Religous Pluralism, Tolerance and Freedom - Pakistani and Indian Journalists

September 20 - October 1, 2004, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, Atlanta, GA
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer: Doris Robinson
Telephone: 202-504-6353, Email: Robinsondm@state.gov

Three Indian and three Pakistani journalists participated in a two-week working reporting tour to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA.

In Washington, D.C., the journalists met with members of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.  The group also interviewed Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and Professor of  International Relations at American University and David Smock, Director of the Religion & Peacemaking Initiative at the United States Institute of Peace.  Furthermore, the group had a meeting at the headquarters of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and toured the Mt. Carmel House women's shelter.

In Philadelphia, PA, the reporters visited various churches, a mosque and met at a local Bahai House of Worship with some of the members for an interesting group discussion.  Additionally, the journalists met with Joseph Pinhak, the Program Director of Saint John's Hospice for Men for an overview of St. John's Hospice Services.  Later that afternoon, the group participated in serving the noon meal to over 340 homeless men.  The group also traveled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where the journalists were introduced to the Amish culture.

The tour concluded in Atlanta, GA.  Highlights of the program included a meeting with the President of the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), Mr. Collie Burnett, Jr., and a visit to the AIB television studio; meeting for a panel discussion hosted by Dr. Leonard Teel, Center for International Media Education at Georgia State University;  interviewing Dr. P.V. Rao, professor at Emory and a member of the Hindu Temple in Riverdale, GA;  a discussion on Civil Rights Past and Present with Joe Beasley, Director of the Atlanta Rainbow/Push Coalition and a tour of the CNN studios.