Application deadline: September 15, 2009
Peru is known as the cradle of the Incan empire, one of the oldest ancient civilizations. But did you know Peru has had one of the world’s best-performing economies despite the global recession? Don’t miss a chance to explore story opportunities in this under-reported country and region of the world.
The trip will focus on economic issues such as the recently enacted U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), as well as politics, health, development and the environmental issues that affect Peru, South America’s third largest country in area and fourth largest in population. Editors will interview leaders in government, business, health care, media, the environment, the arts and education. Gatekeepers will meet with all sides in the recent controversies involving government and activists in the indigenous-led environmental movement. We will travel to the Peruvian Amazon Basin rainforest and the Andean highlands to see these vast ecosystems firsthand.
Gatekeepers are any senior journalists – executive editors, managing editors, broadcast producers, wire editors, editorial page editors, business editors, op-ed page editors and others – who help select editorial content and supervise staff.
If you are a senior editor or producer at your news organization, you are invited to nominate yourself or another “gatekeeper” from your organization’s staff. The trip to Peru in November 2009 will follow the models of previous IRP Gatekeeper trips to Kenya, Turkey, Uganda, Korea, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Lebanon/Syria, South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.
CAUTION: Travel to high altitudes in Peru could pose a serious health risk if travelers have a condition that affects blood circulation or breathing. Editors who suffer from cardiac-related problems or high blood pressure should NOT apply for this trip.
All Gatekeepers are responsible for paying their own way between their home cities and Washington, the city from which our group will depart for Peru on the afternoon of November 8. All of the participants’ travel, hotel and meal expenses in Peru will be covered by the International Reporting Project (IRP) – unless gatekeepers or their organizations choose to pay their own expenses.
Editors interested in applying for the 2009 Gatekeepers’ Fact-Finding Trip to Peru are required to fill out an application form for the fellowship. Application forms must also be accompanied by a professional resume of no more than two pages. Applicants must have a passport that is valid for travel at the time of their application.