(begin with present position)

There is a great deal of opportunity for individual initiative in this fellowship program, but there are several minimum expectations to which participants are asked to adhere. If you wish to be considered for this program, please read and acknowledge the agreement below.

If selected to be an U.S.-Austrian Journalism Exchange Fellow:

I agree to foster and endorse the overall goals of the U.S.-Austrian Journalism Exchange Fellowship program (“the Program”), which are to increase awareness and knowledge of Austria/USA and to promote closer and lasting personal contacts with my professional counterparts in Austria/USA.

I understand that this is a professional training program in which work is required.  While I am affiliated with an Austrian/US news organization selected by the sponsors, I agree to work and/or observe journalism practices in Austria/US at the host news organization, serving in effect as a temporary staff member. I will also work for my home media in Austria/US, serving in effect as a correspondent from Austria/US.  I understand that although I may want to work in a particular region or city in Austria/USA, my preferences will be considered but not guaranteed.

I agree to participate in a group orientation in Washington, D.C., beginning on August 20, 2008, prior to the start of my six-week-long fellowship assignment, and following that a group debriefing session in Vienna, Austria from October 5-6, 2008.

I agree to provide, by October 31, 2008, a written report to the Program’s administrators about my overseas fellowship experience.

I understand that the program administrators will provide me with a stipend to cover my international and domestic program travel and basic living expenses during my fellowship. In addition, I am eligible to receive up to $500 to reimburse me for German/English-language classes taken prior to the fellowship or in Austria/US. Reimbursement for language classes needs to be pre-approved on a case-by-case basis, prior to enrollment in a course.

Because the purpose of the program is to enhance understanding between journalists in the United States and Austria, all travel, personal and professional, undertaken during the fellowship time frame is restricted to Austria/USA unless approval has been granted in advance by program administrators.

I understand that the Program will incur expenses relating to my fellowship in addition to the stipend and expenses described above.  I understand that if my personal or professional circumstances change and I can no longer accept the fellowship and meet the obligations set forth above, I will be obligated to return or repay the stipend and any vouchers, payments or reimbursements the Program has given or paid to me.  I understand further that if I notify the Program of such change in personal or professional circumstances after July 1, 2008, the Program may hold me responsible for up to $500 to cover costs associated with the group orientation in Washington, D.C. that can no longer be recovered or avoided.
I agree that this agreement shall be interpreted according to the law of the District of Columbia and the United States and I consent to the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia for the purposes of enforcing this agreement.  In the event of a dispute between me and the Program over the interpretation of this agreement, I agree to submit the dispute to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, with any hearing or argument to be heard in the District of Columbia or other mutually agreeable venue, and the losing party to pay the winning party’s costs and fees.
I agree to state my qualifications accurately in the application process, particularly in regard to foreign language proficiency.

I HAVE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND AGREE TO ADHERE TO THEM.