Q. How is Global Press Institute news different from other news?

A. Global Press Institute prides itself on training local people to tell the stories of their communities. Our news is rich in social, historical and political context – which mainstream news outlets often lack.

Global Press Institute reporters are trained to be disciplined and responsible reporters who strive to produce solutions-based journalism. Our reporters receive basic skills training as well as ethics seminars and specialty reporting seminars to provide deep, contextual coverage of challenging issues in their communities. Because we train local people to be professional reporters in their home communities, we are able to provide news coverage from parts of the world where little, if any, information is disseminated.

Q. Why do you train mostly women?

A. When women in developing countries receive skills-based education, success indicators for the entire community rise. Global Press Institute trains mostly women because women are uniquely situated to tell strong stories, cultivate sources and benefit from the personal- and economic-empowerment portions of our program.

Q. How do your training programs work?

 
Global Press Institute offers two types of training programs:

   
Global Press Institute Certified Reporter: Individuals are trained by Global Press Institute editors and coaches over a three-month period on reporting basics, ethical decision-making skills, writing technique and photojournalism. After successful completion of the training period, graduates are offered a place on our prestigious roster of reporters. These reporters are paid to produce news for Global Press Institute from one of our global News Desks.

Professional Skills Development: This program offers our award-winning Specialty Reporting Seminars to professional news reporters who work for other news organizations.

These trainings provide in-depth news-gathering and storytelling skills development with regard to specific issues and allow professional reporters to deepen their coverage of a challenging topic. Each program can be offered to individual reporters or whole news organizations.

Q. What happens after someone takes a GPI training?

A. Economic empowerment is a central component of Global Press Institute’s mission. We believe that providing skills training without pay and follow-up opportunities is not a sustainable model – for us, our reporters, their communities or our readers. Therefore, every person we train and invite to become a Global Press Institute Certified Reporter is well-paid for her articles and photographs.

Q. What medium do these journalists work in?

A. Global Press Institute reporters work in the medium of investigative print/online journalism. Many of our reporters have begun making podcasts of their work and we will embark on our first video projects in the coming months.

Q. When you say “ethical” journalism, what does that mean?

A. In this day and age, it can be difficult to be a critical consumer of news. With so many competing sources of information, trust and credibility are paramount qualities that must exist in the relationship between source and reader. Global Press Institute trains reporters to gather news responsibly, write fairly, consider stakeholders in the process of their reporting, and, in each piece they write, focus on solutions to the situations reported.

In order to become a Global Press Institute reporter, an individual must take an intensive ethics seminar. Global Press Institute believes that producing news carries profound responsibility with it.

The news our reporters produce provide people everywhere with greater access to information, allowing them to make informed choices, exercise their freedoms and live full, well-rounded lives. Skewed, unbalanced, unfair journalism robs individuals and communities of the opportunity to think independently and gain access to important information that could change lives.

Q. What community programs does Global Press Institute offer?

A. Global Press Institute actively strives to combine community development with our journalism efforts. In many cases, we offer programs, such as adult literacy, nutrition and computer skills, in our News Desk offices. By inviting people into our offices, we build trust with the local community (who are often skeptical of the news media) and utilize the opportunity to make people aware of serious issues in their community that our journalists have uncovered. To date, Global Press Institute has provided free literacy training to more than 400 people in five countries.

Q. How can I become a Global Press Institute Certified Reporter or Editor?

A. Visit our opportunities page to submit your application today! We are actively seeking new reporters in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

To become a Global Press Institute Certified Correspondent, the criteria are simple:

– Possess basic literacy skills.
– Possess the ability to articulate how better, stronger journalism would impact and elevate your community.
– Have at least 10 hours per week to devote to reporting for Global Press Institute.

No prior journalism experience is necessary! Apply today!