National Nepalese journalists leave for US [ 2007-4-19 ] By A Staff Reporter KATHMANDU, April 18: A group of 12 Nepalese journalists working with various media outlets left for US Wednesday to participate in a month long Citizen Exchange Programme funded by the US Department of State. The programme entitled "Media Coverage of Government Accountability and Transparency in Nepal' will begin in Washington DC where the journalists will participate in a number of interactive seminars on different media related issues. The Nepal Press Institute (NPI) played an instrumental role to hold pre-visit seminars aimed at assessing the areas of interest on media related issues to prepare the 12 journalists. Delphi International, A Program of World Learning in the US has been coordinating with different media institutions in the US to prepare the seminar topics. The attraction of the programme is that the journalists will get the opportunity to work with media outlets in different parts of US. Speaking at a programme organised at the American Centre, Robert L. Hugins, Public Affairs Officer at the American Embassy hoped that the programme would enable the Nepalese journalists to familiarise themselves with the working pattern of the US press. He said that the journalists could also get further insights into the overall gamut of American culture and press in the course of the month long visit. Sharon Hudson-Dean, Deputy Director at the American Centre said that the programme was first of its kind as a large number of journalists from Nepal were visiting the US to gain first hand experience of the working of the US press. The programme looks forward to organising a similar programme for US journalists who will be visiting Nepal coming September.