Professional Fellows Program for Emerging Media Leaders

The Professional Fellows Program for Emerging Media Leaders (PFP EML) is a two-way exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by ICFJ. This exchange program is for media professionals (journalists, technologists, and media entrepreneurs) from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as U.S. media professionals, who are interested in harnessing the power of digital tools and helping to create and strengthen businesses that provide news and information in the public interest. 

Media professionals from 25 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the United States, will be competitively selected for the program.  The Latin American and Caribbean Fellows will have the opportunity to work directly with U.S. media organizations, develop entrepreneurship projects, and improve their skills in areas such as investigative journalism, fact-checking, and podcasting, as well as non-journalism-specific skills, such as how to build a sustainable business model. 

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U.S. Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in American outbound programs to various Latin American and Caribbean countries.  American outbound programs provide the opportunity to interact with media outlets in Latin America and the Caribbean and build lasting relationships with program participants and other professionals. 

The program has two components:

1. A three-month virtual training series:

Each month Professional Fellows will participate in up to five online training sessions in different topics such as, audience engagement, podcasting, data visualization, digital/physical security, and have opportunities to workshop project proposals with other media innovators from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

2. An in-person exchange:

• A two-day orientation conducted by ICFJ. The orientation takes place in Washington, DC where Latin American and Caribbean Fellows will meet each other and participate in sessions on key issues facing the U.S. media landscape. The orientation also provides time for ICFJ to provide further information on Fellows’ newsroom placements and answer any questions they might have.
• Four weeks of professional placements in newsrooms. The program pairs Latin American and Caribbean Fellows with U.S. newsrooms, digital communications firms, and startup incubators, based on the fellows’ backgrounds, skills, and project proposals.  During the placements, fellows will have opportunities to meet and learn from different teams in the newsrooms.
• Professional Fellows Congress - The congress is a large global conference that takes place in Washington, DC and is a unique opportunity to network and learn from other Professional Fellows from all over the world that work in various industries.
   

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