What Global Reporting Centre does

Global Reporting Centre (GRC) is an editorially independent, nonprofit investigative journalism organization founded in 2016 and based at the University of British Columbia's School of Journalism, Writing, and Media in Vancouver, Canada. It produces long-form investigative documentaries, docuseries, podcasts, and multimedia reporting across topics including globalized supply chains, Indigenous rights, public health, conflict, corruption, and migrant rights. Its core methodology, branded as 'empowerment journalism,' is built around long-term partnerships with communities and leaves editorial control with on-the-ground storytellers, distinguishing its output from traditional parachute journalism.

GRC's products are journalism artifacts rather than software: flagship works include the Bribe, Inc. documentary (Emmy-nominated), America's Medical Supply Crisis (IRE Award winner, co-produced with PBS FRONTLINE and AP News), Turning Points docuseries (Edward R. Murrow Award), and podcast series State of Play (Digital Publishing Award winner, distributed via PRX) and The Land in Between. Complementary offerings include the graduate-level Global Reporting Program housed at UBC, an open-source Empowerment Journalism Guide and Fixers Guide adopted as teaching resources, and the multi-institution Hidden Costs Research Network (40+ researchers). Underlying technology is conventional digital journalism production — podcast hosting, documentary video, interactive web features — with no proprietary platform, API, or AI stack described.

Revenue is philanthropic rather than commercial. GRC is funded primarily through individual donations (processed via UBC's Development & Alumni Engagement Office) and grants from a diversified roster of foundations and government agencies including SSHRC (US$2.5M in 2018), Lohn, Hamber, Park, Giustra, Mindset, Creative BC, Vancouver Institute, Stern Family, and TRACE foundations, with US donor routing through the American Foundation for UBC. The go-to-market motion is hybrid: editorially independent content that is distributed free to global audiences via co-publishing partnerships with flagship media outlets (PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, Al Jazeera, CBC, NBC News, AP, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Mongabay, Mother Jones, The Walrus, The Tyee, The Narwhal, EIC), combined with direct-to-consumer channels (quarterly newsletter, podcast platforms, YouTube, Bluesky) and academic channels (UBC coursework, open-source guides, research publications).

Name

Global Reporting Centre

Legal name

Global Reporting Centre

Website

https://globalreportingcentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Global Reporting Centre is a Vancouver-based, UBC-affiliated nonprofit investigative journalism organization producing documentaries, podcasts, and docuseries on supply chains, Indigenous rights, public health, and conflict, distributed through major media partners and a global student journalism program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investigative Journalism

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper Publishers (51311), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Investigative & Journalism Documentaries (MPADADAD)

Keywords

• Investigative journalism
• Documentary production
• Podcast production
• Journalism education
• Global reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The primary revenue source is donations from individuals and grants from foundations. All donations are processed by UBC's Development & Alumni Engagement Office, with 100% directed to the GRC. Major funders include SSHRC, Lohn Foundation, Hamber Foundation, Park Foundation, Giustra Foundation, Dr. Lloyd John Keenan Foundation, Mindset Foundation, Creative BC, Vancouver Institute, and Stern Family Foundation.
2. Academic Partnerships: Funding from academic agencies including a US$2.5 million grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in 2018 for supply chain reporting initiative. Partnerships with UBC School of Journalism provide operational support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Global Reporting Centre produces editorially independent investigative journalism — including documentaries, podcast series, docuseries, and long-form articles — on global issues such as supply chains, Indigenous rights, public health, conflict, and corruption. Content is produced using an 'empowerment journalism' approach in partnership with communities and co-published through major media outlets (PBS, Al Jazeera, CBC, NBC News, AP, FRONTLINE). The organization also runs a graduate journalism training program (Global Reporting Program) and publishes open-source reporting guides and academic research.

Product overview

Global Reporting Centre is an editorially independent nonprofit journalism organization based at the University of British Columbia, producing investigative journalism across multiple media formats. Its portfolio consists primarily of documentary films (e.g., Bribe, Inc., America's Medical Supply Crisis), podcast series (State of Play, The Land in Between, Trust Us/Jersey Offshore), and the docuseries Turning Points — each typically produced in partnership with major international media outlets. These are complemented by educational products: the Global Reporting Program (a graduate journalism course structured like a newsroom), the Empowerment Journalism Guide, the Fixers Guide, and the Hidden Costs Research Network. The organization does not offer a software platform, API, or technology product; its 'products' are journalism content, teaching programmes, and open-source reporting guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Reporting Program: A graduate-level course at UBC that brings together graduate students from around the world to work on year-long investigations.
• State of Play
• The Land in Between
• Empowerment Journalism Guide
• Fixers Guide

Products and services

• State of Play A global investigative podcast series exploring how sports intersect with politics, human rights, and democracy. Distributed via PRX, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
• The Land in Between A five-part podcast hosted by Victor Swezey examining Georgia's geopolitical situation between Russia and the EU, produced in partnership with the Fulbright Program and Soviet Past Research Laboratory.
• Bribe, Inc. An investigative documentary exposing the global corporate bribery scandal centered on Unaoil, co-produced with 1441 Productions and Stan. Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary.
• Global Reporting Program A graduate-level journalism course at UBC bringing together students from around the world to work on year-long investigations, run like a newsroom in partnership with major media organizations for professional publication experience. Has trained 230+ graduate students.
• Turning Points An eight-part docuseries on alcohol use, addiction, and healing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, produced using an empowerment journalism approach with Indigenous storytellers directing their own short documentaries. Aired in partnership with PBS NewsHour; won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• America's Medical Supply Crisis

