The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and New America Media (NAM) have selected 17 reporters for the MetLife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellows Program , now in its fourth year. They represent a wide range of mainstream and ethnic media outlets, including several daily newspapers and NPR affiliates.
The fellows will convene during GSA's Annual Scientific Meeting — scheduled for November 20 to 24 in New Orleans — and utilize over 400 presentations and 4,000 expert attendees to develop a major aging-focused story or series.
These proposed projects, to be published in 2014, will span such concerns as palliative care, abuses from health care aides, and retirement and work challenges for older immigrants.
"GSA's meeting showcases the latest research on aging and our fellows provide an invaluable service by disseminating that knowledge to the American public," said GSA Deputy Executive Director Linda Harootyan, MSW. "We provide a unique venue where these reporters can interact with experts to better understand scientific discoveries, social and policy debates, and solutions to the issues facing older people."
The fellowship program is funded by a grant from the MetLife Foundation . And as a result of additional support from the John A. Hartford Foundation , one reporter has been designated as the John A. Hartford/MetLife Foundation Journalism in Aging & Health Fellow.
"The growing insecurity of elders, especially those from diverse communities, makes it essential that both ethnic and mainstream media tell their stories and expose the threats to their retirement future," said NAM founder and Executive Editor Sandy Close. "The GSA conference provides reporters the research they need to inform the public and place these vital issues in context."
In New Orleans, the fellows also will report on new discoveries in aging and participate in a day-long workshop, where experts will discuss the latest research and provide insight on key issues facing older Americans. Travel grants also are being provided to allow previous years' fellows to participate in the meeting. A continuously updated list of stories generated by the program's participants is available at http://www.geron.org/journalistfellows .
Harootyan co-directs the program with Paul Kleyman, senior editor of NAM's ethnic elders newsbeat. Kleyman is also the founder and national coordinator of the Journalists Network on Generations, which includes more than 1,000 writers on aging.
The new fellows:
Jason Alcorn
Matthew S. Bajko
Jose de la Isla
Joaqlin Estus
Christopher Farrell
Elizabeth Isele
Colleen Ann Keane
Yanick Rice Lamb
Jennifer Margulis
Melinda Miller
Wallace Roberts
Gary Rotstein
Connie Sexton
Sunita Sohrabji
Alice Thomas-Tisdale
Dawn M. Williams
Veronica Zaragovia
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,400+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA's structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society , and an educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education .
New America Media (NAM) is the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate for over 3,000 ethnic news organizations. Nearly 60 million ethnic adults connect to each other, to home countries, and to America through ethnic media, the fastest growing sector of American journalism. Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM is headquartered in California with editors in New York and Washington, DC.
The MetLife Foundation , the funder for this project, was created in 1976 by MetLife to continue its longstanding tradition of contributions and community involvement. Its goal is to empower people to lead healthy, productive lives and strengthen communities. The foundation typically makes grants related to the areas of health, education, civic affairs, and culture.