In Their Own Words: Students discuss their reporting with WKNO news director Christopher Blank

A team of 12 Ithaca College students traveled to Memphis March 31-April 4 to report on events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

The students produced radio reports that aired on WKNO-FM, Memphis’s NPR member station, and multimedia articles that were published on its website.

Along with my colleagues James Rada, Chrissy Guest and Rhonda Vanover, I accompanied the students and coordinated coverage with WKNO.

This was a rare moment for journalism students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice. Among those they interviewed were Dr. King’s children and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The stories of those everyday people who fought during the height of the Civil Rights movement were at the heart of the reporting.

This is the fifth time in recent years that our journalism department has teamed up with news outlets to cover stories of international significance. Other reporting collaborations included the inauguration of Donald Trump for PBS NewsHour and the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary for NBC News.

View Their Stories

MLK50: A Week of Commemoration Begins

At 6:01, The Bells Toll for a King

A New History for an Old Confederate

MLK50: A Multi-Generational Movement

A Rally of Remembrance

Mason Temple Invites Unions to Amplify King’s Message

NAACP Explores Future of Dr. King’s Dream

In Art and Song, A Legacy Remembered

MLK Recap: A Platform for Activism

More About Their Reporting

MLK50 Draws Activists, Organizers, and Future of American Media

Students cover MLK assassination anniversary in Memphis

Past Deadline Podcast: Student journalists travel to cover anniversary of King’s assassination 

Covering the 50th Anniversary of MLK’s Assassination
Tagged on:                     

Leave a Reply