Four journalists and media experts have joined the Barone Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy as research fellows for the spring term, the Kennedy School of Government announced last week.

Bernice Buresh, Dayton Duncan, Godfrey Hodgson and Phillip van Niekerk will conduct research at the center, and at least two will teach short courses in their fields of expertise.

Buresh, a former bureau chief for Newsweek, will teach a module on the increasing role of women in the media and will also examine the role of gossip in political press coverage.

Duncan, who was press secretary for Gov. Michael S. Dukakis' presidential campaign, is writing a book about the 1988 New Hampshire primary. He also served as the deputy press secretary for Walter F. Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign.

Hodgson, a veteran British journalist who has written for The London Times and The Washington Post, will teach a course on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's relationship with the press.

Van Niekerk, a freelance journalist who served as the South African correspondent for The Boston Globe, will study how the U.S. government has changed its foreign policy in response to press censorship by the South African government.

In addition to individual research projects, the four new fellows will participate in all activities at the center, Director Marvin Kalb said.

"Our fellows this semester represent a range of interests and experiences, and they are eager to help our students with their research into the fascinating intersection of the press and politics," he said.

The center, which was established in 1986, examines the relationship between government and the media. Current fellows include journalists Nicholas Daniloff, Kiku Adatto and Loren Ghiglione.