The London Project

THE LONDON PROJECT

This journalism course will introduce students to London as a political nerve center and cultural hub not just of Great Britain, but of Europe and the international community at large. As part of the coursework, students will focus on one of four major topics as part of this unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of London’s people and politics. The course is aimed at (a) helping students to develop journalistic skills and multimedia storytelling techniques, and (b) enabling more advanced students to exercise those skills in a challenging new international environment.

The City

As one of the world’s leading media hubs, London offers a unique blend of historical depth and modern innovation, making it an ideal location for studying abroad.  The city is home to some of the most influential media organizations globally, including the BBC, The Guardian, The Financial Times and Reuters.  The bustling atmosphere of Fleet Street, the historic heart of British journalism, provides a tangible connection to the legacy of news reporting.

London is a cultural treasure trove. The British Museum and the Tate Modern offer unparalleled access to art and history, while the West End theater district provides endless opportunities to experience world-class performances. For a more contemporary experience, students can explore Shoreditch, known for its street art, indie boutiques, and vibrant nightlife.

London’s neighborhoods are as diverse as its people. From the chic cafés of Notting Hill to the bustling markets of Camden, there’s always something new to discover. The city’s parks, such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, offer green spaces perfect for study sessions or relaxing with friends.

For aspiring journalists, London’s fast-paced environment is a goldmine of stories. Covering events at iconic locations like Trafalgar Square or Parliament Square provides hands-on experience in reporting and a chance to engage with pressing social issues. 

Whether exploring historic landmarks like the Tower of London or immersing in the city’s thriving cultural scene, students will find London an exciting and enriching place to enhance their academic and professional journeys.

 

The Project

This journalism course will introduce students to London as a political nerve center and cultural hub not just of Great Britain, but of Europe and the international community at large. As part of the coursework, students will focus on one of four major topics as part of this unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of London’s people and politics. The course is aimed at (a) helping students to develop journalistic skills and multimedia storytelling techniques, and (b) enabling more advanced students to exercise those skills in a challenging new international environment.

Students will also work on narrative longform audio storytelling by working on a three-part podcast about a historical event in London. Students will report, write and produce the podcast with guidance from professors and the final product will be published in a digital magazine back in the U.S.

These major topic areas include:

1. Global Issues: The World Comes to London
2. Immigration: Britain's Own Border Crisis
3. Growing Pains: The New UK under Labour
4. Art & Activism: Portraits of a City

During this project, you will learn how to:

• research and report stories in an international setting
• interview sources from diverse backgrounds
• write engaging stories with guidance from experienced editors
• produce a serial podcast with a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Excursions

London area excursions typically include visits to the British Houses of Parliament, news organizations, Shakespeare's birthplace, the West End theater district, and other landmarks.

Travel Opportunities

London’s location makes it a great base for a variety of day trips that offer a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Students will have two weekends free to explore London on their own or take day trips to nearby sites of interest.

• Windsor: Just a short train ride from London, Windsor is home to the magnificent Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family. Visitors can tour the castle, explore the beautiful gardens, and even watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
• Oxford: Known as the "City of Dreaming Spires," Oxford is famous for its prestigious university and stunning architecture. Strolling through the historic colleges, visiting the Bodleian Library, and punting on the River Cherwell are popular activities.
• Cambridge: Another iconic university town, Cambridge offers picturesque scenery and historic sites. Visitors can take a punt along the River Cam, visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, and explore the stunning King’s College Chapel.
• Stonehenge and Bath: A visit to the ancient and mysterious Stonehenge is a must for history enthusiasts. Often paired with a trip to the Roman city of Bath, where you can explore the Roman Baths and the beautiful Georgian architecture, this trip provides a perfect mix of history and relaxation.
• Brighton: For a seaside escape, head to Brighton, a lively coastal city known for its vibrant arts scene, quirky shops, and famous pier. The Royal Pavilion, with its exotic architecture, is a highlight, and the beach is perfect for a relaxed day out.

• 

  Canterbury: Famous for its stunning cathedral, Canterbury is a historic city with a rich cultural heritage. Walking through its medieval streets, visiting the Canterbury Tales attraction, and exploring the ancient ruins make for an enriching day trip.
• Hampton Court Palace: Located just outside London, Hampton Court Palace offers a glimpse into Tudor history. The palace, once home to Henry VIII, features beautiful gardens, a maze, and impressive interiors.
• The Cotswolds: For those looking to escape to the countryside, the Cotswolds offers picturesque villages, rolling hills, and charming stone cottages. Places like Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury are perfect for a leisurely day of exploration.
• Stratford-upon-Avon: The birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is a must-visit for literature lovers. Visitors can explore Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and enjoy a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• Leeds Castle: Often dubbed “the loveliest castle in the world,” Leeds Castle is set on two islands in a lake, surrounded by 500 acres of beautiful parkland. The castle’s interiors, gardens, and falconry displays make it a great day trip option.

Each of these destinations offers a unique experience, making them ideal for students looking to explore the rich history and culture of England beyond London.

Housing

ieiMedia has partnered with NYU London for the 2025 project. Students will stay in single and double apartments in the Byron Court and Guilford House facilities that are owned and managed by NYU in London. Each student will have their own bed and all apartments are equipped with kitchenettes so that participants will be able to manage their own meals. The facilities also come with 24-hour onsite management to ensure the safety of all residents.

