Current Murrow Cougs / Experiential Learning / Travel

Backpack Journalism

Backpack Journalism is a competitive international reporting program funded by generous alumni and donors. Four high-achieving Murrow college students travel to a foreign country to report a story with guidance from a faculty member. In the past, backpack journalism trips have sent students to destinations such as Nepal, Greece, Galapagos Islands, Guatemala, Costa Rica, China, Sri Lanka and others.

Students equipped with the latest video, audio and web technology produce multimedia content suitable for publication by media outlets. Backpack Journalism students experience the challenges and benefits of international travel, may have their work published by professional media and enrich their academic and professional lives.

The Backpack Journalism destination for March 2025 is: To be announced

Examples from BPJ 2023 in Kenya:

Nick Gibson, WSU researchers study a coronavirus spread by camels in Kenya
Josie Goodrich, How healthy cows are changing lives and keeping students in school

Qualifications

Are you a certified student in any major within the Murrow College of Communication?
Do you have multimedia production skills?
Are you interested in international travel?
Do you have a strong work ethic?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then you should apply for these amazing opportunities.

Interested Murrow Students DO NOT need to complete the Pre-Screening Application through International Programs.
They DO need to complete THIS application.

Application deadline: Wednesday, October 2nd at 11:59 pm.

BPJ Student with children looking through camera lense — Jasmine Darakjy, JMP ’19, reports a story at a Puerto Rico community center in March 2019.

Name*

First Middle Last

WSU ID Number*

WSU Email Address*

Phone*

Mailing Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

What is your intended graduation date (month/year)?*

(Students graduating in December 2024 do not qualify for this program.)

What degree and major within the Murrow College are you pursuing?*

(i.e., Strategic Communication, major in Public Relations.)

Do you have a valid passport?*

Yes

Passport Expiration Date

(If Applicable)

Emergency Contact Information

Name*

First Last

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone*

To help us learn more about you, please answer the following questions.

Please describe your multimedia writing/production skills (writing, video, audio, photography, web publishing):*

Provide links to at least three examples of your work. Please ensure links are accessible for the committee to review.*

(Please send links to specific pieces of work instead of to your entire body of work.)

Please discuss briefly your academic and professional goals and how this program will help you reach those.*

If selected, you will be sent to a foreign country and may encounter some harsh living and working conditions and potentially disturbing social environments. How will you prepare for these?*

If you speak, write or read any foreign languages please describe your level of fluency.*

What other experiences or extracurricular activities have you been involved in and how might these experiences help you in this program?*

A brief essay is required for this application. Please select a news story from a foreign country, summarize how you would cover it and explain why it would be significant to our local audience.Limit: 500 words.*

Provide the name of one (1) faculty member from the Murrow College of Communication who can provide a reference for you, if requested.*

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Student Work

Murrow Students Explore Press Freedom in Serbia

August 23, 2022 Read more Backpack Journalism, Student Work

Photos: Dakar Rally

March 25, 2018 Lisa Waananen Jones Photos by Luke Hollister from a Backpack Journalism trip to the Dakar Rally in South America. Read more Backpack Journalism, Journalism and Media Production, Student Work

Murrow student with video camera in Greece

Refugee Camp: Cameron Grant

August 8, 2016 chris.cooney A Backpack Journalism report by Jody Barhanovich Read more Backpack Journalism, Journalism and Media Production, Student Work