Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Freedom Forum Diversity Institute Accepting Applications for 2006 Class

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Freedom Forum Diversity Institute, a training program at Vanderbilt University for people of color who want to become journalists but have not had formal journalism training, is accepting applications for its 2006 class of journalism fellows.

The Freedom Forum Diversity Institute is an intensive 12-week program that trains people of color, particularly non-traditional or second-career professionals, who want to become journalists in a daily U.S. newspaper newsroom. The program is designed to develop participants' skills as reporters, copy editors, photographers and graphic artists. The Freedom Forum pays all expenses for training, transportation and housing, plus a stipend during the training period. To be admitted to the program, participants must have sponsoring newspapers that agree to provide them full-time jobs as journalists upon successful completion of the training session. Since the Diversity Institute opened in June 2002, 67 fellows have graduated from the program.

The 2006 Diversity Institute class will run from Feb. 5 to April 28. The application deadline is Dec. 9.

The Diversity Institute is located in Nashville, Tenn., on the campus of Vanderbilt University, adjacent to the First Amendment Center. Eligible nominees must be able to relocate temporarily to Nashville during the training period, and agree to work at the newspaper that endorses their application at the end of the classroom instruction time. Working with daily newspapers throughout the United States, the institute helps place participants in or near locations where they currently reside.

For additional information, including application information, visit the Diversity Institute’s Web site (diversityinstitute.org.) Nominations and application forms should be mailed to: Robbie Morganfield, Executive Director, Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University, 1207 18th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212.

The Freedom Forum, based in Arlington, Va., is a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation focuses on three main priorities: the Newseum, First Amendment issues and diversity in U.S. daily newspaper newsrooms.

The Freedom Forum Diversity Institute, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational or admissions policies or its scholarship, loan and other institute-administered programs.