UBC Journalism

08/27/2026

Renowned political communication scholar Daniel Kreiss has been appointed as an Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada at UBC’s School of Journalism, Writing, and Media.

Backed by $8 million in federal funding over eight years, Dr. Kreiss will lead a research team investigating how journalism, digital platforms, and new technologies impact democratic life.

It is part of a federal initiative to recruit top international researchers to tackle global challenges. UBC secured nine of the 64 inaugural chairs nationwide, the highest of any university in Canada.

The appointment arrives at a critical moment. As journalists globally confront political disinformation, election denial, and tech-controlled information environments, Kreiss’s work will examine the institutions behind these changes and how to strengthen democratic communication.

Coming to UBC from UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Kreiss will also enhance JWAM’s graduate programs. Students will have new opportunities to collaborate on projects alongside partners in journalism, government, civil society, and the technology sector.

“Dr. Kreiss’s appointment comes at the right time for JWAM as a school with a long history of innovation in journalism, media and communication studies, and for Canada as it works to protect its sovereignty and ensure the resilience of its democratic institutions,” said JWAM Director Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee.

Read the full story on his appointment:

https://jwam.ubc.ca/news/renowned-democracy-scholar-daniel-kreiss-joins-ubc-jwam-as-research-chair/

08/14/2026

Learn more about the collaboration between UBC Journalism and Harvard Kennedy School students investigating one of the biggest shifts in global development.

How a cross-university partnership is bringing urgently needed reporting to one of the biggest shifts in global development.

07/31/2026

Congratulations to our very own Professor Alfred Hermida on being named a global finalist for the Study UK - British Council Alumni Awards 2026 in the Business & Innovation category. 🎓

Presented by the British Council, the award recognizes global alumni who are leading innovative solutions with lasting impact. Prof Hermida's recognition highlights his pioneering work in digital journalism, evidence-based news platforms, and his contributions to scholarship that shape how news is produced and understood worldwide. 👏

More about the award and fellow finalists here:
https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/after-your-studies/alumni-awards/winners-finalists/2026/business-innovation

Alumni who are active in initiating and contributing to innovative or creative new ideas, solutions or business opportunities that have the potential for growth. These finalists represent seven regions worldwide, showcasing the breadth of innovation and entrepreneurial talent among UK alumni around....

06/11/2026

The UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media (JWAM) is seeking a passionate and experienced scholar or journalist for a full-time, tenure-stream Assistant Professor position in International Reporting! 🌍✍️

The successful candidate will also be expected to qualify for the prestigious endowment-funded Gary Coull Professorship in International Reporting.

To complement our current strengths, we are particularly looking for someone with expertise in covering and analyzing global issues, with experience in emerging fields like mobile, data, or visual journalism. 📱📊

You will also have the opportunity to engage with the award-winning Global Reporting Centre based at the school.

Whether you are an academic with a PhD (or near completion) or a professional journalist with a Master's degree and substantial newsroom experience, we would love to hear from you.

📅 Deadline to apply: August 15, 2026
📍 Location: UBC Vancouver Campus

Learn more about the role, qualifications, and how to apply.

https://jwam.ubc.ca/job-opportunities/jwam-gary-coull-professorship-asst-prof/

06/08/2026

Congratulations to UBC Journalism professor Alfred Hermida and his co-authors on their award for Top Faculty Paper from the Science Communication Interest Group at the International Communication Association annual conference in Cape Town.

The honour was for the paper, Holding science to account: A qualitative study of practices and challenges of watchdog science journalism, by Alice Fleerackers, An Nguyen, Alfred Hermida and Ivan Oransky.

The study shows that watchdog journalism is crucial for exposing scientific fraud. But resource-starved newsrooms face massive hurdles, such as legal risks, uncooperative sources, and click-metric pressures, that often force them to prioritize a story's feasibility over its public importance.

The research was led by Fleerackers who started working on the project when she was an SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellow at UBC Journalism. Two Master of Journalism students worked as graduate research assistants on the project, Kristen De Jager and Arijit Joshi.

