From stories to photos, Global Press reporters leveraged their local access to tell stories that readers needed most. Here, reporters reflect on their most powerful stories.
“I have been following this issue for more than five years now. It is very important to me. The government failing its citizens over and over again is frustrating and distressing. But what keeps me going is, despite everything, people still have hope.”
“Doctors have said that the traditional bone-breaking game is very risky for children and women. But it is a Mongolian tradition, so people ignore the warning.”
“For my story, I interviewed incredible women — daughters, mothers, activists — who are fighting against their pain every day to stop femicides from continuing to happen. I will always be grateful to them for sharing their stories and their struggle with me.”
"We wanted people to learn about the efforts women make and the challenges they contend with to lead in what is believed to be a man’s industry. But, it turns out, this industry began with women.”
“The same question always troubled me: How is it that such a small and awe-inspiring space seems, at the same time, to be disappearing? I wanted to understand the challenges and alternative proposals for protecting what has always been put forth as the cultural and historical heritage of Puerto Rico.”
"Writing this story was important because it brought to light the human reality of the Haitian economy. I was happy to raise awareness of this local issue globally.”
“To most of the people I interviewed, a funeral is not a funeral without these traditional songs. It’s important to hear these voices tell the story of why means so much to them as they watch it die.”
“There was a sudden discovery of various lithium deposits that everyone was talking about. Even people who live in the cities rushed to mine the mineral and benefit from it. It was referred to as, “the lithium rush” and touted as an economic game-changer. I was interested in the issue but wanted to focus on a different angle – the impact this rush had on the local people.”
“Even though the Prime Minister admitted that the decision to open the new border checkpoint was a mistake, the project had not been suspended. It is important for Global Press to report local situations on the spot accurately and incorporating diverse views and positions and to bring it to not only Mongolian but also international audiences.”
“It was important to me to write a story about a group of women who are breaking patriarchal thinking. These women are establishing new freedoms and advancing women’s rights.”
“This situation is violating fundamental human rights: the right to education for the students, and the right to decent housing for the teachers.”
Did you know that each Global Press reporter is also an accomplished photojournalist? Their photos help people to see the world differently. Here, our growing team of photo editors reflect on how our photography is shifting global understanding.
“Photographs are a visual record. They educate our audience and tell a story. They allow us to see the similarities and uniqueness of our shared human experience.”
“It is great to imagine that someone can gain a little more dignity or confidence if they can relate to someone in our reports, to see themselves in the images, or to gain a little more understanding of how their society impacts another.”
“Photography shows various aspects of people’s lives from the local journalist’s point of view. It allows readers to broaden their understanding of our coverage communities and empathize with what sources are going through.”
“A photo is a moment. It's just an instant that vanishes right away and will never repeat. But the photograph remains. What else is going to show me what your mother looked like at the age of 20 when the moonlight was just falling on her face? Words can’t describe that.”
The Global Press Style Guide has become a transformational tool that is advancing dignity and precision in international journalism.
The Global Press Style Guide is now available in three languages. Next up: Nepali.
What the Style Guide means to me.
Allison Braden, copy chief
Ce que le Guide de Style signifie pour moi.
Ndahayo Sylvestre, translator, French, Swahili
Qué significa para mí la Guía de Estilo.
Lucila Pellettieri, senior reporter, Argentina
Launched in 2012, the Global Press Style Guide is now used in dozens of newsrooms and classrooms. In 2024, thanks to our Reynolds Journalism Institute fellowship, we’ll launch a Style Guide Chrome browser plugin to help journalists, students, writers and researchers implement inclusive and equitable language in an easy and interactive way.
Around the world, local journalists are struggling against a marked decline in press freedom. The need to elevate safety and security protocols for journalists is more acute now than ever. From new online trainings to an expansion of wellness services, we continued to invest in our industry-leading Duty of Care program in 2023.
In 2023, we published a comprehensive, multimedia project on the state of press freedom. For the project, we surveyed 499 journalists in six languages across 33 countries. Here's what they told us about press freedom:
“Threats to freedom of expression are ubiquitous, but do take different forms around the world. Only with this team of exceptional global reporters, editors, and fact-checkers were we able to capture the full scope of this global problem.”
Global Press's team of women journalists live in the global communities they cover.
In 2023, they faced a myriad of challenges while reporting the stories audiences needed most.
Duty of Care is alive in our employee handbooks, editorial policies, communication tools and daily operations to keep reporters safe and healthy in a wide range of global circumstances.
Here are the Duty of Care tools that reporters said were most beneficial to them in 2023.
This year, Global Press provided more than 50 wellness workshops for Global Press team members, covering topics ranging from "Cultivating Mindfulness Practices" to "Understanding Secondary Trauma." Our Wellness Manager, Meagan Demitz, continued to ensure that reporters had access to timely and relevant wellness support.
The Global Press Wellness Network is made up of more than 20 accredited mental health and wellness professionals who speak the languages of our reporters and are based around the world. Since the Network was established in 2018, approximately 66% of reporters have utilized their free access to 1:1 counseling support. In 2023, the network welcomed new counselors to support our growing teams in Nepal and Haiti.
In 2023, Global Press offered advanced learning opportunities on GPI Online, our virtual learning system. 100% of our reporters and editors took new courses on digital security, risk profiling, situational awareness and more. All interactive courses are available in six languages. We will continue to build our Duty of Care training library in 2024.
"Our one-of-a-kind Wellness Network grew in 2023 to continue to meet the culturally diverse needs of our team. In 2024, our wellness programming will continue to grow and innovate with new educational and wellness offerings for Global Press reporters and staff."