Ten Commonwealth Journalists Awarded Harry Brittain Fellowship

Ten senior Commonwealth journalists have been awarded the Harry Brittain Fellowships for 2004. They are Cameron Thompson (Australia),  Francis Pabai (The Gambia), Sreyashi Dastidar (India), Sumitha Martin (Malaysia), Geoff Collett (New Zealand), Kirsty Pickett (New Zealand), Asfiya Aziz (Pakistan), Priestley Habru (Solomon Islands), Kay Karriem (South Africa) and Wilton Mamba (Swaziland).

The journalists will begin their Fellowship in London on Monday, 17 May and the six-week programme will take them to Manchester, Northern Ireland (hosted by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Wales (hosted by The Thomson Foundation) and one other city where they will spend one week on attachment with a regional newspaper.

Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) Training Director Jane Rangeley said, "Fellows are selected from countries within the Commonwealth and we try to strike a balance of successful male and female applicants. Many past recipients have gone on to hold senior key editorial and management roles.

"The main purpose of the Fellowship is to broaden both personal and professional horizons. It also fosters the development of close international relationships, which for many young journalists who do not often have the opportunity of meeting other nationalities or travelling abroad, is another enjoyable and beneficial aspect of the Fellowship. The ideal candidate is aged between 28 and 38, is passionate about journalism, outgoing, broadminded, confident and sociable."

Annually, since 1960, the CPU has awarded up to 12 Fellowships to young editors and senior journalists from Commonwealth countries through a memorial to the Union's founder, the late Sir Harry Brittain.

This Fellowship is the most prestigious of the CPU's extensive programme of training activities. The journalists spend six weeks in the UK, learning how the British media functions and examining its political, economic and social infrastructures. 

The programme consists of visits to national newspapers, communications and publishing companies, Parliament, Commonwealth organisations, business institutions and finance houses. Meetings are arranged with international business and Commonwealth executives, as well as senior journalists.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 181   28 April 2004