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained 230+ graduate students in global journalism
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PBS NewsHourflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor publishing partner for documentaries and investigative series including the Turning Points docuseries on Indigenous communities. GRC produces content that airs on PBS NewsHour.
• FRONTLINEflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced America's Medical Supply Crisis documentary examining failures in medical supply chains during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Al JazeeracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistribution partner for documentaries including France's Olympic Gamble for People & Power and The Land in Between podcast series.
• CBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for wildlife rail collision investigation (Collision Course series) providing broadcast distribution through CBC News.
• NBC NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for supply chain investigations including plastics reporting, Shell plant emissions, and fishmeal industry coverage.
• Associated PressflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced America's Medical Supply Crisis documentary and Deadly Shortages series on medical supply failures.
• PRXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for State of Play podcast series, the flagship GRC investigative podcast about sports and politics.
• The TyeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Disaster Land Grabs investigation and migrant refugee coverage including Istanbul Airport captivity story.
• Toronto StarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for garment industry supply chain investigations documenting labor abuses in global clothing production.
• The Globe and MailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Growing Older series examining impacts of global aging in multiple countries.
• MongabaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for rice farmers and Mekong Delta environmental reporting, including conservation and climate impact stories.
• The WalruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for corruption series (Dirty Money) and vaccine problem feature story.
• Mother JonesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia partner for investigative reporting projects.
• The NarwhalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for wildlife train collision investigation (Collision Course) providing multimedia reporting on rail safety.
• The WorldChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for Stuck migration series and microfinance investigation distribution.
• Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRC is one of 250+ member organizations of GIJN which supports investigative journalism around the world.
• Institute for Nonprofit News (INN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRC is a member of INN which strengthens and supports 425+ independent news organizations.
• University of British ColumbiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRC is based at UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media. The university provides operational support, facilities, and academic integration.
• Hidden Costs Research NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year academic-journalism collaboration investigating social, environmental and human costs of globalized supply chains. Includes 40+ participating researchers.
• Committee to Protect JournalistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Reputational Attacks Against Journalists project surveying 645 journalists in 87 countries.
• Simon Fraser University - Disinformation ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for journalist safety and reputational attacks research.
• PEN CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for journalist safety and reputational attacks research.
• 1441 ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Bribe, Inc. documentary exposing global corporate bribery scandal involving Unaoil.
• Investigative Journalism BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for garment industry labor abuse investigations including migrant farm worker exploitation reporting.
• European Investigative Collaborations (EIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for Jersey Offshore investigation exposing money laundering through Jersey trust company.
• VII AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Strappado photo essay project by Iraqi photojournalist Ali Arkady.
• CNN FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced Unseen Enemy documentary in 2017 on pandemic preparedness, released before COVID-19.
• Pulitzer CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner developing curricular resources for America's Medical Supply Crisis documentary.
• Howard Center for Investigative JournalismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing rail safety data analysis for wildlife collision investigation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ): Global network coordinating cross-border investigative projects among member newsrooms — comparable to GRC's role as a cross-border investigative hub and EIC partnership model.
• Pulitzer Center: US-based nonprofit that funds and co-publishes international investigative journalism and builds educational curricula, comparable to GRC's academic-journalism model and co-production approach (Pulitzer Center is also an existing GRC partner).
• Type Investigations (formerly The Investigative Fund): Nonprofit investigative newsroom producing long-form reporting and cultivating reporting talent — closely mirrors GRC's investigative-only positioning and nonprofit funding structure.
• Investigative Reporting Program (UC Berkeley): University-based investigative reporting center producing documentaries and long-form reporting in partnership with major outlets, with graduate-student involvement — direct analog in academic embedding and co-publishing model.
• Howard Center for Investigative Journalism: University-embedded investigative reporting program (Arizona State/Cronkite) producing national investigative work and training students — closest structural analog to GRC's UBC-anchored model (Howard Center is also an existing GRC partner).
• Reveal (Center for Investigative Reporting): Nonprofit investigative newsroom producing long-form journalism, podcasts (via PRX), and documentaries — directly comparable in format, funding model, and audience non-dependence to GRC.
• The Marshall Project: Nonprofit newsroom producing deeply reported, award-winning journalism on a narrow topic (criminal justice) using collaborative partnerships — analogous nonprofit structure and editorial depth as GRC's investigative work.

Broad incumbents

• Mother Jones: Long-running nonprofit investigative magazine published in print and digital — broader-scale incumbent whose model combines donations, membership, and investigative reporting, and which is also a current GRC distribution partner.
• ProPublica: Large US nonprofit investigative newsroom producing award-winning journalism across formats — significantly larger scale but the same foundational model (foundation-funded, independent, impact-oriented nonprofit journalism) that GRC operates within.
• Centre for Investigative Journalism (UK): Long-established nonprofit training and supporting investigative journalists across the UK and globally — broader regional incumbent providing overlapping investigative-journalism training and convening functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GlobalRepCentre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL266-gM2Ufoiq4AkRvWeJGy5FaVqzTLMq
• Facebookfacebook.com/globalreportingcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-reporting-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalreportingcentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Reporting Centre