SEAPA | Southeast Asian Press Alliance

Theme: Covering Disasters in Southeast Asia

The 2005 Journalism Fellowship theme takes off from the devastating tsunami that started 2005 off on a somber note, but precisely strives to transcend that very story. Covering disasters has to go beyond the specific moment and extent of the disaster, it should uncover the grim realities and concerns that impact on the culture, society, governance, environment, communities, and individual lives.

Southeast Asia is not only vulnerable to natural disasters, it is also beset with man-made calamities. To what extent are governments prepared to face these traegedies and how to people adopt and adapt to the changing situations? The fellowship encourages journalists to ask these questions and to further examine the aftermath through the eyes of the individuals who suffer these tragedies but who are not necessarily willing to be victims.