By Hannah Stewart (Comm鈥�19)
With microphones and recorders at the ready, three CMCI journalism students gained new insights into the practice of journalism鈥攁nd the real-world impacts of climate change鈥攄uring this year鈥檚 National Public Radio Next Generation Radio Project.
Kiara Demare, William Oster and Colette Czarnecki (MJour鈥�22) were selected as three of five participants in Colorado. In five days, the students pitched, reported and produced a multimedia news package about climate change alongside Colorado Public Radio journalists. Then听they were able to see, and hear, their work reach Coloradans statewide.
鈥淲e had to send in a pitch of who we鈥檇 interview, what our story would be about and why we鈥檙e bringing a different perspective,鈥� explained Demare, a junior journalism major. 鈥淚 think this is a fantastic opportunity.鈥�
Next Generation Radio Project, established in 2000, is a journalism training and mentorship program offered by NPR stations around the country. It aims to give competitively selected participants the opportunity to learn how to report and produce non-narrated audio pieces and multimedia stories with the help of professional journalists. The free program is open to students, recent graduates, non-students and audio enthusiasts.听
This year, the participants鈥� reporting challenge came with a twist. Instead of relying on commonly quoted experts, like politicians, scientists and activists, they had to find and reach out to people impacted by climate change. They also had to practice a non-narrative reporting style, in which the reporter relies on field recordings and interviews, without narration, to tell the story.听
While this might be intimidating to some, Demare, Czarnecki and Oster felt prepared.
鈥淚 think that CMCI and their curriculum allow students the opportunity to find their path, find their passion,鈥� said Oster, a senior in the journalism department. 鈥淎nd they have such a great set of instructors that want to help you find what works best for you.鈥�
During the training 鈥渟print,鈥� participants worked with public radio journalists to produce an audio news story and accompanying web article, all while gathering photos and video to augment their reporting. Throughout the week, the students were in and out of the CPR offices, using their equipment both in the studio and the field.听
Wheat farmer Andre Houssney explains the impacts of higher temperatures on his business to journalism graduate Colette Czarnecki on his 葫芦娃视频 farm in August. Photo by Jenny Brundin, CPR
William Oster, managing editor of the CU Independent, experiments with radio equipment while participating in Next Generation Radio. Photo by Paolo Zialcita, CPR
One of 葫芦娃视频 County鈥檚 largest landscaping companies is Panorama Coordinated Services, which Kiara Demare visited while working with CPR journalists. Photo by Kiara Demare
Journalism student William Oster received hands-on support from CPR journalists throughout the Next Generation Radio program in August. Photo by Paolo Zialcita, CPR
CMCI senior William Oster interviews Todd Olander on his corn and barley farm in Loveland for the Next Generation Radio program in August. Photo by Paolo Zialcita, CPR
A CPR journalist helps CMCI student William Oster with photo composition while interviewing Todd Olander in his distillery in August. Photo by Paolo Zialcita, CPR
Demare focused her project on a , in response to changing temperatures, changed everything from employee schedules to the species of plants he uses in landscaping.听
Czarnecki interviewed local a story about the impacts of rising temperatures on his crops and livelihood. With the increased heat, his land has dried. A lot of the wheat he tried to plant didn鈥檛 grow, and what little did, the quality wasn鈥檛 worth harvesting, Czarnecki reported.
鈥淲e sat down next to a tree, and he told us a story,鈥� Czarnecki said. 鈥淗e supplies Moxie [Bakery] with winter wheat that he grows. Last year, he made the decision not to grow any.鈥�
Oster visited with a in Loveland who is preparing for an insufficient water supply in the future by changing his land management practices. His focus is on regenerative agriculture, which helps to restore soil health and increase its water holding capacity.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 enriching with audio, you have your source right there,鈥� Oster said. 鈥淵ou have people telling their own stories. . . . I thought that was a really powerful way to talk about [climate change].鈥