UNL depth-reporting students studying in Bolivia

Released on 06/17/2010, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Neb., June 17th, 2010 —
Front row (left-to-right): Caroline Brauer, Stephani Ruiz, Andrea Vasquez and Mekita Rivas. Back Row: Casey Mills, Katherine Veik, Justin Swanson, Brady Jones, Marcus Scheer, Ellen Hirst and Liz Gamez. Image in laptop: Rachel Albin.
Front row (left-to-right): Caroline Brauer, Stephani Ruiz, Andrea Vasquez and Mekita Rivas. Back Row: Casey Mills, Katherine Veik, Justin Swanson, Brady Jones, Marcus Scheer, Ellen Hirst and Liz Gamez. Image in laptop: Rachel Albin.

With the goal of training a new generation of journalists capable of reshaping the news industry, 10 students and two faculty members from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications head to Bolivia on a 10-day depth-reporting mission this month.

Funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corp. of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and team-taught by Carla Kimbrough and Luis Peon-Casanova, the trip is part of a series of interdisciplinary courses that focuses on issues relating to indigenous people. Bolivia is the only nation in South America whose government is led by an indigenous president.

Kimbrough, an associate professor of journalism, said, "Being able to tell the stories of other people accurately is both a privilege and responsibility. Our students have an awesome opportunity to tell a variety of stories of Bolivia's original people, their words, and their perspectives. Bolivia is a fascinating place, where indigenous people -- who make up nearly two-thirds of the citizens -- are transforming the nation at every level."

Peon-Casanova, professor of visual literacy, said one primary focus of the class is to help students learn to approach journalism as "an integrated subject where you have to be able to interview, take your own pictures, broadcast and market your stories. Even if a student is primarily a writer, he or she is going to have to be versatile in different mediums in order to be successful."

Students began preparing for the year-long course during the spring to develop potential sources. Students will use the time in Bolivia conducting interviews and they'll spend the fall semester writing stories about what they found and creating a magazine and website.

Following is an alphabetical list by hometown of student depth reporters with their hometown, academic sequence and topic assignments.

NEBRASKA

Cook: Marcus Scheer, senior, news-editorial/political science, regional relationships.

Harrisburg: Brady Jones, senior, news-editorial, sports.

Lincoln: Rachel Albin, junior, news-editorial, the tradition of coca and its current uses; Justin Swanson, graduate student, Bolivia's new constitution.

Omaha: Katherine Veik, senior, news-editorial/art, key natural resources.

Utica: Caroline Brauer, senior, agricultural journalism, agricultural methods.

ELSEWHERE

Burns, Wyo.: Casey Mills, graduate student, international relations.

Elgin, Ill.: Ellen Hirst, junior, news-editorial/Spanish/psychology, women and children.

El Paso, Texas: Liz Gamez, junior, news-editorial, entrepreneurship.

Walnut Creek, Calif.: Andrea Vasquez, senior, news-editorial/Spanish/political science, private and public education.

UNL was invited in 2007 to join the Carnegie-Knight Initiative for the Future of Journalism Education, a consortium of the country's top journalism schools formed to help redefine journalism education. This is the second year students are participating in the program; during the first year, students studied Native American women.

The College of Journalism and Mass Communications, a college committed to preparing the next generation of media professionals, has a long history of documentaries and depth reports that have garnered awards, including the 2009 Society of Environmental Journalism's Award for Reporting on the Environment for "Ethanol: Salvation or Damnation"; the 2007 Renewable Natural Resources Foundation Excellence in Journalism Award to "Platte River Odyssey"; the Student Academy Award winning documentary "Cuba: Illogical Temple"; and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated magazine "Cuba: An Elusive Truth."

WRITER: Marilyn Hahn