Lankan Journalist Fairooz selected for UN General Assembly opening
Sri Lankan Young Journalist Mohamed Fairooz has been selected for ‘Reham Al-Farra’ Memorial Journalism Fellowship programme for Young Journalists to be held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York from September 16-October 5.
Fairooz is one of 15 Young Journalists selected from among more than 650 applicants worldwide will be representing Sri Lanka after 18 years.
Mohamed Fairooz is the Editor of Vidivelli, a Tamillanguage National Daily published by Express Newspapers (Cey) Ltd. He is also the Vice President of Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and Executive Committee member of the Sri LankaPalestine Solidarity Committee.
The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship is a unique opportunity for Young Journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to cover the UN. Hosted annually at the UN Headquarters, the programme brings a select group of Young Journalists to New York for the opening of the General Assembly.
During the 3-week programme, the participants have the opportunity to attend special briefings, interview senior officials and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world. In previous years, participants have met with the UN Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly and Permanent Representatives to the UN. The programme also arranges visits to various news organisations, such as the New York Times, Democracy Now and WNYC radio.
The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship was mandated in December 1980 by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/201. Formerly known as the DPI Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, the programme was renamed in 2003 in honor of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-yearold Jordanian Public Information Officer who was killed in the August 19, 2003, bombing of the UN Office in Baghdad.
Since its founding in 1981, the Fellowship has been awarded to 581 Young Journalists from 168 countries.