In order to accurately describe the world to their audiences, journalists need to see it first. Yet with dwindling news budgets and break-neck deadlines, many journalists only catch glimpses on a computer monitor. For precisely that reason, travel is a key component of the Knight-Wallace Fellowship – and one of the major benefits that sets us apart from any other journalism fellowship.
We kick things off with a fun ‘n frolicking fall bonding trip to stunning Northern Michigan. Under crisp autumn skies, we shuffle through leaves on long walks in the woods and gather apples for pressing into fresh cider.
Our trip to New York City is completely dedicated to journalism: we meet with the heads of the New York Times, AP and Bloomberg at their offices and tour CBS and ABC studios before discussing the TV news business with Charles Gibson, Mike Wallace and Jeff Fager.
Later in the year, we turn things up a notch with two intensive and invigorating international news tours that are equal parts educational and entertaining.
In Buenos Aires, hosted by our colleagues at Clarín, Fellows are immersed in a complicated and complex culture of great beauty, terrific pride, deep conflict and surprising global importance. We organize seminars with Argentina’s most important and influential politicians, historians, journalists and cultural experts. Yes, there is time for sampling the country’s wines and delectable cuisine, even for galloping across the pampas.
Our visit to exotic and fascinating Istanbul is an eye-opening and, often, life-changing experience. Our hosts from CNN Türk schedule a series of seminars with prominent and powerful people who teach us about the keystone to Middle East peace, the bridge between Islam and the West. We go from exploring Turkey’s ancient history at some of the world’s most famous sights to dining at one of modern Istanbul’s hippest night spots to winding our way through the glittering maze of the Grand Bazaar.
