs and goals of each selected fellow.
$20,000 Targeted Assistance:
- World Learning will issue $20,000 in targeted assistance grants to the media organizations of four of the 10 fellows so that they can localize what they have learned during the program and fellowship. This targeted assistance will provide the support the journalists need to adopt new practices in their reporting, as well as media organizations, and provide an avenue for program sustainability and future funding opportunities. Interested fellows will complete a separate application process and, if selected, will have calls with Poynter experts once per month to discuss their progress. Examples of projects may include but are not limited to, creating an investigative series, developing new audience engagement tools and strategies, or establishing a fact-checking unit.
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 (print and online journalists, broadcast journalists, editors, or media managers) 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 Yerevan.
Applications are now open for 18 print and online journalists to apply for the first cohort. Additional opportunities to apply for the exchange will be announced next year.
Please find the application form below. The application must be completed in English. The deadline for submitting the application is December 21, 2023. 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