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Global Eyewitness

Global Eyewitness

Student shooting a photograph of two individuals in front of a field.

Over the 2025 winter break the students selected to be part of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications' award-winning Global Eyewitness program will travel to Vietnam. Applications for the 2024-2025 Global Eyewitness program have closed.

Big Stories

Through Global Eyewitness, you will have the opportunity to travel and develop compelling stories from all parts of the world by connecting problems with possibilities. You will embrace the ethical obligation to boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience.

Applications have closed

Big Commitment

We strive to be courageous, compassionate and humble with each other and especially with those who trust us with their stories. Global Eyewitness spans two semesters and includes a commitment to travel.

  • Fall Semester:  JOUR 491.951 Special Topics: Global Eyewitness: Meet in class as well to learn about bias in reporting, solutions journalism and trauma-informed reporting. You will also learn about Vietnam, its history and culture. You will complete field work assignments to produce a multimedia project due at the end of the semester, before the trip.
  • Winter Break: During winter break (first two weeks of January 2025), you will travel to Vietnam develop multimedia stories focused on addressing local issues and concerns.
  • Spring Semester:  JOUR 490B.591: Global Eyewitness Multimedia Photojournalism Editing: In this course, you will edit and produce in-depth multimedia stories that showcase how local communities are trying to solve problems and what we can learn from their successes and failures.

Big Rewards

Previous Global Eyewitnesses classes have told stories from across the country and around the world including the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Kenya, Mongolia, South Africa and more. In this program, you will be stretched as a student and journalist to push beyond your boundaries and deepen your understanding of the world.

Global Eyewitness FAQ

What is Global Eyewitness?

A rigorous and rewarding two-course program where students travel internationally to create multimedia stories. You will gain a deep understanding of cultures, histories and contemporary issues to create rich and contextualized stories told with empathy, integrity and accountability. Plan ahead now!

I am a writer, can I still apply?

Yes, but this program is more visually focused. If you are a writer you need to have photo/video skills to effectively tell these stories.

What does the class entail?

Two 16-week courses, one in the fall (JOUR491) and one in the spring (JOUR490B) with travel over Winter term (first two weeks of January).

  • Fall term 2024: Meet in class as well to learn about bias in reporting, solutions journalism and trauma-informed reporting. You will also learn about Vietnam, its history and culture. You will complete field work assignments to produce a multimedia project due at the end of the semester, before the trip.
  • Winter Term 2025: Travel to Vietnam to report.
  • Spring Term 2025: Meet in class to produce your stories for publication and presentation.
Are there prerequisites?

Yes. JOUR 346: Nebraska Mosaic, JOMC 101, JOMC 130-134, JOUR 200A with a C or higher; ADPR 151, ADPR 221, ADPR 283 or BRDC 227, BRDC 269, BRDC 260 or SPMC 150, 250 or JOUR 200B with a C or higher; junior in good academic standing. There is also an application process to course admission.

How long will we be in Vietnam?

About three weeks. You will be reporting/gathering photos and video for most of the trip, however there will be planned excursions to provide breaks as well as to learn about culture and history and of course, to do some sightseeing.

Who pays for the trip?

You pay for your tuition. The cost of the flight and lodging as well as any planned excursions as part of the course are paid for by a generous endowment. You pay for your meals, transportation that is not part of the course and any incidentals. A rough cost-to-student estimate is $500-$600 (in addition to tuition).

Do I have to take both semesters?

Yes.

Will I have to pay for winter term?

At this time, we are working to combine this as part of either the Fall or Spring course to reduce your cost.

I’m interested, what’s next?

The application has closed and selected students have been contacted. Questions? Email Chris Graves or Shoun Hill.

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year have closed.

The 2025-2026 application will open in February 2025.

Statement on Global Eyewitness

In November, 2020, the college was contacted by a group of College of Journalism and Mass Communications alums to discuss the Global Eyewitness program, an endowed program providing UNL CoJMC students interested in photojournalism, multimedia and writing the opportunity to travel internationally and develop compelling stories. In the meeting that followed, alums expressed their frustration over the stagnation of the program they felt had remained virtually unchanged over the years despite societal changes and expectations. It was clear that these former Global Eyewitness students cared deeply about the program. They also felt deeply hurt by the College’s lack of attention to the concerns they and others had expressed about the program over the years.

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Chris Graves
Contact Chris with Questions

Chris Graves
Assistant Professor of Practice; Deepe Family Chair in Depth Reporting
chris.graves@unl.edu

Shoun Hill
Contact Shoun with Questions

Shoun Hill
Assistant Professor of Practice; Buffett-Mangelsen-Sartore Chair
shoun.hill@unl.edu