FOUNDER/Editor-in-Chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Fisayo Soyombo has emerged a 2023-24 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan, United States.
According to a statement released on Thursday, May 11 l, by the Wallace House Centre for Journalists and the University of Michigan, the 2023-2024 class of Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows is a “cohort of 19 accomplished journalists representing nine countries and a broad cross-section of the US”.
The fellows will pursue ambitious journalism projects, audit courses at the university and participate in weekly seminars with journalism leaders, renowned scholars, media innovators and social change agents. Most seminars will take place at Wallace House, a gift from the late newsman Mike Wallace and his wife, Mary, and the programme’s home base.
Soyombo, a current fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) at the University of Oxford, will join the likes of Elizabeth Aguilera an independent multimedia journalist, Roberson Alphonse, head of national news at le Nouvelliste, Sharif Hassan, a former Washington Post and New York Times reporter from Afghanistan, Yunhee Kim the politics editor for Munhwa Ilbo, among others.
“These journalists and their compelling range of projects reflect the breadth of challenges journalists must understand – from the far-reaching societal impacts of climate change, to the rise of social media-fueled disinformation, to the unique challenges of reporting from countries ensnared in media crackdowns, wars or rampant violence,” said Director of Wallace House Lynette Clemetson.
“Now more than ever, the work of these and all journalists is essential to protecting and expanding democratic values. We are honored to support them.”
The fellowship program is funded through endowment gifts from foundations, news organisations, individuals, and ongoing contributions from funders committed to journalism’s role in fostering an informed and engaged public.
Blessing Otoibhi is a Multimedia Journalist and Anchor host for the News in 60 seconds at The International Center For Investigative Reporting. You can shoot her a mail via [email protected] or connect on Twitter @B_otoibhi