An ambitious, global multimedia project produced by the Knight Center for International Media has won a 2011 “Best of the Web” award for The University of Miami School of Communication from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in the category of Team Journalism.

“My Story, My Goal” teamed 14 U.M. multimedia students with students from seven Knight Center for International Media partner schools in Africa and Asia to tell stories that personalize the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The students’ work includes issues about poverty, maternal health, environmental sustainability, universal education, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, and children’s health. The web site (http://mdg.glocalstories.org/) features seven short videos and a compilation documentary.

The project was co-produced by Prof. Rich Beckman, the School’s Knight Chair in Visual Journalism and Tom Kennedy, a former Knight Center Professional-in-Residence and produced by UM graduate Ami Vitale.

“Historically, students have led some of the world’s great revolutions,” said Beckman. “By empowering students to produce local stories that have global impact, we are helping to start a communication revolution. Compelling stories shared through social and online media outlets can motivate change, and we can make a difference in the world one story at a time.” This summer students are in Africa, continuing the “My Story, My Goal” project.

The “My Story, My Goal” project was also honored by the Online News Association in 2010.