 

 

 

Academic Credit

Academic credits can be earned for this ieiMedia Project. Requesting course credit is optional. This course offers an option to earn six credits of an upper-division journalism elective.  The cost for academic credit is $150/credit. Students choosing this option must indicate so in their application. After applying, student will find procedures in our Student Portal to request academic credit through our school of record, University of Jamestown. NOTE: Students on a quarter system will be able to transfer as eight credits at no additional fee.  Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student's home university. Please check with your university for procedures to follow when transferring credits to your institution.

Equipment

Students should bring their own laptop computers and mobile phones, as well as digital or video cameras and audio recorders if they have them.

Students

The project is open to English-speaking college students and recent graduates from any school. Students from many universities have participated in past ieiMedia projects, including: American University, Arizona State University, Baylor University, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Carleton University, Columbia University, Colorado State University, Florida Atlantic University, Georgia College and State University, Georgetown University, Humboldt State University, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Ithaca College, James Madison University, Louisiana State University, New York University, Rider University, Rutgers University, Ryerson University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, State University of New York at New Paltz, Syracuse University, Temple University, Truman State University, UCLA, University of Arizona, University of British Columbia, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Kennesaw State University, University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Northern Iowa, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech, Wesleyan University, and Washington and Lee University. We’ve also had students participate from countries such as Canada, China, Japan, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and more.

 

Graduate Students

Graduate students are also invited to apply. We’d be happy to talk with you about supervising an independent project that would qualify for graduate credit at your school — or to offer this experience as a graduate internship.

 

 

Faculty Director 

(subject to change)

 

Director Ilene Prusher is the founder and digital director of MediaLab@FAU, and has been a key member of the journalism faculty of Florida Atlantic University since 2015. She is an award-winning journalist who worked as a foreign correspondent for 20 years, covering the Middle East, Asia and Africa. She served as a staff writer and bureau chief of the Christian Science Monitor from 2000-2010, and has also been a contributor to TIME, The New York Times Book Review, The Miami Herald, The Guardian, Haaretz, Ms., CNN, NBC, the Forward, and other publications. Before launching ieiMedia's London Project, she ran the ieiMedia summer program in Jerusalem. She is the author of Baghdad Fixer, a novel about the war in Iraq.

 

 

FACULTY

(Subject to enrollments/budget)

Sara Ganim is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and former CNN correspondent. Ganim is a multi-platform reporter who regularly publishes in print and broadcast. She has written for newspapers, cable television, audio, and documentaries, edited newsletters and magazine pieces, and has won several of the industry’s top awards.

At age 24, she won a Pulitzer Prize for the Harrisburg Patriot-News for breaking and covering the investigation into former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of young boys. Ganim then spent seven years at CNN, covering multiple beats, including federal government agencies, the rise of the anti-fascist movement in the U.S., the NCAA, and contaminated American drinking water. In 2015, she won a Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists for her investigative report exposing the low reading levels of some college athletes.

Since leaving CNN, Ganim has mostly worked in audio, developing, reporting and hosting several award-winning podcasts. Her most recent project was Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story, produced by Dear Media. Believable was named one of The Atlantic’s top 25 podcasts of 2023.

In 2021, she launched a podcast with Advance Local and Meadowlark Media called The Mayor of Maple Avenue, about the intersection of trauma and addiction and societal failures in the wake of the #meToo movement. The podcast won the Keystone Award for best podcast of 2024.

Ganim also created the podcast Why Don’t We Know, which won the EWA’s public service award in 2020. In 2020, she also made her first independent film, No Defense, which garnered film festival recognition. She has consulted or reported for several other films, including the Emmy-nominated films, Deadly Haze and Paterno.

Ganim is a prior recipient of Hearst, Loyola Law School and Columbia Spencer Education fellowships. Other recognitions include the the 2020 Education Writers Association public service award, 2012 National Sexual Violence Resource Center Visionary Voice Award, 2012 APME President’s Award, 2011 George Polk award, the 2011 Scripps-Howard award, 2012 American Society of News Editors for distinguished writing, 2011 Sidney Hillman’s Sidney Award, a 2010 Golden Quill and the 2010 Bar Association journalism award, 2008 Gannet Media Foundation multimedia award.

She is currently the journalist-in-residence at the University of Florida’s Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology. She also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Lebanese American University. She is a 2008 graduate of Penn State University.

 

Frederick Lewis is a Professor in the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University, and a documentary filmmaker whose work has been seen on PBS stations throughout the U.S. and screened at more than 100 cultural/educational venues, including the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

A long time practitioner of project-based learning, Lewis is a recipient of the Presidential Teacher Award, Ohio University’s highest honor for transformative teaching, curriculum innovation and mentoring.

Professor Lewis has also taught at Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Internationally he has been a Fulbright Specialist in Hungary and has taught or conducted workshops in England, Germany, France, Ukraine, Romania, Malaysia and Vietnam.

 

Project Cost

The cost is $5,745 plus airfare. The price includes;

• reporting trips and excursions, including meetings with industry leaders and community activists
• housing at NYU London residence
• expert instruction and guest lecturers
• basic travel insurance
• welcome and farewell dinners

An optional 6 credits can be purchased for an additional $150/credit.  

Application Deadline Details

Our application deadline for Summer 2025 projects is December 15, 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis dependent on project capacity. 

Submitting your application by the priority deadline means you will be accepted to a priority spot on the project of your choosing, as well as secure additional time to prepare for payment deadlines and scholarship and financial aid opportunities.  

If you do not have the necessary access to submit your application by the deadline, please reach out to admissions@ieimedia.com to speak with an advisor.

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