Professional U.S. journalists can participate in an intensive five-day institute on covering immigration, an issue that has become central to debates over the economy, health care, education and law enforcement.

In its second year, the project is co-sponsored by the Graduate School of Journalism and the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at UC Berkeley, School of Law.

This training is designed for a broad array of working journalists who seek expertise in immigration and is open to print, broadcast and on-line media who cover issues ranging from criminal justice to education, politics to health care, often find themselves reporting on immigrants and immigration but don’t always have a thorough knowledge of the complexities of immigration law and policy.

Previous fellows include Rosalba Ruíz, a bilingual multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C. and Marina Giovannelli who covers South Florida for WLRN, the NPR station in Miami.

The 20 journalists accepted as New York Times fellows will be notified by September 19, 2011. The institute will provide lodging and meals. Please indicate on your application if you need assistance with travel costs.

The event will take place from November 13 to November 17. Deadline for applications is August 22. The seminar is only offered to domestic journalists.

For more information, click here or follow the immigration seminar on Twitter.