PCI -Media Impact Announces
PAX International Exchange Participants
Eight Peruvian journalists travel to the U.S. for media
training and internships
(en espanol)

July 12, 2007 – PCI-Media Impact, a global not-for-profit producer of TV and radio shows in over 25 countries, announced today the eight Peruvian journalists selected to travel to the U.S. as part of the Peru-American Exchange Program (PAX). PAX, a PCI-Media Impact initiative supported by the U.S. Department of State, promotes professional standards in journalism through responsible, accurate, and ethical coverage of democracy and development issues. The exchange aims to foster mutual understanding, networking opportunities, local capacity building and sustainable partnerships between Peruvian and U.S. radio journalists and media institutions.

Over 100 radio journalists, hosts, and producers from outside of the capital city of Lima applied to participate in the PAX program. Following an initial training in Peru earlier this year, eight journalists have now been selected to travel to the U.S. this September to take part in the program’s next phase: an intensive five-week program involving media training and internships at U.S. radio stations.

The eight journalists hail from all over the country, representing the diversity of Peru. Their names, network affiliations, and cities are: Yulder Florez Aguirre (Radio Inty Raimy - Cusco), María del Rocío Farfán Manrique (Radio Cutivalú - Piura), Julia Soledad Rosario Mamani (Radio Sol de los Andes - Puno), Cecilio Soria Gonzales (Radio Frontera - Ucayli), Wilmer Fortunato Hidalgo Huamán (Radio Amazónica - Junín), Leonardo Alfredo Ccori Vargas (Radio Yaraví -Arequipa), Oscar Martín Fajardo Gallego (Chami Radio - La Libertad), Enith Alcidia Fasanando Tello (Radio Tropical - San Martin).

“The participants make this such an exciting program,” said PCI-Media Impact Director of Programs, Natalia Vaccarezza. “We have a truly exceptional group representing women, youth, rural communities, indigenous groups, and disabled populations. Many broadcast bilingually in Quechua and Aymara. Each one is talented, committed, and passionate about reaching communities that are often underserved by mainstream media. They see this as a unique opportunity to impact not only their own lives, but their communities, their country, and their U.S. counterparts.”

Once in the U.S., the Peruvian journalists join U.S. radio journalists in a week-long media training in San Francisco, California, organized by PCI-Media Impact and its partner, New America Media ( NAM). A consortium of over 700 ethnic media outlets around the U.S., NAM produces and brings together editorial content from and for the national ethnic media sector. After the training, each participant will begin a month-long professional internship at a U.S. radio station where they will work together with U.S. journalists and radio broadcasters to produce community-oriented programming.

“To be able to share our life experiences, our work, culture, civic participation and democracy, through radio, is an invaluable opportunity for us,” wrote participant, Julia Soledad Rosario Mamani of Radio Sol de los Andes. “The experience will allow me to contribute to my region and my country’s development.”

In the program’s final phase, U.S. media professionals will travel to Peru to exchange best practices and gain a better understanding of media, democracy, and diversity issues within Peru. The program aims to create lasting cross-cultural partnerships between the U.S. and Peruvian journalists and broadcasters.

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