The all-star capabilities of student journalists: a showcase
As journalism professors prepare for a fall term, this collection of links of student work from the past academic year can be analyzed, critiqued and perhaps even shared to inspire new reporting, investigations, packaging and more among aspiring journalists at schools of all sizes. The stories and packages below show the range of skills and storytelling tools that must be explored by the next generation of journalists.
This collection (presented in no particular order) starts with finalists for two Online Journalism Awards, including those in the pro-am division, followed by submissions shared by educators around the world.
Hei6man Evolution: The Heisman Trophy has transformed from a humble individual honor to the most-prestigious and most-discussed award in college football. It has solidified gridiron legends — six of whom show Oklahoma’s gradual ascension into college football royalty. By Joe Buettner, et. al, University of Oklahoma. See ONA submission.
More than a Mascot: While the debate over changing the name of the Washington Redskins has subsided, high schools across the country have continued to drop the controversial mascot, Capital News Service found. By several University of Maryland students. ONA submission.
Troubled Water: News21 investigated drinking water in America. 29 students from 18 universities. See ONA submission and News21 About page.
Aftermath: Puerto Ricans rebuild after Maria. By 25 University of North Carolina students. ONA submission and About page.
The Deported: Life Beyond the Border. By 12 USC Annenberg students. ONA submission.
The Perfect Storm: On May 1, 2017, someone scribbled racist slurs on bananas and strung them from nooses on American University’s campus. One year later, the school is grappling with a damaged reputation and fractured black community. By Courtney Rosen, et. al, American University. ONA submission.
Alone: Unaccompanied migrant children living in Fresno face more challenges than their coastal counterparts as they fight to remain in the country. By Misyrlena Egkofopoulou, et. al, California-Berkeley.
Just for Who? On its streets — in traffic stops, searches and arrests. In its schools — in suspensions and expulsions. And in its jails — in who’s locked up and for how long. Unequal treatment is the norm in Fresno. By Reis Thebault and Alexandria Fuller, California-Berkeley. ONA submission.
Leaving Tracks: The Capture of Wolf №1553. By Jenna Miller and Adriana De Alba, Arizona State. ONA submission.
Martha’s Alterations: A Soundslide presentation shared by Jake Batsell, Southern Methodist (and a 2017 Disruptive Journalism Fellow): “I love how this student’s story establishes the narrator and then builds up to the satisfying “reveal” with fly-on-the-wall dialogue and photos near the end of the piece.”
Coffee Science: The scene in Melbourne by Jenina Ibañez and Biohacking: Smart drugs, saunas and supplements by Steph Doole. Both are part of All the Best Radio shared by Louisa Lim, University of Melbourne: “Here’s an episode of All the Best (an Australian youth This American Life) completely made up of work from my audio journalism students, after 12 weeks of audio journalism. We did a partnership, where ATB mentors came into class and worked with small groups to develop stories.”
Blakely: Exploring a Puget Sound island field station. Submitted by Peg Achterman, a project of her convergence course at Seattle Pacific University. About the project.
Generation Change: #msuGunViolenceReport. Submitted by Tom Franklin: “Students in my Multimedia Storytelling course at Montclair State produced this project in the wake of the Parkland shooting and the uprising led by students this past Spring semester. This 6-week project — including website, interactive maps, graphics, photos, and video packages — was produced entirely by undergrads.”
City of Deportees: Submitted by Tom Nelson, Loyola Marymount. “Lacking in the presentation aspects, but the three-part short-form documentaries involved sending students to the Tijuana border to cover immigration, which, as the students say in the piece, is the story of our time.”
From a Drop of Hate to a Ripple of Healing. A senior project by Drake students, submitted by Jill Van Wyke.
Disability is a Strength: Stories of disabled parents and their families. A project by three Boston University students, submitted by Michelle Johnson.
Portage County Sheriff’s Office helps ICE deport unauthorized immigrants. By Ben Orner, submitted by Susan Kirkman Zake of Kent State. (“There are several nice charts in Tableau he created using data from Syracuse’s TRAC site.)
Nahant: A small New England town reckons with climate change. By Daniel Klein, Vincent Gabrielle and Meredith Rumore, Boston University.
Explore the Data: The Temple News tracks shootings in North Philadelphia. By Julie Christie. Temple University.
Carolina Connection — April 8, 2017: North Carolina student-run radio newscast.
Bob Hurley’s Biggest Game. By James Corrigan, WFUV Public Radio at Fordham University,
Annenberg TV News — October 2, 2017. USC Annenberg Media. “In the wake of a mass shooting in Las Vegas, an active shooter scare rattles students on USC’s campus, and we talk to a spiritual leader about how to deal with chaos on campus and beyond. This newscast explained the backstory of a breaking news event, delivered informative eyewitness reaction and provided actionable information for the student audience.”
In My Backyard. What does it take for a neighborhood to invite 14 homeless women to move in? Two short documentary videos anchor this multimedia feature about the creation of a village of tiny houses for homeless women in a residential neighborhood in Portland. By Zach Putnam, University of Oregon.
Dímelo: A USC Annenberg project shared by Amara Aguilar.
This links were solicited on two Facebook groups: the Disruptive Journalism Educators Network and Online News Association Educators, both communities committed to journalistic excellence.
