Fifteen journalists from 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region including Papua New Guinea and the United States have commenced the prestigious Jefferson Fellowships program.
The program runs for three weeks from May 6-28 beginning at Honolulu on the U.S island state of Hawai’i.
The Jefferson Fellowships offer print and broadcast journalists from the U.S, Asia and the Pacific Islands the unique opportunity to gain on-the-ground perspectives, deepen knowledge of regional issues.
Participants will build a professional network through a three week intensive education and travel program.
Journalists spend one week at the East-West Center in Honolulu followed by two weeks of study tour travel in the Asia Pacific region including Japan, China and Philippines.
The 2017 Jefferson Fellowships program focuses on trade, security and strategic relationships in Asia Pacific and the future of the US role following the election of President Donald Trump.
East-West Seminars program specialist Ann Hartman welcomed the participants to the program and said this batch is an exciting group with journalists from many different backgrounds and experience.
Hartman said a lot will be discussed over the coming weeks as participants take part in a range of dialogues with different government officials, experts and researchers in relation to the topic.
The other participating journalists are from New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam.
Journalists had the chance for a half tour around the island on the weekend before commencing the official program on Monday, May 8.
The program marks its 50th anniversary this year with seven Papua New Guineans who have participated since 1978.
They are, Ikini Holloway (1978), Austin Sapias (1972), Sinclair Solomon (1982), Mathew Efi (1987), Elliot Raphael (2010), Helen Tarawa-Rei (2016) and LOOP PNG’s Quintina Naime (2017).