Global Journalism & Public Relations Initiative
Proposed by
Bill Jong-Ebot, MBA (Int’l), Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Head
Journalism & Mass Communications
Florida Memorial University
Miami, FL 33054
Phone: 305 626-3162
Email: webot@fmuniv.edu
Introduction
Our once vast world is shrinking daily, thanks to sophisticated communication
technology devices. We are connected to each other more than ever before, whether we
live in Antananarivo, Bamako, Bombay, Bujumbura, Copenhagen, Djibouti, Helsinki,
Los Angeles, Lima, Melbourne, Manila, Ouagadougou, or Wellington.
The information technology revolution is upon us. We are now a sophisticated
global, electronic village, exposed to a multitude of cultures from all corners of the
world.
Advancements in telecommunications, wireless communications, and the Internet,
have resulted in a phenomenal shift in human history, with significant benefits. For
journalism, mass communications, and public relations students, educators and
practitioners, the current information technology revolution is an opportunity to refine
skills, improve our knowledge of people worldwide, and become better and more
effective communicators.
Mission
The goal of the Global Journalism and Public Relations Initiative (GJPRI) is to
provide a unique cultural and learning experience for participants so that they can prepare
and communicate more effective and accurate messages. The GJPRI is born out of the
conviction that the more we know about each other’s culture and working environment,
the more likely we are to disseminate meaningful messages. Overall, we are enriched,
immensely, by living, studying, and working in another culture.
GJPRI’s long-term objectives are as follows:



Develop and sustain a community of well-informed citizens in an era of
globalization so that issues in one community may be better understood in another
community.
Empower public relations and journalism students as well as practitioners with
cultural skills so that they may report global issues fairly and accurately for their
local communities.
Improve cross-cultural communication through programs that encourage
residencies abroad.
Program Activities
Students
1. Students will take part in one-semester residencies at participating institutions.
They will take courses at the host institution that will apply towards their degree
requirements. Course workloads may include a variety of assignments designed
to enhance the cultural and academic experience of the students.
2. During the semester abroad, students will spend two weeks at a media company
or public relations agency that is a part of the GJPRI Network, to gain a working
knowledge of the practice in the host country.
3. The GJPRI Network of universities, public relations firms and media companies
will work to ensure the student’s professional development before and during the
residency. Specifically, the student’s home institution must ensure that he or she
is well prepared for a residency abroad. At Florida Memorial University, for
example, students may take COM 319 International Mass Communications, COM
320 International Public Relations, or COM 344 Diversity of Mass
Communications, before embarking on a residency abroad.
4. Before departing for a residency abroad, students must also familiarize
themselves with the culture and values of the host country, including immigration,
government structure, the economy, and role of international correspondents.
5. The cost of participation for the student – tuition, airfare, housing, meals, etc.will be covered under the program up to $15,000.
6. Each student must carry a health plan that has international coverage.
7. Each student will put together a portfolio of work done in the host country for
presentation to his or her home institution upon return. This may include work
done for the pr agency, print media, radio or television.
Professors
1. Professors can spend a semester at a university that is a part of the GJPRI
Network.
2. Professors may combine teaching and work at a pr agency or media company
during their residency abroad.
3. Professors are free to share reports of their residency with other members of the
GJPRI Network.
Practitioners
1. Practitioners can spend a month at a host agency that is part of the GJPRI
Network
2. Practitioners should plan to share their residency experience at formal and
informal forums.
General Features of the Program
1. Courses in International Mass Communications, International Public Relations,
and Cross-Cultural Communication, along with two-week residencies that
enhance the professional development of students.
2. Networking opportunities such as teleconferences, seminars, conferences that
provide exposure to people in other parts of the world.
3. Publications that will include a web site, newsletter, and online journals to report
the work of participants.
Structure
Executive Director

Advisory Board

Regional Directors

Country
Coordinators

Secretariat
Director will be responsible for the overall administration of the program
Advisory Board members will be professionals, including practitioners, students,
professors, from across the globe. Members will communicate regularly and will advise
the Director.
Regional Directors – There will be six Regional Directors representing Australia, North
America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Country Coordinators – There will be a Country Coordinator to facilitate the program in
each participating country.
Secretariat – The Secretariat will serve as the administrative headquarters of the
program.
Immediate Tasks
1. Build a global network of GJPRI universities with journalism, public relations,
and mass communications programs.
2. Build a global network of media companies and pr agencies interested in offering
residencies to participating students and practitioners.
3. Build a network of foundations, corporations, churches, and other philanthropic
organizations likely to provide scholarships, fellowships, and other financial
assistance to students and professors to participate in the program.
Possible Residency Providers and Sponsors
Global PR Alliance members
International Journalists' Network
World Press Institute
International Press Institute
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund
National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Broadcasters
Radio/Television News Directors Association
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Public Relations Society of America
Panos Institute, London
American Press Institute
Miami Press Club
Society of Professional Journalists
Black Public Relations Society
American Newspaper Publishers Association
South Florida Black Journalists Association
World Association for Christian Communication
Associated Press
Bloomberg News
Dow Jones Newswires
Reuters
Wall Street Journal
Agence France Presse
CNN
Radio Free Europe
BUDGET, 2008-2011
EXPENSES
Scholarships
2008-09
$600,000
2009-10
600,000
Stipends
Travel
$250,000
25,000
250,000*
25,000
2010-11
600,000
250,000*
25,000
24,000
36,600
5,000
4,000
35,000
10,000
5,000
5,400
24,000
36,600
5,000
4,000
35,000
10,000
5,000
5,400
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$
$
$
Wages & Salaries
Exec Director
Executive Secretary
Regional Director
Country Representative
Marketing
Publications & Reports
Supplies & Equipment
Telephone, Postage
TOTAL
24,000
36,600
5,000
4,000*
30,000*
10,000
10,000
5,400
SOURCES OF SUPPORT
Foundations
Corporations
Individual Contributions
Grants
Organizations
Other
TOTAL