Female editors and producers from West and Southern Africa who cover public health issues have until 25 May to apply for the Public Health Fellowship Programme sponsored by the International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF). The six-month fellowship has two segments. For the first four months, fellows will work with advisors at host media outlets in the U.S. to create individualized training plans aimed at increasing their understanding of coverage of public health issues in the U.S. and how editors and producers work with reporters to cover those issues. For the last two months, fellows will return to their home countries to complete specialised public health journalism projects. The projects must be set forth in proposals as part of the fellows applications and must have the support of the fellows employers. The fellowship will begin in August 2005 and end in January 2006.

A successful applicant will have five or more years of full-time experience in journalism, with at least three of those years spent focusing on public health coverage. Applicants must be dedicated to a career in journalism and currently employed as either a newspaper editor or radio producer. (Reporters are not eligible.) Applicants home media organizations must support their participation in the fellowship. Applicants must show a strong commitment to sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues upon returning home. Excellent written and spoken English skills are required. Expenses, including air fare and a stipend, will be covered.

For further information and to download an application, visit the IWMF website: http://www.iwmf.org/programs/8702 or send an email to fellowship@iwmf.org