2017
Foreign Press
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
This year's scholarship applicants were asked to provide either a written OP-ED or a multimedia piece on the following subject:
“Globally, there is evidence of an ideological and moral struggle. The old divide, between left and right, is giving way to a contest between globalists and nationalists. Adding additional fuel to these burning issues are refugees – casualties of the political/religious conflicts – along with victims of the fastest growing global criminal enterprise – human trafficking.
As we observe the demise of one world order and set of moral standards with the birth of another, in your opinion, is it the role of the international media to shine a light on the great moral and societal issues of our times, not to sensationalize, but to hold accountable the governments, decision makers and civil society?”
“Globally, there is evidence of an ideological and moral struggle. The old divide, between left and right, is giving way to a contest between globalists and nationalists. Adding additional fuel to these burning issues are refugees – casualties of the political/religious conflicts – along with victims of the fastest growing global criminal enterprise – human trafficking.
As we observe the demise of one world order and set of moral standards with the birth of another, in your opinion, is it the role of the international media to shine a light on the great moral and societal issues of our times, not to sensationalize, but to hold accountable the governments, decision makers and civil society?”
2017 Scholarship Winners
Jingnan Huo
1st Place Award $10,000
Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
Jingnan is a Chinese multimedia storyteller currently getting her master in journalism degree in Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism. During her time in Medill, she reported on general affairs and business in Chicago, did live broadcast at Obama’s farewell address for Tencent and Caixin, two Chinese media, and is currently doing policy reporting on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Before coming to Medill, Jingnan earned a bachelor of law in China, studied in Canada and France, and made a mini-documentary in Egypt.
1st Place Award $10,000
Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
Jingnan is a Chinese multimedia storyteller currently getting her master in journalism degree in Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism. During her time in Medill, she reported on general affairs and business in Chicago, did live broadcast at Obama’s farewell address for Tencent and Caixin, two Chinese media, and is currently doing policy reporting on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Before coming to Medill, Jingnan earned a bachelor of law in China, studied in Canada and France, and made a mini-documentary in Egypt.
Shen Lu
2nd Place Award $7,000
Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
Shen is a student in the Medill School of Journalism studying business and economics reporting. She is a Chinese village kid in the process of becoming a global citizen, thanks to journalism. Her somewhat unconventional upbringing in Hangzhou, China — her parents basically respect her independence and encourage her to pursue her passions — taught her to be a self-starter and value innovation and creativity. She won the 2014 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award for her enterprise piece about the University of Iowa’s institutional failures in integrating Chinese and U.S. students. She also earned fleeting fame in China for being a “loser” and “running dog” after she wrote for CNN about her experience of failing the college entrance examination. She graduated from Iowa with a double major in journalism and art. Before going back to graduate school, she worked at CNN in Beijing.
2nd Place Award $7,000
Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
Shen is a student in the Medill School of Journalism studying business and economics reporting. She is a Chinese village kid in the process of becoming a global citizen, thanks to journalism. Her somewhat unconventional upbringing in Hangzhou, China — her parents basically respect her independence and encourage her to pursue her passions — taught her to be a self-starter and value innovation and creativity. She won the 2014 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award for her enterprise piece about the University of Iowa’s institutional failures in integrating Chinese and U.S. students. She also earned fleeting fame in China for being a “loser” and “running dog” after she wrote for CNN about her experience of failing the college entrance examination. She graduated from Iowa with a double major in journalism and art. Before going back to graduate school, she worked at CNN in Beijing.
Riham Alkousaa
Joint 3rd Place Award $2,500
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Riham is a Syrian journalist. She received her BA in journalism from Damascus University as the top honor student for 2012. In Syria, she worked as a news editor and a reporter for several local and Arabic media platforms. In September 2014, she moved to Berlin where she wrote for American and German media outlets such as USA Today, Global Post, Washington Times, Aljazeera English and Der Spiegel magazine covering the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis in Europe. This May she graduated from the M.A. program in politics and international affairs at Columbia University, the Journalism School. Her graduation project on Palestinian-Syrian statelessness in Europe was a finalist for the best MA thesis. Riham was a White House Correspondents Association scholar for 2017 and Women International Leadership fellow. This summer, she is joining Reuters’ office in New York.
Joint 3rd Place Award $2,500
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Riham is a Syrian journalist. She received her BA in journalism from Damascus University as the top honor student for 2012. In Syria, she worked as a news editor and a reporter for several local and Arabic media platforms. In September 2014, she moved to Berlin where she wrote for American and German media outlets such as USA Today, Global Post, Washington Times, Aljazeera English and Der Spiegel magazine covering the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis in Europe. This May she graduated from the M.A. program in politics and international affairs at Columbia University, the Journalism School. Her graduation project on Palestinian-Syrian statelessness in Europe was a finalist for the best MA thesis. Riham was a White House Correspondents Association scholar for 2017 and Women International Leadership fellow. This summer, she is joining Reuters’ office in New York.
Marcos Martinez
Joint 3rd Place Award $2,500
UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Marcos is an investigative reporter focused in Latin American political and governmental affairs. Marcos is committed to uncovering corruption and wrongdoing in public and private entities through in-depth reporting. He has worked as a reporter in Mexico covering politics and government. His work has appeared on Univision, The San Francisco Chronicle, Expansion, Reforma and CNN Mexico, among other publications. At Univision, he worked as a fellow for the special investigations unit. In May of 2017, he earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also collaborated with the Investigative Reporting Program.
Joint 3rd Place Award $2,500
UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Marcos is an investigative reporter focused in Latin American political and governmental affairs. Marcos is committed to uncovering corruption and wrongdoing in public and private entities through in-depth reporting. He has worked as a reporter in Mexico covering politics and government. His work has appeared on Univision, The San Francisco Chronicle, Expansion, Reforma and CNN Mexico, among other publications. At Univision, he worked as a fellow for the special investigations unit. In May of 2017, he earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also collaborated with the Investigative Reporting Program.