montanajournalism Events, Feature, J-School, Student

MTJA Kicks Off New Trip With A Look Inside Fukushima

Logo for UM to Fukushima
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In May 2017, a group of Montana Journalism Abroad (MTJA) students will travel to Japan and report on the issues that continue to affect people displaced by a trio of disasters that struck the northeast part of the country in 2011. On March 11 of that year, a severe earthquake triggered a tsunami that decimated coastal towns, and damage from the wave led to the meltdown of nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The nuclear fallout forced citizens to drop everything and leave their homes behind. After five years of clean-up efforts, the government has started to encourage people to return to their homes, but many people remain fearful of lingering radiation.

During their trip, the students will tour the affected areas, interview citizens and government officials, and then produce a multimedia package that tells the stories of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. These stories of displacement will resonate with Montanans who are no stranger to natural and industrial disasters, such as wildfires and leaking mine waste. As the group prepares for the trip, they are raising public awareness of the ongoing challenges of Fukushima residents.

With the screening of the documentary “Alone in Fukushima,” students invite the Missoula community to take a closer look at life inside the red zone. Just seven miles away from the nuclear power plant, Naoto Matsumura is the only person left in town. He risks the radiation to look after the domesticated animals that families left behind. Japanese filmmaker Mayu Nakamura follows Matsumura on his quest to care for the creatures and save them from starvation. poster for Alone in Fukushima film. The film will be shown Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Payne Native American Center, room 11.

This Thursday, November 17, join the students of MTJA as they screen “Alone in Fukushima” at 6:30 p.m. in room 210 of the J-School. After the film, the director will skype in from Japan for a Q&A session. Admittance is free, but any donations are welcome and will help reduce travel costs.
Check out the trailer for Mayu Nakamura’s documentary “Alone in Fukushima” on YouTube. 

By Jana Wiegand
montanajournalism Feature, J-School, Student

J-School part of NSF grant to study food, energy, water

UM Bridge text logoFaculty and graduate students at the School of Journalism are part of a new $3 million science grant focused on innovative approaches to studying the intersection of water, energy and food.

Nadia White, an associate professor of journalism, is part of an interdisciplinary program called “UM BRIDGES: Bridging Divides across the Food, Energy and Water Nexus.” The program will bring 30 new PhD and Master’s students to UM under the 5-year National Science Foundation research training grant.

“This grant challenges scientists to work together to better understand major areas of concern in a future affected by climate change and other dynamic modern forces,” White said. “One of our goals at the J School is to train journalists to understand the nuances and implications of cutting-edge scientific research. This grant helps create access to that inquiry.”

White teaches Story Lab, a science journalism class that pairs students pursing a Master’s degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism with research labs at the University of Montana.

Journalism faculty will teach communication strategies and journalism skills to Ph.D. and Masters degree students in a series of workshops.

Andrew Wilcox, an associate professor in Geosciences, and Laurie Yung, an associate professor in the College of Forestry lead UM BRIDGES.

The program, Yung said, is part of a new way of thinking about graduate education.

“This new approach seeks to train students to connect science and practice, to communicate with a range of audiences, and to move more seamlessly across traditional disciplinary boundaries,” Yung said.

The award puts the University of Montana at the forefront of a broader national initiative to build more sustainable and secure food, energy, and water systems and to develop innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to graduate education.

montanajournalism J-School

Welcoming Our New Director of Development

♦ From Cindy Williams, Vice President of Development

at the University of Montana Foundation ♦

head shot of Gita Saedi Kiely
Gita Saedi Kiely is a longtime friend and supporter of the J School, in addition to being a formidable filmmaker in her own right.

I’m pleased to announce that Gita Saedi Kiely has accepted the position of Director of Development assigned to work with the School of Journalism. In that role, Gita will collaborate with Dean Larry Abramson to grow private support of the School of Journalism through annual, major and principal gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. Gita will begin work at the Foundation on Monday, December 5.

Gita has served as the Executive Director of the Big Sky Film Institute & Big Sky Documentary Film Festival since June 2014.  In that role she has directed all aspects of the 10-day film festival which draws an audience of 20,000 to Missoula. In addition, she worked with the Film Festival from 2012-2014 as Festival Director and later as DocShop Director. Gita served as an adjunct lecturer for the School of Journalism from 2007-2012. She is also a noted film producer. Among the critically acclaimed projects she produced is the series The New Americans, an award-winning multi-part series for public television which initially broadcast in Spring 2004. 

Many thanks to Jerelyn and Stacy, as well as the Development, Prospect Research, MarCom and Gift & Fund Administration teams who helped interview and evaluate candidates for this position. Please join me in welcoming Gita to the Foundation team.