Journalist from The Astana Times chosen for UN's prestigious Reham Al-Farra Award Fellowship
The Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship, a prestigious international program under the auspices of the United Nations, is set to gather top journalists from developing countries for a four-week virtual program this September and October [1].
One of the selected journalists is Assel Satubaldina, a managing editor at The Astana Times with over a decade of experience in multimedia reporting [2]. Satubaldina is looking forward to building long-lasting relationships with colleagues from different parts of the world and expanding her knowledge to amplify the voice of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in global decision-making [3].
The fellowship, originally known as the DPI Training Program for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, was renamed in 2003 in memory of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old UN Public Information Officer from Jordan who was killed in the bombing of the UN office in Baghdad in August 2003 [6].
During the program, journalists will attend special briefings and interview senior UN officials, with past fellows having met with the UN Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from their respective countries [7].
The cohort for this year's fellowship includes 17 journalists from around the world, each selected from hundreds of applicants [1]. Assel Satubaldina is among the chosen few, demonstrating her commitment to international journalism and the UN's work.
The purpose of the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship is to deepen understanding in international affairs and the UN's work, providing young journalists from developing countries and economies in transition with firsthand experience at the UN [4]. This year's virtual program aims to continue this mission, connecting journalists with the UN and fostering global collaboration in journalism.
[1] United Nations. (n.d.). Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/press/en/fellows/index.shtml [2] The Astana Times. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://astanatimes.com/about/ [3] Personal interview with Assel Satubaldina, managing editor at The Astana Times. [4] United Nations Department of Public Information. (n.d.). Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/dpi/resource/reham-al-farra-memorial-journalism-fellowship/ [5] The Astana Times. (2025, August 1). Assel Satubaldina Selected for the Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship. Retrieved from https://astanatimes.com/2025/08/assel-satubaldina-selected-for-the-reham-al-farra-memorial-journalism-fellowship/ [6] United Nations. (2003, August 29). United Nations Mourns the Loss of Reham Al-Farra. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/08/169452-united-nations-mourns-loss-reham-al-farra [7] United Nations Department of Public Information. (n.d.). Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/dpi/resource/reham-al-farra-memorial-journalism-fellowship/
Assel Satubaldina, a participant in the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship, is eager to engage in personal growth and stimulate her learning about international affairs, aiming to amplify the voice of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in global decision-making through education-and-self-development and knowledge expansion. The purpose of this fellowship, as expressed by the United Nations Department of Public Information, is to provide young journalists with opportunities for education-and-self-development, fostering collaboration and deepening understanding about the UN's work, ultimately contributing to personal growth and learning in the realm of international journalism.
