From October 24 through November 11, emerging journalists from 105 countries will participate in the U.S. Department of State’s Edward R. Murrow Program. The flagship initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ International Visitor Leadership Program, the Murrow program will connect approximately 150 international journalists with their American counterparts, where they will meet in both the newsroom and in United States’ journalism classrooms. The Murrow program is conducted in cooperation with the Aspen Institute and 10 partner universities, with sessions conducted in six languages for the participants.

Now in its sixth year, the Murrow program begins in Washington, D.C. with a symposium arranged in conjunction with the Aspen Institute. On Tuesday, October 25, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will address the international journalists at the U.S. Department of State.

Participants then travel in smaller groups for academic seminars and field opportunities with faculty and students at one of the 10 partner schools of journalism, including: Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University; Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma; School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota; School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University; Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland; Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia; Department of Journalism and Media Studies, University of South Florida- St. Petersburg; Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada-Reno; and College of Communication and Information, University of Tennessee.

The international journalists also travel to various American cities to observe U.S. media coverage of state politics and government, as well as American civic life and grassroots involvement in political affairs. City stops for this year’s program include: New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA; Miami and Jacksonville, FL; Seattle and Olympia, WA; St. Louis, MO; San Francisco and Sacramento, CA; Bozeman, MT; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM; and Denver, CO.

The program concludes in New York City, with visits to major media outlets and a symposium to highlight the impact of media literacy on journalism. Following the conclusion of this year's program, the Murrow program will have more than 900 alumni.

Now in its 70th year, the International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term programs to build mutual understanding on foreign policy issues. Nearly 200,000 distinguished individuals have participated in the program, including more than 320 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, and thousands of leaders from the public and private sectors. More information on the Murrow program and IVLP can be found on exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/murrow.html.

For more information, please contact Talley Sergent, U.S. Department of State, at SergentRT@state.gov.