Journalism alum selected for Nieman Foundation Fellowship at Harvard University
The Nieman Foundation at Harvard University has announced their fellowship class for the 2023-2024, and among the recipients is Journalism alum and Executive Director of Journalists for Human Rights Rachel Pulfer. Pulfer received the Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellowship (external link, opens in new window) , which is given out just once every two years.

Journalism alum and Executive Director of Journalists for Human Rights Rachel Pulfer
The Nieman Foundation has selected 24 global journalists for a year of study at Harvard University, where they will work on ambitious projects ranging from the climate crisis to artificial intelligence. Pulfer’s research during the fellowship will focus on how human rights journalism can inform and improve policymaking in and for developing countries.
“I’m most looking forward to having my horizons widened. I've been looking at the list of people who are going to be part of the fellowship and there's investigative journalists from Ghana, a BBC correspondent from South Africa, and folks from Pushkin Industries,” she said. “There's going to be this incredible richness of exchange and perspective and I'm really looking forward to meeting all the fellows and learning from them. I think it's going to be so stimulating and inspiring.”
The new Nieman Fellows will study topics ranging from political polarization, migration, advances in health care, to the climate crisis, and ways to use data, AI and open-source research in journalism. In addition to taking classes at the university, fellows participate in a well-rounded program containing seminars, workshops, training sessions and collaborations with Harvard scholars, students and leading innovators.

The incoming class for the 2023-2024 Nieman Foundation Fellowship at Harvard University
Exploring human rights through a journalistic lens
Pulfer’s interests, through her years of experience in the industry, focuses on human rights journalism, especially in developing countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched a program in 12 countries across Africa and the Middle East to train hundreds of journalists on how to identify and debunk disinformation and misinformation related to the disease. This experience was one of many motivating factors that inspired her to apply to the fellowship.
“There's something both amazing and deeply frustrating about what we were all able to do virtually through Covid. Our training program in Africa and the Middle East was huge and that was mostly delivered online, but then I was in my living room and I just didn't have the same sense of connection with the outside world,” she said. “I think that's what pushed me to apply, this mindset that this will get me out of this period of Covid languishing and it will allow me to learn in a very direct way from practitioners who have been tackling a wide range of challenges, everything from working as a journalist in Ukraine to trying to address issues related to disinformation and misinformation.”
Advice for students entering the industry
Pulfer advises current journalism students to take ownership of their craft and be open to new experiences that can provide valuable mentorship opportunities.
“My biggest advice would be to be tenacious. It takes a while to find your footing and your path in journalism but definitely be tenacious, and don't lose hope,” she said. “There is always a need for smart, dedicated people who really do want to make the world a better place with and through journalism. There's also always something to learn and experience, so be open to opportunity and put your all in.”
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