RJI at An Najah University

The Research Journalism Initiative

The Research Journalism Initiative is dedicated to changing the way students learn about socio-economic, religious and geopolitical conflict by providing students a direct link to regions of conflict abroad. RJI volunteers living in the West Bank work with Palestinians to produce eduactional films, radio programs and photographic exhibitions. This material is translated to English and incorporated into curriculum in high school classrooms across the United States. RJI then facilitates live videoconferences between Palestinian and American students to encourage dialogue and critical thinking by bringing new perspectives directly into American classrooms.

Resources for Teachers

Welcome Back - September 2009

RJI Logo

Research Journalism Initiative at
An Najah National University, Nablus

I initially founded the Research Journalism Initiative during a period of tremendous personal growth, amid the violence and uncertainty of the early years of the second Palestinian Intifada. Seven years later, our commitment to peace building in Palestine has not abated. Among everything we have done together, I believe our most significant accomplishment is that we have discovered how to channel our energies in creative, impactful and lasting ways. This update is meant to update you on some of that progress and, hopefully, provide a platform from which we can clarify our vision and strengthen our cooperation together.

RJI fosters sustainable approaches to peacebuilding in Palestine by utilizing e-technologies that provide avenues for authentic global education; promoting inter-cultural dialogue and non-violent conflict resolution; supporting Palestinian self-determination through improved employment opportunities in journalism; and facilitating international educational exchange in order to enhance students’ awareness of human rights.

At RJI, we recognize that most professional Palestinian journalists currently working in international media do not hold degrees in journalism or mass communication. Rather, these talented individuals have met with success because they are good communicators and contextual thinkers, and importantly, have access to the technical and professional development resources necessary to build their careers. With this in mind, RJI takes a multi-disciplinary approach to skill set development in journalism, exploring the fields of anthropology, political geography and fine art, in addition to traditional methodologies. RJI will also provide long-term mentoring and career development resources to help Palestinian students gain professional access to the international media marketplace. In our efforts to foster human rights through global academic exchange, media produced by Palestinian students participating in RJI programs is made available online to American educators pursuing international studies approaches in their classrooms. As an educational development partner, RJI provides ongoing support to American teachers striving to globalize their classrooms in meaningful ways by linking educators, tailoring curricular materials to meet students’ needs, and cooperatively engaging school administrations, teachers, students and their parents in each stage of the process.

RJI is a registered not-for-profit organization and does not charge beneficiaries for any of its programs, multimedia content or curricula development support. Our success will be measurable, accountable, and sustainable through several interconnected approaches, helping RJI become an instrument to effect positive change in the lives of young people in the United States and Palestine.

Feature
	Welcome to Political Justice/Autobiography, RJI's first collaborative curriculum unit, designed in partnership by Beth Harris, Ph.D., of Ithaca College, NY and Nabil Alawi, Ph.D., of An Najah National University. This course of the Department of English Language and Literature uses autobiography as a lens to explore themes of perspective, memory and self-expression.

Feature
	Falastine is a talented poet whose work with Poetry of Witness has created a meaningful bridge to students in the US. With the passion of the soil, and the fragrance of za'atar, she wrote her lines expressing her visions, attitudes and feelings as a young Palestinian woman.

Recent Events

28-October, 2009:
Nablus - The Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and Eastern Washington University in the United States. The conference, which explored themes of poetry and identity, was RJI’s second of the semester and part of an ongoing cooperation between An Najah and Eastern Washington University.

22-October, 2009:
Denver - Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, besides his many other talents, happens to be a gourmet cook. He utilized his exceptional skills for the common good and prepared a full Arabic meal with dessert for guests of the first RJI Benefit Dinner. We hope this to be the first in what will be a series of annual events in Denver, where the Initiative was first conceived, in order to encourage local support and participation.

6-October, 2009:
Nablus - An Najah National University hosted a videoconference between students of the Department of English Language and Literature and Ithaca College, New York. The university was pleased to welcome Mark Turner and the Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) back to campus for its first activity of the new semester.

what is RJI?

Learn more about RJI's philosophy and mission. Featuring RJI Founder Mark Turner, Director of Academic Development Jennifer Klein, President of Student Initiatives Katie Horvath and leading contributors to RJI's Poetry of Witness in Palestine, Falastine Dwikat and m. Faraj. - Film by Sheryle Carlson.

Independent School, an article

Jennifer Klein, RJI's Director of Educational Development, was featured in the Spring, 2008 edition of Independent School, a quarterly publication of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Jennifer will be presenting her work with the Research Journalism Initiative in February at the NAIS annual conference in Chicago.

ripples cross, a film

You can support RJI by requesting your local library purchase a copy of the ripples cross DVD.

It's fast, free and easy to do. Proceeds will go directly to the Research Journalism Initiative and help us accomplish our goal of establishing the Nablus Open Media Center. You can do it personally at a local branch or just log on your library's website. Every bit of help makes a big difference!

Ripples Cross is a documentary film highlighting the experiences of international human rights activists in Palestine. Littleton, Colorado resident Mark Turner (24) documents his travels in the West Bank. Mark’s own video footage highlights in startling detail the realities and consequences of military occupation.Mark and the other activists highlight what life is like under military closures and curfews in the West Bank. The activists share their experience of occupation including: the Palestinian olive harvest; demonstrations against the forced closures of civilian areas that result in soldiers violently evicting activists from closed military zones; daily struggles against the military imposed curfew within the West Bank City of Nablus; Mark Turner and another international activist are shot by the Israeli military; while recovering from gunshot wounds, Israeli elite commandos raid the hospital where Mark and Josh are staying; activists staying inside a Palestinian home slated for demolition by the Israeli military are forced out at gunpoint when soldiers arrive to demolish the house; and activists reunite in London for a benefit concert to assist Palestinian families who have lost homes in Israeli operations.

www.ripplescross.com