The paper is forthcoming in the journal Science Communication and will be open access.

06/03/2026

Family and friends celebrated alongside faculty and staff on May 20 as 26 members of the class of 2026 received their Master of Journalism degrees from the University of British Columbia.

The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media marked the milestone by recognizing the graduates’ achievements, from rigorous coursework to ambitious reporting and storytelling.

The ceremony honoured students whose work and contributions stood out during their time at UBC. The awards and recipients are pictured in the slides that follow. For full details please visit the link in our bio.

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All 📸 by and Camelia Lalani

Hal Straight Gold Medal and Prize in Journalism

Recipient: Ashley Kim

Pictured L to R: Beverley Straight, Ashely Kim

Susan M. Boyce Graduate Scholarship

Recipients: Victoria Brzezinski-Szadzianis, Anjini Snape

Pictured L to R: Anjini Snape, Victoria Brzezinski-Szadzianis, Kamal Al-Solaylee

Master of Journalism Award

Recipients: Kristen De Jager, Ashley Kim, Iris Wang, Helen Wu, Elif Zaimler

Pictured L to R: Kristen De Jager, Ashley Kim, Elif Zaimler and Mary Lynn Young

The Rafe Mair Prize in Journalism
Recipient: Henna Mann

Pictured L to R: Henna Mann and Brayden Mack

The Helen Badenoch Scholarship
Recipient: Beta Chan

Pictured L to R: Beta Chan and Ori Tenenboim

George Sakellaridis Memorial Scholarship in Journalism
Recipient: Alisa Prinyarux

Pictured L to R: Alisa Prinyarux and Andrea Crossan

Brian Truscott Memorial Award in Business Journalism
Recipient: Xiao Qing Wan

Pictured L to R: Kathryn Gretsinger and Xiao Qing Wan

Vancouver Sun David Baines Scholarship in Journalism
Recipient: Riley Brady

Pictured L to R: Riley Brady and Alfred Hermida

Dona Logan Scholarship
Recipient: Isabelle Dina
Pictured L to R: Isabelle Dina and Alfred Hermida

jschoolgrad

05/25/2026

Last month, we were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Kirby Jessie Manià - beloved educator, scholar, writer, mentor, and community-builder in the UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media and the Coordinated Arts Program.
 
The BC, Musqueam and UBC flags (temporarily relocated to the East Mall Entrance and Plaza at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre) will be lowered on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in remembrance.
 
Please visit the link in our bio called “In Memoriam: Kirby Manià”.

05/21/2026

Join us in congratulating the 26 Master of Journalism students who graduated on May 20 2026.

Congratulations to the 26 graduates who received their Master of Journalism degrees from the University of British Columbia.

05/07/2026

Congratulations to the UBC Journalism students nominated for three RTDNA Canada West awards.

The nominations are for projects developed during our visual journalism courses taught by Alfred Hermida and Uytae Lee.

UBC Journalism has secured two prestigious wins at the 2025 Radio Television Digital News Association Canada regional awards.

04/13/2026

Join UBC as our 2026-2027 Asper Visiting Professor.

The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media (JWAM) at the University of British Columbia is now seeking applicants for the Asper Visiting Professor position for the 2026-2027 academic year.

We are looking for an experienced journalist or academic to join our faculty in Vancouver. This is a unique opportunity to mentor the next generation of storytellers at a world-class institution.

The role:
✅ Teach graduate-level courses in your area of expertise.
✅ Lead workshops or public talks on contemporary journalism practice.
✅ Engage with a diverse community of high-calibre students and researchers.

We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in digital journalism, media innovation, or entrepreneurship. Ideal candidates will have a proven record of editorial leadership and a passion for navigating the evolving media landscape.

📅 Application Deadline: April 28, 2026 📍 Location: Vancouver, BC (UBC Point Grey Campus)

Help shape the future of journalism.

The UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media is accepting applicants for the position of Asper Visiting Professor for 2026-2027 to join its high-calibre journalism faculty and students. The School is a recognized leader in journalism education, research and practice. It currently offers a Master...