Two Indians get Australia-India Council Young Media Fellowships

NEW DELHI - Australia today announced the winners of the Australia-India Council Young Media Fellowships in New Delhi.

The fellowships were announced by Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese.

The winners of the 2010 fellowships are: Syed Nazakat Hussain, The Week news magazine.

Hussain will be looking at issues surrounding the Australia-India bilateral relationship, including the recently announced ‘Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries.

Anahita Mukherji of The Times of India will focus on higher education in Australia.

The new fellowships award two young Indian media professionals grants of AUD 10,000 (approx. 4 lakh rupees) to enable them to spend up to six weeks in Australia researching stories of their choice.

The Fellows will be assisted in their Australian journeys by the Australia-India Council Board and Secretariat, and by a range of eminent Australian media personalities who will provide expert advice and assistance.

The Australia-India Council was established by the Australian Government in 1992 to broaden and deepen Australia-India relations through contacts and exchanges in a range of fields that promote mutual awareness and understanding.

Australia-India people-to-people links are increasing, along with an elevated bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. The Australia-India Council ensures that the relationship extends into diverse fields such as culture, economics, science, public health and sport.

The Chair of the Australia-India Council and former Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr John McCarthy, was also present at the awards ceremony.

McCarthy said: “Australia is a vibrant and open country, and the Council wanted to ensure that outstanding young Indian journalists were given an in-depth opportunity to learn more about our society, people and culture. We hope the two shortlisted candidates will have a good and pleasant experience in Australia.” (ANI)