“I’ve been doing this professionally for 18 years and I’ve been a regional correspondent,” he said. “I’ve just always wanted to do something overseas and [the fellowship] will prepare me for that.”

Along with the experience of Harvard academics, the Nieman Foundation also hosts bi-weekly speakers or discussions about journalism ethics.

“We give the fellows the opportunity to be around two dozen colleagues who are among the best in the business,” Effron said.

“We might not normally talk because we are competing. But we can loosen our shirts and sit back and talk about the challenges [in the field],” Foster said.

The new Fellows said they were awed by their selection and look forward to the opportunity of spending a year at Harvard.

“I will look upon the birth of my child, my marriage and my Nieman fellowship as the watershed events of my life,” Brelis said.

Schofield said he is eager to begin his year as a Fellow.

“We don’t really get the chance to be students very often. I’ve been doing this for 18 years without a break,” Schofield said. “This is now a chance to step back and retool and make sure I like the way I’m doing things.”

—Staff Writer Nicole B. Usher can be reached at usher@fas.harvard.edu.