Borderzine

30/06/2025

Attention US-based journalist covering the US / Mexico border: Our Source Protection Program (in partnership with Centre For Investigative Journalism (UK)) has joined forces with ACOS Alliance and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to offer TWO opportunities for intensive safety & security trainings this August for journalists covering immigration, migration, related issues or working with sources across the US border with Mexico. During an increasingly uncertain time for journalist security in the U.S., this training program is designed to strengthen the safety skills of participants and will cover digital, physical, psycho-social and legal safety.

> Please apply by July 7th (11:59 PM Mountain Time) to be considered for participation. We have two options for training dates and location: - August 15 in Albuquerque, NM (1 x full day)
> - August 18-19 in El Paso, TX (2 x full days) The training is for US-based journalists only. Places are limited and will be allocated according to need, training is free to participants and limited travel grants may be available. Early application is advised.
> Apply at:

In an increasingly uncertain time for journalists' security in the US, this safety training initiative will support local journalists and freelancers who cover migration and events on the US border with Mexico. The program is aimed at journalists based in the U.S. and ideally based in either New Mex...

29/12/2024

💙 Thank you to everyone who has supported our annual fundraiser so far! We have only a few days left to meet our Dec. 31 deadline to receive matching funds from NewsMatch to help with program costs. There’s still time to help develop future journalists. Join us and DONATE HERE: https://pickaproject.utep.edu/project/45147
In 2024 the Borderzine / UTEP MMJ program:
✅ Provided stipend support for 3 students to intern at the Dallas Morning News, KERA radio in Dallas and El Paso Inc.
✅ Gave stipends to 2 student city editors to gain leadership experience.
✅ Participated in two reporting collaboratives to help fill gaps in local community coverage. The latest, a Solutions Journalism collaboration exploring food insecurity in El Paso, is about to publish.
✅ Partnered with local and national groups on 2024 election coverage. Our Borderzine reporters interviewed El Paso voters for news spots that aired on KTEP-FM. Student journalism election coverage of the Borderland also ran on the National Community News Wire as part of the Elections & Democracy Reporting Initiative.
✅ Saw recent graduates land jobs with The Dallas Morning News, El Paso Inc., El Paso Matters, KFOX-TV, Univision, and KOKH Fox 25 Oklahoma.
✅ Launched a Drone Photography program that has trained more than 40 students so far
✅ Prepped our new multipurpose innovation studio for opening in spring 2025.

There’s still time to help develop future journalists. Join us: Donate here: https://pickaproject.utep.edu/project/45147

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26/12/2024

"With the tense political environment in the United States, educators in El Paso also report experiencing uneasiness in addressing socially tense topics in the classroom."

Forty percent of public K-12 teachers in the U.S. say debates over race and sexual orientation have a negative impact on their ability to teach and do their job, according to a 2024 study by the Pew Research Center. Only 4% said these conversations have a positive impact. With the tense political en...

20/12/2024

While you're wrapping presents, consider one more gift that will make a huge impact on the future of journalism. 📉 The industry is facing unprecedented challenges, with newsrooms shrinking and diverse voices disappearing.

Now more than ever, we need to invest developing emerging journalists from underserved communities— who bring fresh perspectives and critical stories to light.

Your support fuels scholarships, training, recruitment and opportunities for multimedia journalism students on the U.S., Mexico border.
💻 Your donation today will be matched by the national NewsMatch campaign. Give now to keep the pipeline strong: https://pickaproject.utep.edu/project/45147

17/12/2024

An El Paso food bank program that brings groceries to the doors of some of the community’s most vulnerable members faces an uncertain future because a key grant is about to expire.

An El Paso food bank program that brings groceries to the doors of some of the community's most vulnerable members faces an uncertain future because a key grant is about to expire.

15/12/2024

For many El Paso families, the tamale season is a time for gathering, where relatives and friends coming together for tamaladas—tamale-making parties. The preparation process is a tradition in itself.

Tamales are more than just holiday treats in El Paso. They’re a tasty part of the city’s cultural fabric. This year, the City of El Paso and the El Paso County Commissioners declared Oct. 31 through Feb. 2 as the "official tamale season." For many El Paso families, the tamale season is a time fo...

15/12/2024

That's a wrap on the Fall 2024 semester with the fabulous staff of Borderzine reporters. Special thanks to Veronique Masterson for serving as guest editor / mentor. This session was fast-paced with election coverage, special projects and a lot of cool enterprise story ideas.

06/11/2024

Borderziners on Election Night duty with El Paso Matters. UTEP MMJ grads Angela Saavedra and Brandy Ruiz on the audience engagement team with current student Avery Escamilla-Wendell, helping out on El Paso city races. But first, pizza!

05/11/2024

In El Paso, your age might determine not just how you vote, but what you see about the election online. That’s what a UTEP political science class discovered when students compared their social media feeds to that of their older relatives.

In El Paso, your age might determine not just how you vote, but what you see about the election online. That’s what a UTEP political science class discovered when students compared their social media feeds to that of their older relatives. To get an idea of how the El Paso social media ecosystem l...

20/10/2024

Early voting starts tomorrow. Are you ready?Have a plan, check out the voters guide

29/05/2024

What's happened at the zoo? A look at how we lost two groups of prairie dogs and what's next

The El Paso Zoo is done with prairie dogs. A colony of 12 black-tailed prairie dogs went missing almost immediately after being introduced to their specially designed El Paso Zoo habitat in August. A previous group of 14 prairie dogs mysteriously disappeared after being introduced in Sept. 2021. Acc...

21/04/2024

From elegant homes to thriving businesses, the Montana Avenue District in El Paso has seen it all! 🏠💼 Learn about the fascinating journey of this historic area.

When Elizabeth Pimentel was growing up on Montana Avenue in the late 1960’s, the street was filled with family homes and neighbors knew each other. “I remember taking care of the elderly people’s dog across the street,” Pimentel said. That house is now an acupuncture studio. The stately home...