Journalists from 18 Countries Visit School of Journalism During U.S. Trip

Today
Jesse Tellez
A group of journalists in a broadcast studio

A group of international journalists join University of Arizona School of Journalism faculty on a studio tour.

Journalists from around the world gathered at the University of Arizona School of Journalism on October 8 for a discussion on journalistic best practices and the future of the profession.

A group of 19 journalists, representing 18 countries, met with faculty to share ideas and explore topics such as press freedom, news literacy, audience growth and emerging technologies. Faculty members also shared their own research and insights related to media entrepreneurship, science communication, the influence of social media and the rise of AI in newsrooms. 

The visit was part of the U.S. Department of State’s Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists, an initiative of the International Visitor Leadership Program that invites international journalists to observe American journalistic practices and participate in educational seminars and discussions with media experts.  

Professor Jeannine Relly organized the event through the university’s Center for Border & Global Journalism, which supports international collaboration and research on press freedom and global media issues.

The visiting journalists were:

  • Abderrahim Bounemri, head of the cultural team at Algeria’s Ennahar TV.
  • Tess Athanasia Ikonomou, federal politics reporter for Australian Associated Press (AAP).
  • Evelyn Clare Manfield, federal political reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
  • Suleyman Hamidov, journalist at Azerbaijan’s İctimai Television (İTV) and APA News Agency.
  • Muyhong Chan, media development director at the Cambodia Center for Independent Media (CCIM).
  • María Emilia Aparicio, journalist at El Mostrador, an independent Chilean news outlet.
  • Juan Pablo Lucumí, broadcast for France 24 in Colombia.
  • Siiri Erala, editor-in-chief of Pärnu Postimees, Estonia's oldest newspaper.
  • Talal Murad, country director and program presenter at Ezidi 24 in Iraq.
  • Shouq Ali, news anchor and editor for Kuwait Television's English Channel.
  • Varflay Kamara, director of the Department of Public Affairs at the Liberia Broadcasting System.
  • Nabilah Binti Salleh, senior journalist at Bernama's International Desk in Malaysia.
  • Carlos Herrera, financial and administrative director, as well as co-founder, of Divergentes, a digital news platform that operates in Costa Rica.
  • Anthony Divinagarcia, senior program manager at News5 Digital in the Philippines.
  • Amanda Khoza, presidency and executive reporter for News24 in South Africa.
  • Buddhika Samaraweera, deputy news editor at The Morning, an English-language publication in Sri Lanka.
  • Mpoki Thomson, managing editor of The Citizen in Tanzania.
  • Daria Levchenko, news editor at Gwara Media Online in Ukraine.
  • Federica Hanania, broadcast journalist and producer for Uruguay’s TV Channel 4.