PA/03/10 15 January 2010
Australia-India Council Young Media Fellowships for two Indian journalists
On 15 January, Australia announced the winners of the Australia-India Council Young Media Fellowships in New Delhi.
The Fellowships aim to provide young media people a chance to advance their careers and expand their knowledge of Australia.
Announcing the winners, the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese, said, “The Fellowships attracted a large number of quality and deserving applications with relevant and interesting topics of research. We are particularly pleased that journalists from most of the country’s leading media outlets applied for the program. The shortlist has been a challenging yet fruitful process for the selection panel.”
The Chair of the Australia-India Council and former Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr John McCarthy, was also present at the awards ceremony. Mr McCarthy said, “Australia is a vibrant and open country, and the Council wanted to ensure that outstanding young Indian journalists were given an in-depth opportunity to learn more about our society, people and culture. We hope the two shortlisted candidates will have a good and pleasant experience in Australia.”
The winners of the 2010 Fellowships are:
- Mr Syed Nazakat Hussain, The Week news magazine. Mr Hussain will be looking at issues surrounding the Australia-India bilateral relationship, including the recently announced ‘Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries.
- Ms Anahita Mukherji, The Times of India. Ms Mukherji will focus on higher education in Australia.
The new Fellowships award two young Indian media professionals grants of AUD $10,000 (approx. 4 lakh rupees) to enable them to spend up to six weeks in Australia researching stories of their choice.
The Fellows will be assisted in their Australian journeys by the Australia-India Council Board and Secretariat, and by a range of eminent Australian media personalities who will provide expert advice and assistance.
The Australia-India Council was established by the Australian Government in 1992 to broaden and deepen Australia-India relations through contacts and exchanges in a range of fields that promote mutual awareness and understanding.
Australia-India people-to-people links are increasing, along with an elevated bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. The Australia-India Council ensures that the relationship extends into diverse fields such as culture, economics, science, public health and sport.
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