Student Expert: Spring 2013 Jefferson Fellowships

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.

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.

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.