Medill student studying in Politics specialization chosen as Medill Foley Fellow

Foley Foundation advocates for safe return of Americans held hostage

The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University announced the selection of Medill graduate journalism student Patty Nieberg as the second Medill Foley Fellow.

Nieberg is specializing in Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs during her graduate journalism program at Medill. Her undergraduate degree is from State University of New York-Binghamton.

The six-month paid fellowship honors Medill alum James W. Foley, a foreign correspondent who was held hostage in Syria and beheaded by ISIS on Aug. 19, 2014.

The foundation was founded in 2014 to advocate and advance the safe return of Americans held unjustly abroad.

“We are most grateful to Northwestern Medill to be able to announce and welcome our second fellow, Patty,” said Foundation President Diane Foley. “Patty will continue the fine work of our first fellow, Juliette, to advocate for the return of all Americans taken hostage and to protect independent conflict journalists.”

As a Medill Foley Fellow, Nieberg will research and report on U.S. hostage policy, journalists’ safety training and the issues of reporting in conflict areas for the jamesfoleyfoundation.org and nationalsecurityzone.org websites. In addition, she will manage the Foley Foundation’s social media sites. Finally, she will coordinate audio-visual and social functions at the foundation’s annual Foley Freedom Awards dinner in Washington at the National Press Club on April 2.

“As an aspiring foreign correspondent, I’m honored to represent the memory of a brave and influential journalist like James and promote the message of the foundation,” Nieberg said. “I hope to use this fellowship to better prepare myself for a career reporting on important international issues.”