Our Staff Abroad

University of Florida students flew to Guatemala City, Guatemala and drove into Zacapa, Guatemala in late September 2008 to acquire international journalism field experience. Photographers, writers, telecommunications students and multimedia journalists at the graduate and undergraduate levels teamed up during the trip to document culture and the community, specifically focusing on the hunger and malnourishment that are very prevalent in Guatemala.

The educational experience was part of a program nicknamed the Florida FlyIns. In preparation for writing, photographing and doing multimedia and broadcast journalism abroad, students spent the first part of the semester doing research in the university's Latin American Studies library collection and hearing from expert guest lecturers.

After the trip, the last part of the semester was dedicated to producing an exhibition, publishing an online magazine and submitting stories for publication in U.S. and foreign media outlets. Professor John Kaplan developed and teaches the course each fall.

We are most grateful to the citizens of Zacapa, as well as the missionary organization Hope of Life, for their support and friendship.