TakingITGlobal: Inspirer, Informer, Impliquer

The Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) helps American high school students relate personally to international conflict issues by bringing perspectives from regions of conflict directly into their classrooms. RJI is dedicated to developing new tools for students learning about global conflict...
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The Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) helps American high school students relate personally to international conflict issues by bringing perspectives from regions of conflict directly into their classrooms. RJI is dedicated to developing new tools for students learning about global conflict issues; facilitating the production of films, radio programs and photographic exhibitions by students living in regions of conflict; utilizing e-technologies to provide avenues for multimedia educational exchange; promoting non-violent conflict resolution; and encouraging students to become advocates for international human rights law. Although RJI's operational home is located in the United States, this project has a global scope and is intended to connect American students with young people in various regions of conflict.
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RJI staff living in the West Bank work with Palestinian students to produce film, radio, photographic and print media that American educators may incorporate into a wide variety of high school and university curricula.

American students who have viewed RJI’s documentary films...
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RJI staff living in the West Bank work with Palestinian students to produce film, radio, photographic and print media that American educators may incorporate into a wide variety of high school and university curricula.

American students who have viewed RJI’s documentary films commonly encounter questions they had not yet considered. RJI facilitates live videoconferences between American high school students and Palestinian university students, creating opportunities for a direct exchange that is free of the filters typical of the mainstream American media. The program exposes American youths to elements of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not usually discussed as part of the formal educational system and allows them to process their fears, anger and suspicions in an open environment.

Through interaction between the two groups, RJI enables American students to engage in learning about realities of life in Palestine from those actually living such experiences.

A broad range of project themes allows for many creative and innovative applications in the classroom; teachers have used RJI content in history, current events, economics, and even poetry classes.

RJI is currently focused on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but will continue to expand in the coming years to include projects in additional regions of conflict across the globe.
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RJI staff living in Nablus will train up to 75 university journalism students annually (divided into 5 sessions) in advanced production and post-production techniques. Palestinian students are encouraged to combine international best practices in journalism with personal, artistic expression in...
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RJI staff living in Nablus will train up to 75 university journalism students annually (divided into 5 sessions) in advanced production and post-production techniques. Palestinian students are encouraged to combine international best practices in journalism with personal, artistic expression in an effort to foster understanding between American and Palestinian students. Each year, students at the NOMC will produce an additional 10 documentary films, 15 radio broadcasts and 15 photographic exhibitions to be archived online and made available to US teachers exploring issues of Mideast history, culture, current events and the human experience of conflict. Themes of this educational media are Palestinian student-driven. RJI emphasizes contextual, experiential learning rather than striving to be a “first-to-print” newswire service. The materials produced abroad will provide myriad opportunities for American students to explore the realities of life in the region and to interact with young people in Palestine.
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