The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship was mandated in December 1980 by United Nations (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ) General Assembly Resolution 35/201. Formerly known as the DPI Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, the programme was renamed in 2003 in honor of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old Jordanian Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Public Information Officer who was killed in the 19 August 2003 bombing of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ headquarters in Baghdad.
The fellowship is a unique opportunity for young working journalists (between the ages of 22-35) from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to cover the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. Hosted every autumn by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, the programme enables this select group of journalists to learn first-hand about the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's work and to cover the General Assembly for their news outlets.
During the programme, fellows have an opportunity to listen to special briefings, interview senior Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ officials, and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world. In previous years, RAF fellows have met with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly, experts from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from their country. Fellows also meet with news organizations in New York and have various training sessions with media experts.
Since its founding in 1981, the fellowship has been awarded to close to 700 journalists from 168 countries. Upon completing the programme, fellows are expected to continue working in journalism and to promote a better understanding of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in their home countries. The programme does not provide basic skills training, as all fellows are professionals with at least two years of experience as journalists. Visit our and pages!