The inaugural TFAS Journalism Fellows program kicked off the weekend of Sep.16 – 18 with a retreat in Philadelphia. The fellows, comprised of 17 alumni, were selected through an application process to participate in the yearlong program.

The retreat featured an array of experts who discussed their work in the field. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Barbara Laker of the Philadelphia Daily News and Joseph Rago of the Wall Street Journal gave the fellows career advice and tips from an insider’s perspective, and TFAS President Roger Ream (E 76) led the fellows in an interview with Economist Walter Williams of George Mason University

While in Philadelphia the fellows toured Independence Hall as well as other historic sites. Before heading back to Washington, the delegation took part in the Flavors of Philly tour where they stopped at famous eateries while enjoying some sightseeing, history and architecture.

“Philadelphia was the perfect city to launch this new journalism program. Our fellows were very cognizant of the fact that our free and vibrant press began in Philadelphia,” said the program’s director Joe Starrs.

The purpose of the fellowship is to bring together young alumni working in the field of journalism. The fellows engage in continuing education programs as well as networking events. Activities over the course of the year include educational seminars, professional development workshops and discussion sessions on journalism, public policy and leadership topics.

To facilitate the participation of Fellows in various parts of the country and abroad, the program will feature three online seminars held over the course of the year. The fellows will also be required to attend a winter retreat from Feb. 3 – 4 in Washington, D.C.

2011-2012 TFAS Journalism Fellows

Nicholas Ballasy (J 07), Senior Video Reporter for The Daily Caller

Jackie Faye Burton (J 05), Reporter for Raleigh, N.C.’s NBC-17.

Stephanie Cohen (J 96, A 97), Special Correspondent for Bloomberg’s Bureau of Nation Affairs

Maurna Desmond (J 04), Program Officer at the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

Jessica Eggan (J 07), News Reporter for WJER Radio

Nicole Erwin (J 07), Contributor to The Jeju Weekly, Arirang Radio and KCTV

Leah Farr (J 03), Director of Strategic Communications at ABWE

Maxine Giza (J 04), Assistant Web Editor at EH Publishing

Brittany Hackett (J 07), Web Producer for POLITICO Pro

John Heltman (J 02), Associate Editor for Inside EPA

Daniel Johnson-Kim (J 07), Senior Production Designer for The Daily

Jared Keller (J 08), Associate Editor at The Atlantic

Amber Parcher (J 07), International Journalist

Tim Sampson (J 08), Editor and Multimedia Legislative Correspondent for Missouri News Horizon

Ellis Smith (J 08), Reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Amanda Smith-Teutsch (J 00), Managing Editor of the Electronic Waste Journal

Dominic Swire (EJI 06, EMJI 06), Reporter for China Radio International