NPR Names Three Outstanding Scholars To Its First Kroc Fellowships

Unique New Training Program Bringing Exceptional Graduates into Public Radio and Journalism

July 28, 2005, WASHINGTON - NPR has chosen the first three recipients of its new Kroc Fellowship Program, a yearlong intensive training program designed to attract “the best of the best” to the public radio news system.

The Fellowship Program is one of the initiatives made possible by a 2003 bequest of more than $200 million to NPR from Joan B. Kroc, widow of McDonald’s Corporation founder Ray A. Kroc, and focused on strengthening the NPR News Division.

The first three Kroc Fellows for 2005-2006 are:

Diane Geng, a native of Davis, California who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Chinese and international relations from the University of California, Davis.

Douglas Hopper, a native of Indianapolis who is completing his Bachelor of Arts in journalism at the University of Oregon.

Roseanne Pereira, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and an M.F.A. from the University of San Francisco.

NPR President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Klose noted, “While the value of Mrs. Kroc’s bequest to NPR is visible in such areas as the expansion of our news staffing and resources, it also plays a vital role behind-the-scenes as we identify and develop the abilities of the next generation of journalists.” Klose adds, “Our initial Kroc Fellowship search attracted a phenomenal group of applicants, and to have Diane, Douglas and Roseanne stand out among them says a great deal about their unique strengths and potential. We welcome them and look forward to seeing NPR’s imprint on their career paths.”

The goal of the Kroc Fellowships is to identify and train a select group of recent graduates who have exceptional aptitude, a record of achievement and an interest in pursuing radio or online journalism. The individuals will rotate through various units at NPR in the News and Online Divisions, working with experienced producers, editors and reporters. Additionally, each will have a two-month assignment at an NPR Member station. Upon completion of the Fellowship, NPR will help the participants pursue career opportunities at either NPR or one of its hundreds of Member stations. More information about requirements and entry deadlines for 2006-2007 is at www.npr.org/about/fellowships.

Biographical details of each Kroc Fellow follows:

Diane Geng who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Chinese and international relations from the University of California, Davis, was also an intern in the news department at her local NPR Member station, KXJZ/88.9 in Sacramento, CA. In addition, Geng was a Fulbright Scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. While there, she worked with Chinese student volunteers in a rural village and took a personal interest in a child with a cleft palate whose speech was impaired and whose parents couldn’t afford corrective surgery. She contacted NGOs (non-governmental organizations) on the boy’s behalf, and continued working as an intermediary for him until the surgery was successfully performed late last year.

Douglas Hopper is currently finishing his B.A. in journalism at the University of Oregon. Among his extracurricular activities was serving as volunteer reporter and anchor for KWVA, the campus radio station, and organizer of the University’s Queer Film Festival, which drew the largest audience in its 12-year history. For his Kroc Fellowship application, Douglas submitted an exhibit of photos, “If Pain Were Water,” depicting residents of Kenya’s villages and urban slums.

Roseanne Pereira earned her B.A. in Literature from Yale University and her M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of San Francisco. She taught English and American Culture to refugees from Sudan and the Congo. Pereira is currently a freelance writer for a variety of Bay Area publications and a tutor in the Making Waves Education Program. She volunteers her time as a contributing editor for TOPIC magazine.

NPR is renowned for journalistic excellence and standard-setting news and entertainment programming. A privately supported, non-profit, membership organization, NPR serves a growing audience of 23 million Americans each week in partnership with more than 780 public radio stations. International partners in cable, satellite and short-wave services make NPR programming accessible anywhere in the world. With original online content and audio streaming, npr.org offers hourly newscasts, special features and eight years of archived audio and information.

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