14Projects
reported from
30Countries
winning &
nominated for
35Awards
Overview
The Global Reporting Program brings together graduate students from around the world to work on year-long investigations. Our teaching style is hands-on. We run the program like a newsroom, and partner with major media organizations so that students receive practical, professional experience.
Contact Info
email: admin[@]globalreportingcentre.org
Global Reporting Program
6388 Crescent Road
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6T 1Z2
How it works
The Global Reporting Program is a graduate-level course at the University of British Columbia’s School of Journalism, Writing and Media. The course is a competitive entry program for second-year graduate students at UBC Journalism, Writing and Media, graduate students at selected other faculties (by invitation), and partner universities around the world (by invitation).
The program runs from September to April. Students study global reporting techniques and experiment with innovations through a “teaching hospital” approach to journalism education. A key component of the course is collaborative fieldwork, as well as collaborative production of major works of journalism. Students work closely with subject-area scholars, basing their reporting on scholarly research and in-depth reporting.
The program is led by GRP Director Peter Klein and lead instructor Kathryn Gretsinger, in conjunction with a team of producers and instructors from UBC and partner schools. Students and instructors meet on a weekly basis either in-person or through video conference platforms.
Past projects
The GRP emerged from the successful International Reporting Program (IRP) at the University of British Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. Since its inception in 2008, more than 100 students have completed in the program, with projects appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, CBS News, PBS FRONTLINE, CBC, VICE News, and Al Jazeera, among others.
Student-led projects have earned recognition from many of the leading professional journalism organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy for Best Investigation), Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi), Radio Television Digital News Association (Edward R. Murrow, National Network Award), International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (Webby honour) and Online News Association (OJA).
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply?
Students at UBC’s School of Journalism, Writing and Media who are in second year are invited to apply. Graduate students from other UBC departments will be invited to apply if their faculty aligns with the subject matter of a given year. Students from partner institutions will be invited to apply by their home institution.
How do I apply?
Students who meet the above criteria will be invited to apply. Application information is usually sent out in July, and includes details about the year’s topic, process, and precise deadline. Students may be required to submit a transcript, CV, letter of intent, and story proposal.
How much does it cost?
Thanks to the generosity of our funders, major expenses such as accommodation and transportation while students are out in the field are covered. However, students are expected to pay out of pocket for smaller expenses such as meals. For more information, please contact us at admin@globalreportingcentre.org.
Where does the class take place?
UBC students are expected to attend weekly classes at the School of Journalism, Writing and Media. Students from global partner institutions, if time-zone permits, are encouraged to participate in class via video conference. All classes are audio/video recorded and can be accessed through the student portal on the GRP website
How can my institution sign on as a GRP partner?
If you think your university might be a good fit for the GRP please reach out to our team at admin@globalreportingcentre.org and we’d be happy to discuss possibilities. Each university partner should have a journalism school or department (preferably at the graduate level).
With which universities has the GRP partnered in the past?
The GRP has partnered with Nanjing University (China), Shantou University (China), University of California, Berkeley (US), Makerere University (Uganda), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), Daystar University (Kenya), The Center for Excellence in Journalism (Pakistan) and the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (India).
Who teaches the program?
The program is led by GRP director Peter Klein and lead instructor Kathryn Gretsinger. The class is also co-taught by faculty from partner institutions and departments and includes a team of staff and producers.
How many students are accepted?
Every year is different, but we aim to have up to 25 students in the class, with a mix of students from both UBC and partner universities.
