The Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan is one of the seven international journalists listed for the 2017/2018 edition of the prestigious Knight-Walace journalism fellowship offered by the University of Michigan, United States of America.
Twelve American journalists were also selected in the 44th edition of the fellowship programme.
Knight-Wallace Fellows spend an academic year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to pursue individual study plans and to engage in collaborative learning through fellowship seminars, training workshops and travel.
“The international and domestic scope of this class of Fellows and the range of interests and expertise they bring will foster a rich environment for exploration and problem solving,” said Wallace House Director Lynette Clemetson.
“Supporting the essential work of journalists is of vital importance for a democratic society. “We are pleased to provide this talented group the time and resources to sharpen their craft and to develop ideas that will bolster journalism excellence and innovation.”
Through twice-weekly seminars, Knight-Wallace Fellows engage with visiting journalists, eminent scholars and creative thinkers from a range of fields, in order to widen their journalism scope.
Aiyetan, an experienced investigative journalist, is the only African that made the 2017/2018 Class of Knight-Wallace fellowship.
Other international journalists include: Mariana Versolato – Sao Paulo, Brazil; John Shields – London, England; Sang-hun Oh – Seoul, South Korea; Marcelo Moreira – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Mark Magnier – Beijing, China, and Chitrangada Choudhury – Orissa, India.
Knight-Wallace Fellows receive a stipend for the eight-month academic year plus full tuition and health insurance.
The program is entirely funded through endowment gifts by foundations, news organizations and individuals committed to improving the quality of information reaching the public.
Another staff of ICIR, Chikezie Omeje, a senior investigative and data reporter, has also won the 2017 Early Childhood Development Reporting Fellowship.
Omeje is one of the 10 journalists selected from six countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania for the one year fellowship which involves local and international reporting trips on early childhood care.
Omeje was selected in the highly competitive application due to his outstanding and excellent reporting, especially on development issues.
The fellowship is administered by the International Centre for Journalists, ICFJ, in partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
Omeje is expected to be producing high quality reporting and solution-orientated stories about nutrition and early childhood development issues in the course of the fellowship with the aim of becoming an influencer and leader for children’s development in the country.
According to ICFJ, the goal of the fellowship is to improve news coverage of child health and form a global network of reporters covering this critically-important issue.
Omeje’s journalistic experience spans over a period of ten years both as a student and practitioner.
He worked for print and broadcast media before joining ICIR in 2016.
Read the profiles of the fellows here.