Twelve young journalists and reporters from developing countries – seven women and five men – recently completed their successful assignments as part of the 2023 Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF). The programme, which took place between September 13 and September 29, 2023, marks the return to UNHQ of the in-person Fellowship since the last one in 2019.
In three weeks, RAF Fellows were heavily involved in the coverage of the High-Level Week, including the General Debates, SDG Summit and other High-Level events, and key Security Council meetings. Fellows participated in and co-hosted sessions at the SDG Media Zone, SDG Pavilion, and SDG Roundup Show, and partnered with UN Video for contents. In the meantime, they also attended background briefings that covered a wide range of topics, from counterterrorism, disarmament, and innovations in peacekeeping, to women's rights and human rights protection, food security, press freedom and combating fake news.
Most importantly, Fellows had the opportunity to engage in conversations with senior figures at the UN, including the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Dennis Francis, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming, Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Action Selwin Hart, and Spokesperson to the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric.
Activities outside the UN were also arranged. Fellows paid visits to The Wall Street Journal, ProPublica, Freedom of the Press Foundation, and St. John's University.
As a result, the Fellows produced more than 120 stories and reports that span multiple platforms – print, TV, video, and social media.
It was not all work and no play for our Fellows, as they were treated to a tour of the UN Headquarters by colleagues at the Visitors Centre, visited UN Web TV studios, and experienced museums, parks, and everything else that New York City could offer.
One of the highlights of the programme was that Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel 探花精选 Prize laureate and a beacon of press freedom, surprised everyone with her appearance at the RAF 2023 Final Ceremony!
"Participating in the United Nations Reham al-Farra Journalism Fellowship was a rewarding privilege and the highlight of my career for 2023. I'm confident that this incredible experience will catapult me to the next level in my career journey," said Deandre Williamson, a RAF Fellow from the Bahamas.
We hope our Fellows enjoyed their experiences here and carry with them valuable insights about the UN’s work. We wish all the best to our RAF Fellows!