University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism

The University of California (UC)-Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism’s mission is to defend democratic culture and strengthen bonds of trust and credibility in journalism by bringing new voices, new leaders, and new cultural competencies to the field. Two of its signature programs are the Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) and the Documentary Film Program (DFP). The IRP provides in-depth training for students in investigative reporting, and it partners with high-profile news outlets to publish their investigations. The DFP trains students in both rigorous journalism and cinematic storytelling. MacArthur funds support both the IRP and DFP to train the next generation of diverse journalists and documentary filmmakers. The intended outcomes are more opportunities for people, regardless of background, to employ the powerful methods of investigative reporting and documentary filmmaking to foster greater public understanding about critical issues.

The University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is one of the most highly regarded public journalism programs in the country. Under new leadership, the school is deepening its commitment to removing the financial barriers that prevent students from under-represented backgrounds from pursuing journalism and media careers. Similarly, the school is committed to providing a welcoming refuge for exiled journalists fleeing conflict areas. This is a new undertaking for the school, from which the school and University community are eager to learn and expand upon. Grant funds will be used to pilot a program for resettling and enrolling exiled journalists in the graduate school.

The Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California-Berkeley provides training to journalism students in the practice of investigative reporting. It does this by inviting students to conceive of and produce investigations into underreported issues facing the United States. It then provides editorial guidance and facilitates the placement of these stories with a range of news media outlets, including major dailies, television news, and public radio, enabling them to reach wide audiences. The intended outcome of this grant is to prepare a diverse cadre of reporters for the field of investigative reporting and, in doing so, bring a wider array of perspectives and inquiries to the field of investigative journalism. This grant provides support for the Investigative Reporting Program at the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

The Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism is an award-winning, nonprofit, investigative reporting and teaching program. Under the direction of renowned, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Lowell Bergman, a team of veteran reporters and producers, assisted by annual fellows and graduate students, produce original international, national, and local investigative reports that are disseminated by major commercial and noncommercial news outlets, reaching a broad audience. FRONTLINE, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, Mother Jones, NPR, PBS NewsHour, National Geographic, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Times, as well as a wide variety of international and local newspapers, routinely publish IRP's reports. These investigative reports often lead to official responses, including further investigations, hearings, legal action, changes in administrative rules, and introduction and passage of new laws.  

The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley seeks out and exposes government and corporate actions that have a negative impact on the public good. Under the direction of Pulitzer-prize winning investigative reporter, Lowell Bergman, a team of veteran reporters, assisted by annual fellows, produces original international, national and local investigative reports which are published by major non-commercial and commercial print and television news outlets. This grant provides operating support for the Program.