ICFJ's mission is to improve the quality of journalism worldwide, and every day the Center is having an impact on how the world's media does journalism. The following are letters and stories from ICFJ participants, trainers and others who are directly affected by our programs being conducted in the United States and abroad.

Click for stories on ICFJ's global impact:
-Africa
-Asia
-Caucasus
-Europe and Central Asia
-Latin America
-Middle East & North Africa
-North America

Highlights of How ICFJ Is Making a Difference .

. In Azerbaijan
"I would like to emphasize that Karl Idsvoog's training sessions were most useful for developing my professional skills. I have learned a lot about TV journalism: how to ask short and precise questions; how to use background in an interview; how to edit reporter's questions; how to build a video sequence; how to best articulate voice-over. 'Take initiative and make things better' is my motto for the future."
Ilgar Agayev
Participant, 2003 Professional Development Program for Print and Broadcast Media Professionals from Azerbaijan Broadcast journalist
Center for Independent Journalism in Ganja

.In Localizing World News
Rukmini Maria Callimachi, a reporter for The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill., traveled to India as a part of ICFJ's World Affairs Journalism Fellowship program. She wrote a five-part series titled, "Passage from India: Stories of Suburban Immigrants."
"Your recent article in The Daily Herald on the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits is a masterpiece of excellent journalism. This article tells the story that has remained largely untold in the Western press. . We have received many e-mails and telephone calls from Kashmiris living in the Chicagoland area and many others around the country expressing their appreciation of your research into this matter. On behalf of the Kashmiris living in the Chicagoloand area, I would like to thank you for bringing out the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits, an endangered species in the forests of Islamic terrorism."
Bansi Pandit

.In U.S. Newsrooms
Community Newspaper Company invited journalists from Kazakhstan into its newsrooms as a part of ICFJ's media management program
"It is gratifying to be able to share my knowledge of the business side of newspapering, as well as the technical. . Thank you for giving me this opportunity to expand my understanding of my profession; it's in an entirely different context after just a few days with these really interesting people."
Marlene Switzer
Editor in chief
Community Newspaper Company
Danvers, Mass.

The World Affairs Journalism Fellowships program hosted its annual orientation in June.
"I'm back in the office on Monday, trying to get back in the swing of things and missing the great discussion of the last week. While it's all still fresh in my mind, I wanted to thank [...] you for one of the most educational, fun, inspiring weeks of my young journalism career. You guys did a remarkable job of creating a warm, enriching atmosphere for us to talk about all these global issues. I was expecting some learning -- and I got it -- but I wasn't imagining such a journalistic bonding experience -- to be honest I didn't know that was possible, coming out of New York's cut throat media bubble."
Nathaniel Popper
2006 World Affairs Journalism Fellowship Recipient

.In Connecting Journalists Around the World
"Permit me to express my gratitude to ICFJ for the wonderful job it is doing by connecting journalists all over the world with rich information about the profession. ICFJ has no doubt elevated journalism further by its information resource [IJNet], which compares with none in other professions. I doff my cap."
Ayodele Bello
Journalist
Nigeria

.In Providing Resources
What you gave me is a true treasure because nowhere could I find the kind of documentation you offered me on how to run a newspaper business [in ICFJ's Business of News three-volume set]. Everything is inside. I enjoyed reading it.
Amadou Vamoulke
President
Journalist Union of Cameroon