Nine top-level editors from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the former Soviet republics recently visited the U.S. for a five-week newsroom management-training program, including a month-long residency at a daily newspaper. The Freedom Forum/ASNE International Journalism Exchange strengthens newspaper editors in countries where press freedoms are fledgling or threatened, while simultaneously bringing an international perspective to U.S. newspapers.

The program, initiated by ASNE in 1984, has been funded by The Freedom Forum since 1994. The grant for the 2000 program was $110,000. The program was administered for ASNE by the International Center for Journalists in Washington.

This year’s group was selected from among 247 applicants from 76 countries.

“The number of applications is just one indicator of how much a program like this is needed to help have a significant impact in improving the free flow of information around the world,” said ASNE President Richard A. Oppel, editor of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman.

“The visiting editors see for themselves how independent newspapers function in a free market society. And the host newspapers benefit from the perspectives and experiences of their colleagues from abroad,” Oppel added.

Chris Wells, The Freedom Forum’s senior vice president/international, said: “Programs such as The Freedom Forum/ASNE International Journalism Exchange result in a heightened awareness of the value of a free press throughout the world.

“This program is also significant in that the best efforts of three major journalism-oriented groups are pooled to assist our colleagues abroad.”

The 2000 exchange began Sept. 18 with a three-day training session in Washington, D.C. The visiting editors were at host newspapers through Oct. 18.

The editors and their host newspapers:

Daysi Amaya, metro editor, El Diaria de Hoy, San Salvador, El Salvador – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Sujit Dhakal, deputy editor, The Himalaya Times, Katmandu, Nepal — The Journal Times, Racine, Wisc.

Carlos Hernandez, business editor, La Republica, Bogota, Colombia — The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif.

Kumudini Hettiarachchi, deputy editor, The Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka — Daily Press, Newport News, Va.

S. Ajoke Kujenya, deputy editor, The Post Express, Lagos, Nigeria — South Bend (Ind.) Tribune.

Fiifi Mensah, chief sub-editor, Daily Graphic, Accra, Ghana — The Blade, Toledo, Ohio.

Catalin Moraru, editor-in-chief, Monitorrul de Botosani, Botosani, Romania — The Anniston (Ala.) Star, Anniston.

Mirjana Stefanovaie, deputy editor, Blic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia — Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Viorica Wahbeh, world news editor, Jordan Times; Amman, Jordan — The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.