Glimpse - Your Stories from Abroad

Eligibility FAQs

I'm not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply?

Yes! We have expanded the program to include both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. We simply require that you be living or studying outside of your home country.

Glimpse Correspondents are independent contractors, and it is up to you to determine whether your visa allows for part-time employment. International students who are studying at a U.S. institution on an F1 visa must be concentrating in a field related to journalism, writing, or photography and be prepared to apply for pre-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if selected. Please contact your International Student Office for details. Glimpse is willing to be flexible on the dates of your Correspondent term to accommodate the OPT application process.

I’m not between the ages of 18 and 34. Can I still apply?

Unfortunately, the Correspondents Program is limited to people within this age range. We want these featured contributors to represent our primary readers.

I will be abroad for 10 weeks, but not within the timeframe you have outlined. Can I still apply?

We are happy to make exceptions in some instances. If your dates fall very close to the timeframes we have outlined, please email us at correspondents@glimpse.org.

I will be abroad for 10 weeks, but will be traveling from country to country. Can I still apply?

Yes, but we generally favor people who will be spending the majority of their time in a single location.

How do you make your selections?

Applications are reviewed by Glimpse staff members whose areas of expertise match your area of specialization. Above all, we are looking for talented writers and photographers with a passion for storytelling and a knack for finding truly unique stories. These factors drive our final decision. The judging consists of two rounds of evaluation: The top candidates in Round One will proceed to Round Two.

If selected, do I retain the rights to the work I produce as a Glimpse Correspondent?

Glimpse will acquire copyright to the feature story (photo or written), assignment, and slideshow. Any additional work submitted by Correspondents is subject to our general Terms of Service.
 

Application FAQs

Why do you charge a processing fee?

We receive hundreds of applications, and the fee enables us to allocate the time and resources necessary to give each application the attention it deserves.

What if I can’t afford the fee?

Glimpse will consider granting a waiver to applicants with special financial circumstances. To request a waiver, you will be asked to explain the financial factors that prevent you from being able to pay the fee.

What should I address in my statement of interest?

We want to know why you are interested in being a Glimpse Correspondent. We also want to know what issues you hope to explore and/or what kinds of cultural adventures you hope to embark on.

What type of writing sample should I submit?

Your writing sample should be a fiction or creative nonfiction story (between 5,600 and 8,400 characters—roughly 1,200-1,500 words). We are less interested in academic essays or news articles. The purpose of the sample is to assess both your writing and storytelling abilities.

Can I excerpt my sample from a longer piece?

Yes, but please indicate that the sample is an excerpt. Also include any background information that might be needed to orient us.

Can I submit several short writing samples instead of one longer one?

While we prefer that your writing sample be one piece, we are willing to accept several shorter writing samples.

Is it OK if my writing sample has been previously published?

Yes. We are happy to accept whatever writing sample best displays your writing abilities, whether it has been previously published or not.

Do I need to have my references send in letters of recommendation?

No. We simply ask for contact information for two people who can testify on your behalf. Please notify them that they might hear from us within four weeks of the application deadline.

My area of specialization is photography. Do I still need to submit a writing sample?

In compiling photo stories, Photo Correspondents are expected to write carefully crafted captions that complement the photos to tell a compelling narrative. We judge your application first on photographic skill and second on writing ability.

My area of specialization is writing. Do you still need to submit a link to an online photo album?

Writing Correspondents are expected to take photos to accompany their written stories. We don’t require that you have formal training in photography—we judge photo albums based on your potential to learn key basic skills. Putting care and thought into your album will increase your chances of being selected.

What are you looking for in a photo album?

The photo album should consist of 20 to 25 of your best photos. The photos do not need to be taken abroad, and do not need to correlate with your writing sample. As most of our stories are about people, we do prefer to see at least a few photos of people in your portfolio.

What photo-sharing site should I use for my photo album?

Any photo-sharing site is acceptable, though we recommend Flickr or Picasa. Password-protected sites like Facebook are acceptable ONLY if there is a way to make a specific album public. When submitting your link, try it on another computer to make sure the album is accessible without a username and password. If an album is password-protected and we are unable to view it, you will be automatically disqualified.

What if my photo-sharing site doesn’t enable me to link directly to an album?

If possible, please create an album named “Glimpse” so that we know which photos you would like us to view.