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Sister city journalist

Glenda Wakeham, a senior producer for Radio New Zealand, was recently selected from a pool of international applicants to take part in Los Angeles' third annual journalist fellowship programme. The programme is open to journalists from Los Angeles' 24 sister cities, which includes Auckland, and involves a week of intensive orientation to learn about the city's arts, culture, history and people. In order to increase appreciation of their city and encourage more international visitors, Los Angeles covers all of the expenses for this great opportunity. The programme is run by the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Glenda took part in the programme at the end of April and says, "It was a great opportunity to have a good look at Los Angeles, the LA beyond the Hollywood sign. As journalism fellows, we were introduced to a wide range of people, who had their fingers on the pulse of the city. Los Angeles is so sprawling and represents so many different things to a diverse range of ethnicities. It was wonderful meeting people from so many sectors of the city, including a behind the scenes tour of City Hall. All the people we met during the whirlwind week were gracious and generous hosts."

Auckland is working on a reciprocal programme for a Los Angeles tourism journalist later in the year.

Published July 2008