U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will address more than 90 international journalists from 80 countries at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., on October 28 at 3:30 p.m., as they visit the United States to participate in the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists.

During their three week program, the international journalists are examining the rights and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy, emerging trends in media and social media, and standards and practices of the U.S. media. Six alumni from the program’s first year are also attending to mark the program’s tenth anniversary.

Throughout their time in the nation’s capital, the group will also meet with leading independent U.S. journalists and authors, including noted former Washington Post journalist and author Bob Woodward. Also on October 28, State Department Spokesperson John Kirby will meet with the foreign journalists and take questions.

Following Washington, D.C., the group will divide into regional groups to work with one of the following U.S. schools and centers of journalism:

• Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, Arizona State University
• S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University
• Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Georgia
• School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
• School of Media & Journalism, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma
• School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies, University of Nevada, Reno

The group will then reconvene to visit the The Poynter Institute and United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The program will close in New York City, where the journalists will visit major media outlets to participate in discussions on the essential role of independent media in fostering and protecting freedom of expression and democracy.

Participants are selected by U.S. embassy staff around the world.

For media availability, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at eca-press@state.gov.