The Humanities Council’s Program in Journalism is now accepting applications for the Summer 2026 seminar “Shockwaves: Climate, Migration, and Culture in Greece.”
The course, co-taught by Professor Rachel Donadio, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and longtime international correspondent, and Professor Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and director of the Program in Journalism, runs from June 8 – July 11, 2026.
An ancient Mediterranean power and a contemporary gateway between the Global South and Europe, Greece is a small country caught up in large issues, including the pressures of global migration and climate change. This seminar pairs classroom work with field reporting to train students in the critical thinking skills and best practices of international correspondents.
Students will spend five weeks based in Athens, as well as on reporting trips within Greece. Through fieldwork, research, interviews, and close readings, students will explore complex causes of global migration and the climate crisis, which is striking Greece through water shortages and forest fires. They will also explore the impact of over-tourism on Greece and how geopolitics and new arrivals are changing the texture of Athens and its vibrant cultural life. Students will learn how to use the tools of trauma-informed reporting, while developing fluency in the broader themes of economics, culture, the rule of law, and the international impact of United States foreign policy. Through on-the-ground reporting and site visits, students will produce articles worthy of publication, as well as multimedia and social media posts. Classes will include visits in person or via Zoom from area experts and distinguished journalists and visits to cultural sites.
For more information about the course and to apply, visit the Global Programs System. Applications are due by Friday, January 16, 2026.
