UBC journalism graduate Munisha Tumato is the 2008 recipient of the International Research Development Award for International Development Journalism.

She will travel to Nepal to report on social and humanitarian issues arising out of the political unrest in that country.

She graduated from the UBC School of Journalism in 2007, after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary. Currently, she is a freelance writer whose reporting, profiles, and features have appeared in such publications as Mehfil magazine, the North Shore News and The Tyee web site. She has interned at Global National TV, and has lived, studied and worked in South Korea and India.

The IDRC award, in the amount of $20,000, enables the recipient to spend four to ten months in a developing country to enhance his or her knowledge of international development and international reporting issues.  It is provided by the International Development Research Centre, based in Ottawa, to UBC Journalism students who are either enrolled in their final year or recent graduates of the program.

We congratulate Munisha on her excellent application, and the exciting months of travel to come.