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<P class=style52 align=center><A class=style56 href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738777"><FONT color=#000000 size=5>ICFJ's Knight International Journalism Fellowships Program <BR>receives grants from Knight and Gates foundations <BR>to advance journalism </FONT></A><A class=style56 href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738778"><FONT color=#000000 size=5>excellence and free expression worldwide</FONT></A></P>
<P align=center><SPAN class=style53><EM><FONT size=5>Gates Foundation to Sponsor Health Journalism Fellows in Africa</FONT></EM></SPAN></P>
<P align=left><SPAN class=style54><SPAN class=style55><STRONG>Washington </STRONG>- The best defense of press freedom is journalism that improves the lives of citizens. <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738779"><FONT color=#000000>The Knight International Journalism Fellowships program</FONT></A>, administered by <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738780"><FONT color=#000000>the International Center for Journalists</FONT></A>, does just that. For more than 14 years, the program has helped 30,000 journalists and media managers make a difference around the world.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=style55>In the past year, the Fellowships have been redesigned to have maximum impact. Fellows are now responsible for driving high-impact projects in countries where there are great opportunities for change. On Nov. 13, the <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738781"><FONT color=#000000>John S. and James L. Knight Foundation</FONT></A> announced a three-year, $3.8 million grant to continue these innovative Fellowships. </P>
<P class=style55>In addition, the program is launching new health journalism Fellowships to develop a cadre of journalists who can provide insightful coverage of important health issues, including HIV/AIDS. <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738782"><FONT color=#000000>The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation </FONT></A>has provided a three-year, $1.7 million grant to support health Fellowships for journalists in sub-Saharan Africa. </P>
<P class=style55>"These Fellowships are so vital because they will not only generate better information, but in many cases they will help save lives," <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738783"><FONT color=#000000>ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan</FONT></A> said. <BR> <BR>Fellowships now last a year and they are open to the most qualified candidates from around the world. Fluency in the local language is required. The program also dispatches short-term Fellows who can respond rapidly to calls for assistance. Regional advisory committees comprised of international experts help identify the best projects and Fellows.</P>
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<P class=style55><STRONG><A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738784"><FONT color=#000000>The International Center for Journalists</FONT></A></STRONG>, a nonprofit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition. Aiming to raise the standards of journalism, ICFJ offers hands-on training workshops, seminars, fellowships and international exchanges to journalists and media managers around the globe. For more information, visit <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738785"><FONT color=#000000>www.icfj.org</FONT></A>.</P>
<P class=style55><STRONG><A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738786"><FONT color=#000000>The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation</FONT></A></STRONG> promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance journalism quality and freedom of expression. Knight Foundation supports ideas and projects that create transformational change. For more information visit: <A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738787"><FONT color=#000000>www.knightfdn.org</FONT></A>.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top><SPAN class=style23><FONT face=Arial color=#5b5836 size=2>1616 H Street NW, Third Floor<BR>Washington, DC 20006, USA </FONT></SPAN></TD>
<TD vAlign=top><SPAN class=style23><FONT face=Arial color=#5b5836 size=2>T +1.202.737.3700 F +1.202.737.0530<BR></FONT><A href="mailto:editor@icfj.org"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>editor@icfj.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial color=#5b5836 size=2>, </FONT><A href="http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=174414705&u=1738788"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>www.icfj.org</FONT></A></SPAN></TD>
<TD vAlign=top><SPAN class=style23><FONT face=Arial color=#5b5836 size=2>Advancing Quality Journalism Worldwide</FONT></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<DIV>A. Sofie Jannusch<BR>Catholic Media Council<BR>P.O.Box 10 21 04<BR>52021 Aachen<BR>Fon: **49-241-70 13 12 12<BR>skype: sofie.jannusch<BR>Fax: **49-241-70 13 12 33<BR>Email: <A href="mailto:sofie.jannusch@cameco.org">sofie.jannusch@cameco.org</A><BR>Internet: <A href="http://www.cameco.org">http://www.cameco.org</A></DIV></BODY></HTML>