Student-produced series on N.C. state parks airs on UNC-TV

A two-part series about environmental issues affecting North Carolina state parks and recreation areas – produced by UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media students – aired Dec. 1 and 2 on UNC-TV's "North Carolina Now."

The two stories are the seventh and eighth installments of a UNC-TV series about state parks that began in 2012. The series is produced by students in the school’s Science and Medical Journalism Program.

The first piece examines efforts to reduce pollution in Jordan Lake through installation of 36 solar-powered devices that churn stagnant water in the lake. Scientists say stagnant water can promote growth of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins threatening water quality. Jordan Lake supplies drinking water to thousands of Triangle residents.

The second piece chronicles the discovery of 30 sunken Native-American canoes found in Lake Phelps in Pettigrew State Park in eastern North Carolina. Scientists have determined through carbon dating that the canoes range in age from 500 to 4,400 years old. State archeologists are trying to preserve four of the canoes excavated from the lake bottom.

Student producers for the pieces are UNC undergraduates Joseph Townsend and Andrea Gonzalez. Associate producers are Scott Sessoms and Lucy Thomas. Scriptwriters are Kate Grise and Jeffrey Popkin. UNC-TV’s Mike O’Connell is the videographer and video editor, and Heather Dollar is the graphic artist. Professor Tom Linden is the narrator and executive producer. Linden and Jonathan Howes, former Secretary of the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and professor emeritus at UNC, co-taught the course that produced the reports.