UNL student depth reporting team developing documentary and news magazine on German-American relations

Since their return from Berlin in January, the international student depth reporting team from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications has been hard at work.

As part of the vision to position the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications as a collegiate leader in international depth reporting, 13 news-editorial, broadcasting and advertising students and four faculty members from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications traveled to Germany in January to develop their hands-on investigation of German-American relations.

After returning home, news-editorial students began developing three stories each for a news magazine that examines contemporary issues in Germany such as immigration, education, culture and religion, changes in the military, health care, the environment, and the role of Germany in the European Union.

News-editorial lecturer Tim Anderson is pleased with the progress his students have made this semester. "We spent a great deal of time this semester talking about story and its importance in developing pieces that will connect to our audiences," he said. "When writing such lengthy stories, the 'so-what?' becomes crucial."

Broadcasting students have spent the semester creating an hour-long documentary that specifically examines issues of immigration in Germany and in the United States.

Barney McCoy, broadcasting faculty member, said he is proud of the students for taking initiative to explore issues of diversity both at home and abroad. "They have connected issues of immigration in Germany and the United States and have worked so hard all semester."

Advertising students have been working to promote the release of the documentary and news magazine. "It's been exciting to see students from all three sequences working together so closely on the depth reporting project. This is what media convergence is all about," said Frauke Hachtmann, assistant professor of advertising.

The combined international depth reporting class gave students access to representatives from Germany's federal ministries and centers including the Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry for Economy and Technology, Center for Transformation of the Bundeswehr, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Federal Ministry of the Environment, Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Health.

While in Berlin, students also met with officials from the U.S. Embassy, the Goethe Institut, local public schools and universities, the John F. Kennedy Academy and the American Academy. Broadcasting students specifically visited with representatives from the Turkish Union and interviewed the Turkish Consul General in Berlin.

The process of the combined depth reporting class has been exciting for news-editorial professor Charlyne Berens. "I think all the students have learned a great deal not only about their own topic areas but also the broader context of German-American issues," she said. "It's really neat to see everything coming together."

This fall, the documentary will premiere in Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island, while local bookstores in Lincoln, Hastings and Omaha will host salon readings from the news magazine. If you would like more information on the College of Journalism and Mass Communications Germany depth report, visit www.unl.edu/journalism.

The Germany depth report supports the vision of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications as a leader in international depth reporting. Past international depth reports have included the Student Academy Award winning documentary "Cuba: Illogical Temple;" Pulitzer Prize nominated "Cuba: An Elusive Truth," "U.S.A. and France: I Love You - Neither Do I," and Sri Lanka - "In the Wake of Catastrophe." If you would like to order any of these depth reports, please email cojmc@unlnotes.unl.edu or call (402) 472-3041.

Students participating in the Germany depth report are listed in alphabetical order by last name with their hometown and major:

Rachel Anderson, Grand Forks, N.D., broadcasting
Katie Backman, Omaha, news-editorial
Megan Carrick, Franklin, Tenn., broadcasting
Joel Gehringer, Omaha, news-editorial
Kyle Harpster, Ewing, news-editorial
Katelyn Kerkhove, Omaha, news-editorial
Tiffany Lee, Lincoln, news-editorial
Justin Peterson, Omaha, broadcasting
Teresa Prince, Omaha, news-editorial
Nels Sorensen, Jr., Fairbury, advertising
Stephanie Sparks, Lincoln, graduate student
Hilary Stohs-Krause, Wauwatosa, Wis., news-editorial
Chris Welch, Dakota Dunes, S.D., broadcasting