ABSTRACT
In the early years of international media training, many of the training programs sponsored by the U.S. State Department and other agencies brought media managers and journalists to the United States for training workshops and station visits. Nongovernment organizations such as the International Center for Journalists were formed to help facilitate these media visits. The International Visitor Program at the U.S. State Department regularly brought journalists to the United States for three-week visits to universities and media outlets. In addition, longer-term programs were developed to bring journalists and media managers to the United States for a full academic year for advanced non-degree study programs. The State Department-funded Hubert Humphrey program has brought hundreds of media professionals to American universities. Another program designed to bring early to mid-career media professionals to American universities was called the Professional Development Year (PDY) program funded by USAID and administered by the Voice of America’s International Media Training Center. For more than 20 years, Voice of America placed 20–30 journalists each year at one of several participating universities, including the University of Tennessee, Bradley University, University of North Alabama, University of Missouri, Arizona State University, University of Oklahoma, and New Mexico State University. These longer programs exposed visiting journalists to American standards of journalism, media business practices, and American culture. The PDY program provided participants with opportunities to audit classes of their choosing as well as to participate in media internships. The PDY program ended due to the lack of funding in 2014, but it was very successful for participants who were carefully selected in their home countries. Many journalists that came to the United States were serious about getting as much from the program as they could and took advantage of every opportunity provided. They audited relevant courses and participated in internships both semesters. Many returned to assume better positions in their home countries. One past participant 125from Croatia has had a very successful career with HRT (Croatia State TV) and is now Head of the Voice of Croatia. Another Croatian participant is now the leading anchor on Croatian State TV. The stipends received by participants often exceeded their annual salaries. The vast majority of participants were excellent and gained new knowledge from their programs. The Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and the University of Maryland have hosted Humphrey Fellows selected from several countries to participate in a similar academic year program. Humphrey Fellows audited classes and participated in professional activities. Participants returned to their home countries and many have gone on to achieve great success.
