Local Students Can Access Daily International Reporting for Free

International news has fascinated me since I traveled abroad to London in the late ’90s while pursuing my Master of Journalism degree at Temple University. Beyond the scope of our borders in the U.S., I was introduced to boundless stories that reflected diverse cultures, developing economies, and pivotal history.

Years later, leveraging my experience as a local journalist, I taught classes as an adjunct instructor for Temple’s Department of Journalism. Today, marrying my love of journalism and education, I’m executive director of GlobalPost’s Global Education Initiative. GlobalPost is the largest daily newsletter devoted to world news.

GlobalPost’s Founding Mission

In 2017, GlobalPost launched the Global Education Initiative at the University of Oklahoma as an experiment. The public service initiative supported by individual donors and foundations provides free subscriptions to students and teachers worldwide. It has grown into a global effort reaching more than 11,000 students and teachers at nearly 1,400 schools across 82 countries. Some of these include local subscribers, so keep reading to learn how the students in your life can gain access.

GlobalPost’s founder is former Boston-based journalist, Phil Balboni, who spent the bulk of his career in broadcast media. Today, as CEO, Balboni says: “The core of GlobalPost’s mission is to fill the void being left as mainstream media outlets pulled back from vital international reporting.”

Impact on Students

By bridging the gap between quality journalism and education, GlobalPost strives to equip students around the world with the knowledge and tools they need to develop informed worldviews, curiosity about world events, and responsible global citizenship.

A 2024 spring survey of subscribers revealed that 97 percent of student readers feel GlobalPost is reliable, independent, and nonpartisan. In an age where students need access to independent world news, this is a comforting statistic.

Locally, GlobalPost has subscribers at many area high schools and colleges. One Haverford College student told GlobalPost that the newsletter helps her “feel more informed as a global citizen.”

Participating area colleges, universities, and high schools include:

• Arcadia University
• Archbishop Ryan High School
• Archbishop Wood High School
• Bishop Shanahan High School
• Delaware County Community College
• Haverford College
• Lafayette College
• Montgomery County Community College
• Muhlenberg College
• Penn State University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Delaware
• Villanova University
• West Chester University

The Global Education Initiative also welcomes home schooling families to subscribe for free. Additionally, prestigious International Baccalaureate schools overwhelmingly embrace GlobalPost subscriptions, aligning with the IB mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect

I’m proud that my three children are reaping the benefits of the Global Education Initiative, where they’re being introduced to geography and international affairs in a way they could never glean from TikTok. If you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean.

How Schools Can Participate

• The Global Education Initiative is open to both high school and college students in the United States and internationally.
• Students can sign up with a simple enrollment link, and can keep their free subscription until they graduate.
• Faculty/teachers who are involved in the classroom or who oversee instruction are also welcome to sign up for free.
• There is no cost to any school or university, and there are no contracts for schools to sign.

Prominent Features of the GlobalPost Newsletter

• Coverage is completely independent and nonpartisan.
• The newsletter is published every weekday of the year at 6 AM ET.
• Stories can be easily read on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
• Each story includes links to broadly diverse and high-quality global reporting sources.
• Stories include extensive geographic coverage of the world from every region.
• Custom-designed maps accompany each news story.
• A companion audio edition is included in each newsletter.

Recently, GlobalPost released “The GlobalPost Study Guide” so teachers can bring international events directly into their classrooms.

How to Sign Up

If you’re a student or teacher, head over to GlobalPost.

Please share this free subscription link with the students and teachers you know. If you have any questions about signing up or would like a 2025 Study Guide, please email me at [email protected].