Why I’d Love to Win a CRS Egan Fellowship

The following press release landed in my inbox today. Along with the fact that I’m a major fan of Catholic Relief Services (and yes, I’ve heard the speculation), reading today about Eileen Egan has me inspired beyond measure. I’m convinced that if Ms. Egan were active in media today, she would see the tremendous value of using social media in support of CRS’ work on behalf of the poor and marginalized around the world. A firsthand and intensive look at CRS’ work and the ability to share their “good measures” via social media would be a great gift. I also believe having a blogger/tweeter on the Egan Fellowship would widen the spectrum of folks being reached and informed beyond those who consume traditional Catholic media.  I’ll be applying (and may even share my begging… I mean “application”… here on the blog), but thought I’d share this information for anyone else who wants to consider throwing their hat into the ring:

Call for Applications for Catholic Relief Services’ First Annual

Egan Journalism Fellowship

 

Journalists from Catholic Media Encouraged to Apply for One-Week Fellowship

BALTIMORE, MD, Feb. 19, 2013 – New in 2013, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is announcing its first annual Egan Journalism Fellowship, a one-week, intensive reporting fellowship in a country where CRS works. This fall, the fellowship will take place in Rwanda, where CRS and the Catholic Church are working for peace on the eve of the 20^th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.

Formerly the Egan Award for Journalistic Excellence competition, CRS has revamped the Egan competition into a fellowship program that provides the opportunity to report on poverty and related humanitarian work in a developing country. All journalists working in Catholic media are encouraged to apply.

“The new format aims to open up this opportunity to a greater number of journalists in Catholic media,” said John Rivera, Director for Communications at CRS. “Even those journalists who haven’t previously covered the issues that are at the core of CRS’ work now have the opportunity to learn about global poverty and ways to address it.”

CRS is now accepting applications for the Egan Journalism Fellowship until April 17, 2013.

Journalists working for Catholic print, broadcast, online and social media, as well as photographers and photo journalists, are eligible. A CRS selection committee, in collaboration with an independent committee of prominent secular and Catholic journalists, will select the Egan Journalism Fellows from the pool of applicants. Selections will be based on the applicants’ ability to clearly articulate their interest in the fellowship and demonstrate how the experience will enrich their work.

The new format builds on the Egan Award competition’s aim to foster increased international reporting in Catholic media, and to educate members of the Catholic community in the United States about their role in living a life of solidarity with others.

Just like the Egan Award for Journalistic Excellence, the Egan Journalism Fellowship is named after Eileen Egan, CRS’ first professional staff layperson, who devoted four decades of her life to assisting refugees and helping the poor in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

For more information and to apply online, visit http://www.crs.org/newsroom/egan-fellowship/.