Now accepting applications for the landmark Spring 2013 Program with travel to Tokyo, Beijing and first-ever visit to Yangon
The Jefferson Fellowships offer U.S. and Asia Pacific journalists an
opportunity to broaden their understanding of Asia Pacific issues and
build a professional network through a 3-week program of dialogue and
travel organized around a special theme.
The Spring 2013 Jefferson Fellowships program will focus on "New
Leadership in the Asia Pacific: Resolving Old Problems, Managing New
Realities," with travel to Honolulu, Tokyo, Beijing and the first-ever visit to Myanmar in the 46-year history of the program.
The Spring 2013 Jefferson Fellowships program
Application deadline: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Theme: New Leadership in Asia Pacific: Solving Old Problems, Managing New Realities
Dates: June 9-30, 2013
Destinations: Honolulu, Hawaii; Tokyo, Japan; Beijing, China; Yangon, Myanmar
Who Can Apply: Working print,
broadcast, and on-line journalists in the United States, Asia and the
Pacific Islands. Five years of experience preferred. English fluency
required. 12-14 Fellowships will be awarded, 4-5 for American
journalists, and 7-9 for journalists from Asia and the Pacific. American
and Asia Pacific journalists study and travel together throughout the
program for a unique and rich learning opportunity.
Program Theme:
2012 brought new leadership to China and Japan and important
bi-elections in Myanmar that signaled a new democratic openness in the
country’s on-going transition from military to civilian rule. President
Xi Jinping assumed leadership of the Chinese Communist Party after 10
years under Hu Jintao; former LDP Prime Minister Abe Shintaro returned
to power in Japan; and President Thein Sein in Myanmar called for
dramatic economic, social and political reform that has brought market
opportunities and changed the country’s role in the region. Leadership
in these three countries face complex, long-standing economic and social
challenges as well as the reality of new power dynamics within the
region, particularly China’s rise.
The 2013 Jefferson Fellowships program will focus on how much change
and continuity may be expected from these new national leaders and
others in business, government, and civil society who are in positions
to influence economic, social and political developments. Participants
will spend one week in Honolulu for sessions with regional experts to
examine US perspectives on new leadership and power shifts and the
second Obama administration’s plans for reinvigorated engagement with
the Asia-Pacific region. A visit to Tokyo will explore new approaches to
Japan’s entrenched economic and social difficulties—high budget
deficits, deflation, an aging population and rigid labor structure—and
reduced international standing. In Beijing, meetings will provide
insight into President Xi Jinping’s vision for economic restructuring
and China’s role as a regional and global power, and will examine other
forces that are affecting change in China. The program will conclude
with an on-the-ground look at the historic political, economic and media
reforms taking place in Myanmar. Myanmar’s leadership faces an influx
of foreign investment, which holds the promise of jumpstarting the
economy amid immense challenges of managing political and social change.
In addition to domestic challenges, all three countries must grapple
with the new realities of China’s rise. This power shift will require
innovative thinking that is difficult in the face of domestic
nationalism and established beliefs about the regional order.
Territorial disputes between China and Japan have strained their
bilateral relationship. Growing multinational interest in Myanmar,
including improved relations with the United States, further shifts the
status quo within the region. These regional challenges come as the
Obama administration emphasizes its intention of “rebalancing” in the
Asia Pacific region.
Spring 2013 Jefferson Fellows will have the unique opportunity to
engage with Yangon's emerging media sector and provide professional
training and regional perspectives to local journalists in this historic
first ever visit to Myanmar in the 46 years of the Jefferson
Fellowships program.
Funding:
The Jefferson Fellowships are supported by a generous grant from The Freeman Foundation.
The grant covers economy class airfare to Honolulu, Hawaii, throughout
the program and back to participant's home country from Yangon;
program-related ground transportation, lodging, and meals; and a modest
per diem to cover incidental expenses and meals not provided by the
program.
Participants are required to pay a $500 program fee that covers program expenses not included in the Freeman Foundation grant. Participants are also responsible for all applicable visa fees and any additional visa-related expenses. They also must purchase their own travel-related health insurance.
Additional funding support for the 2013 program has been provided by The U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section to sponsor two (2) Pakistani journalists.
The grant funds economy class airfare to Honolulu, Hawaii, throughout
the program and back to Pakistan from Yangon; program-related ground
transportation, lodging, and meals; U.S. visa fees; the $500 program
fee; and a modest per diem to cover incidental expenses and meals not
provided by the program. Participants are responsible for the visa fees
for all other countries and any additional visa-related expenses.
Participants apply through this East-West Center application process.
All Pakistani journalists will be considered for this funding; there is
no need to make a special request.
We ask all news organizations to support their employees’ participation by cost-sharing as much as possible.
While financial assistance from the employer is not required, employers
are encouraged to provide cost-sharing as a demonstration of their
commitment to the value of the program. An "Employer’s Statement of
Support" is a required part of the application.
For full program information please download the Spring_2013_Jefferson_Fellowships_Announcement.pdf
How To Apply:
All applicants must fill out the Jefferson Fellowships application form. You may download PDF or MS Word versions below.
Jefferson Fellowships Application Form (PDF) NOTE: You must save a copy of the form to your computer before filling out the form.
Jefferson Fellowships Application Form (MS Word)
In addition to the application form, applicants must also provide the following:
• A letter outlining your issues of interest, a brief description
of your news organization, and what you expect to accomplish if an award
is granted. Please suggest topics you propose to address in your paper
and presentation at the East-West Center (maximum three pages,
double-spaced, please).
• Names, addresses, phone/fax numbers and e-mail of three people
who may be contacted by the Center as references. Two of these
references should be people outside your news organization.
• A letter of recommendation on official letterhead from your
supervisor describing your suitability for the Fellowship and the
benefit the organization hopes to derive from your participation in the
program. Freelance journalists are welcome to apply; please send a
letter on official letterhead from a media organization that regularly
accepts and publishes or airs your work.
• The “Employer’s Statement of Support” form completed by your employer (third page of application form).
To print a copy of these instructions, please download the Jeffs-InstructionForm-2013.pdf
Please send applications by Thursday, February 28, 2013 to:
E-mail: jefferson@eastwestcenter.org
Fax: 808-944-7600
Post:
Jefferson Fellowships
East-West Seminars
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96848-1601, U.S.A.
For inquiries about the application process, please call: 808-944-7524
Questions about the Fellowships program should be directed to: Ann Hartman, Coordinator, 808-944-7619
PLEASE NOTE, for fax and e-mail submissions:
Indicate “Jefferson Fellowships Application” in the subject heading. We
will confirm receipt of the application within 5 working days. If you do
not hear back from us, please follow up.
● Applications must be received at the East-West Center by the application deadline in order to be considered.
Program Background
Launched in 1967, he Jefferson Fellowships is the East-West Center’s
oldest and most widely-recognized seminar program, with an illustrious
alumni network of more than 500 Jefferson Fellows across the Asia
Pacific region and the United States. The broad goal of the program is
to to enhance public understanding through the news media of cultures,
issues and trends in the Asia Pacific region, broadly defined as Asia,
the Pacific Islands and the United States. Participation in the
Jefferson Fellowships provides journalists not only with a life-changing
international experience, valuable professional contacts, and life-long
friendships with their colleagues in the program, but also access to
the EWC’s international network of more than 1,000 media professionals
and 50,000 alumni. Funding for the Jefferson Fellowships has been
provided through a grant from the Freeman Foundation of Stowe, Vermont
since 1999.