Nickelodeon has created its first fellowship program designed to encourage participation from culturally and ethnically diverse new television and film writers. Under the guidance of Nickelodeon production executives, four fellows will get hands-on experience with Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.'s live-action, animated television and feature film divisions for one year. "The fellowship program gives us an opportunity to nurture the talented pool of writers in our industry whose cultural experiences have traditionally remained underrepresented in television and film. We're very excited about the prospect of lending new voices and perspectives to the world of family entertainment," says Albie Hecht, president film and television entertainment at Nickelodeon. The four fellows chosen for the program's 2000 inaugural year will all work in different divisions at Nickelodeon. Rhada Black, whose fellowship is with Nick Jr., will work on the network's popular pre-school program LITTLE BILL. Tamiko Brooks, who is the Nickelodeon live-action fellow, will be working on the network's forthcoming program TAINA. Christopher Moore, who is the Nickelodeon features fellow, will be working on on-going productions and has written the script GOD'S CHILD. Courtney Lilly, whose fellowship is with Nickelodeon Animation, will be working on the network's forthcoming animated series INVADER ZIM.