University of Miami Knight Center Millennium Development Goals Project Wins ONA Student Video Award

October 31, 2010 - Coral Gables, FL - The Knight Center for International Media at the University of Miami School of Communication received the prestigious top prize in the Online Video Journalism, Student category for “My Story, My Goal.”

“This recognition will serve to inspire our young professionals to continue to tell stories that others ignore about fellow citizens of our world who deserve our attention and respect,” said Sam L Grogg, dean of the School.

The Online Journalism Awards, launched in May 2000 to honor excellence in digital journalism around the world, are administered by the Online News Association (ONA). Over the past decade, the OJAs have recognized major media, international and independent sites and individuals producing innovative work in multimedia storytelling. The Awards Committee and judges place special emphasis on entries that are original to the Web or demonstrate mastery of the special characteristics of digital journalism. Winners were announced October 30, 2010 during a banquet at ONA’s annual convention in Washington, D.C.

For the “My Story, My Goal” project, 14 multimedia students from the School teamed with students from seven Knight Center for International Media partner schools in Africa and Asia to tell stories that personalize the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The students created http://mdg.glocalstories.org/ to shed light and insight on these critical global issues, including poverty, maternal health, environmental sustainability, universal education, gender equality, HIV AIDS, and children's health. The project was co-produced by Prof. Rich Beckman, the School’s Knight Chair in Visual Journalism and Tom Kennedy, a Knight Center Professional-in-Residence during the Spring 2010 semester.

Sanjeev Chatterjee, Executive Director of the Center said, "This award goes a long way to validate our conviction at the Knight Center for International Media that collaborative visual storytelling allows us to better understand the diverse world we live in. I am thankful to Prof. Rich Beckman, Tom Kennedy and of course a dedicated group of students and teachers in Miami and the seven cities across the world who made it happen."

In the seven years that student categories have been judged in the competition, nine projects produced by Professor Beckman have been named finalists and this is the fourth to win one of the top prizes.

The site includes the seven short videos and a compilation documentary. The following students worked on the project:

Ajelogo: After the Bulldozers Sanni Abodun, Lagos State Polytechnic, Nigeria Charles "Stretch" Ledford, University of Miami Jesse Swanson, University of Miami Peter Ogusu, Lagos State Polytechnic, Nigeria

Primary Education: Investing in the Future Danny Bull, University of Miami Mukulika Dattagupta, Jadavpur University, India Abhisikta Dasgupta, Jadavpur University, India Lauren Santa Cruz, University of Miami Shankhamala Ray, Jadavpur University, India

Empowered in Hong Kong Deborah Acosta, University of Miami Olivia Chang, Hong Kong Baptist University Lauren Whiddon, University of Miami

Beyond the Value of Nutrition Paula Echevarria, University of Miami Guantai Benson, Daystar University, Kenya Nick Maslow, University of Miami Julius Waweru, Daystar University, Kenya

Where Every Pregnancy is a Gamble Lauren Malkani, University of Miami Ami Vitale, University of Miami Kumba Gborie, University of Sierra Leone Aziz Sesay, University of Sierra Leone

To Live a Regular Life Nick Harbaugh, University of Miami SuPamon Ingkhapradit, Thammasat University, Thailand Jatechan Kirdsuk, Thammasat University, Thailand Chi Yang, University of Miami

Pollution is Political Paul Franz, University of Miami Oliver Meth, Durban University of Technology, South Africa Stephanie Wehrung, University of Miami

This Is My Goal (Documentary Compilation) Nick Maslow, Producer, Director and Narrator Danny Bull, Associate Producer Charles “Stretch” Ledford Lauren Santa Cruz, Associate Producer Jesse Swanson, Associate Producer

UM students enrolled in the School of Communication’s masters program in multimedia journalism participate in challenging storytelling across the globe. Recently students concluded a series of multi-platform stories about the social integration of Roma people in five European countries: “Colorful but Colorblind: Roma Beyond Stereotypes.”