Carolina del Norte

School launches yearlong documentary project covering the growing Latino population in North Carolina

The Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill launched a large-scale media project June 4 that focuses on the implications of a growing Latino population in North Carolina.

"Carolina del Norte" is a yearlong initiative that involves students, faculty and staff from all programs within the journalism school. The centerpiece of the project is a Web site where student-produced content is freely available to N.C. media outlets for republication.

Changing demographics is a topic of much discussion in the state and the nation. The issues are complex, and many newspapers struggle to find the resources to cover them adequately.

"We are well positioned with resources and expertise at the school, and we hope this will be a valuable public service to the state's journalists and the communities they serve," said Jean Folkerts, dean of the journalism school. "We are creating robust, innovative coverage of this broad topic and demonstrating how an integrated approach to media and communications can operate."

Student work — including feature stories, photography and multimedia documentaries — will be added to the Web site on an ongoing basis through spring 2009. The stories available at launch include features about farming, Union organizing, healthcare and the practice of immigrants sending money home. One multimedia piece covers the cultural tradition known as "Quince Años," which is a celebration for Latinas turning 15 years old. Another multimedia production tells the story of Jorge Martinez who separates from his family in Mexico to work in North Carolina.

Web site: cdn.jomc.unc.edu