Student-produced series on N.C. state parks airs on UNC-TV
A three-part series on North Carolina state parks, produced by UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media students, was broadcast in December 2012 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Now.” The series will re-air Feb. 4-6 at 7:30 p.m.
To see the video reports, click on the links below:
- Gorges State Park in the mountains of Transylvania County,
- Eno River State Park in Orange and Durham Counties, and
- Fort Macon State Park on Bogue Banks near Morehead City.
The series was written and produced by students in the school’s Science and Medical Journalism Program as part of professor Tom Linden's “Science Documentary Television” course.
“This series focuses on three of our state’s natural and historical treasures,” said Linden, who narrated the reports and served as executive producer. UNC-TV videographers Mike Oniffrey and Pete Bell shot the series, along with additional videography supplied by the students and Patrick McMillan, a Clemson University biology professor.
Jonathan Howes, former secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and former chair of the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority, assisted the class with the project. Lewis Ledford, director of N.C. State Parks and Recreation, provided additional support.
The first part of the series examines how a temperate rain forest in Gorges State Park supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the eastern United States. Patrick Mustain, a master's student in the Science and Medical Journalism Program, produced the piece with help from Dane Emmerling, a master's student in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Jeanne-Marie DeStefano, a master's student in the journalism school, wrote the script and shot additional video, along with Mustain.
The second report tells the story of an exotic plant from Asia that threatens to upset the natural ecosystem in the Eno River. Justin Ridge, a doctoral student in marine sciences, produced the piece. Jesse Abdenour, a doctoral student in the journalism school, wrote the script and shot additional video, along with Ridge.
The final report traces the long battle to save Fort Macon from the ocean's relentless onslaught. UNC environmental sciences student Ethan Miller produced the piece with help from geology student Siobhan Kenney. Senior journalism student Joseph Chapman wrote the script and shot additional video.
For more information, contact Linden at (919) 962-4078 or [email protected].
Pictured: (Left to right) Journalism professor Tom Linden with students Ethan Miller, Joseph Chapman, Siobhan Kenney and UNC-TV’s Mike Oniffrey. (Photo by Jonathan Howes)