DORSET Echo reporter Joanna Davis is heading across the pond to take part in a cultural and vocational exchange for young professionals.

She has been selected as part of a Rotary International scheme that gives young people from the region the chance to experience their job in another country.

Joining her for the Group Study Exchange (GSE) trip to Canada are Somerset residents Clare French, Charlotte Allen, Neil Day and team leader and former school principal Brian Kirkup.

The group will be covering vast distances across the prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan during their five-week trip at the end of this month. They will also be giving talks on industry in West Dorset and Somerset to Canadian members of Rotary International.

Joanna, Clare, a helicopter contracts manager for Agusta Westland, Charlotte, a head gardener for the National Trust and Neil, operations director for Thatchers Cider, were selected by Rotarians to fly the flag after a gruelling day of interviews.

Joanna, 29, of Weymouth, is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dorchester.

She said: “I hope I can be a good ambassador for the area and convince people that the UK isn’t just about London, Buckingham Palace and red phone boxes.

“I plan to make people sit up and take notice when I show them the sweeping vista of Chesil Beach and attempt to explain the origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant.

“I’m also looking forward to meeting with other journalists and passing on some of the skills and techniques I’ve picked up at the Echo.

“The trip will give me the opportunity to learn from Canadian journalists and find out more about the role that newspapers play in different communities.”

Joanna and her group have set up a blog for their fact-finding mission, which will be regularly updated.

To view the blog visit the website gsecanada2010.wordpress.com