By BAILEY BURROWS
Columbine. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Even without context, these names are widely known and understood throughout the country. School shootings have been going on for decades — causing shock and fear for millions. As the 20th anniversary of the Columbine shooting approaches in April, Rocky Mountain PBS has decided to create a documentary on various perspectives of citizens across the country and the viewpoints on violence in schools.
To gather a multitude of perspectives, Rocky Mountain PBS has contacted schools throughout the state to help in collecting material, including Colorado College. Laura Frank, the vice president of journalism at RMPBS, has been in close contact with the journalism class at Colorado College and is very enthusiastic about the opportunities that this documentary can unfold.
“I think a lot has changed and we just don’t know because we feel like ‘Oh, 20 years ago there was this horrible thing, and just recently there were several horrible things.’ And so, nothing must have changed,” Frank said. “But actually, quite a lot has changed. I think helping people to understand that — that it isn’t overwhelming, that there are things that can help save lives, is important to let people know.”
The project is focusing mainly on engaged journalism — a style of journalism that incorporates citizens’ opinions and ideas directly into the work. Students will use writing, filming, and editing skills from class to create interviews and other footage for RMPBS to use in the documentary. Although the class is only on its second week, many are grateful for the opportunity to learn and work with RMPBS.
“Learning about engaged journalism has given me hope for how the media and everyday citizens can work together towards a brighter future,” Isabella McShea ’20 said.
Frank also agrees about the importance of engaged journalism, “I think almost all journalism should be engaged because it’s for the public — that’s how democracy works. We’ve not always had that opportunity — but we have tools now, we have the ability — there’s no reason not to engage,” Frank said. “And I’ve just seen so much positive things come out of engaged journalism. A thousand minds are much smarter than one, so why not tap that.”
A thousand minds are exactly what RMPBS is looking for, as is the journalism class here at CC. They plan on working with all aspects of the local community to gain perspective through surveys, artwork submissions, and casually engaging with individuals walking down the street. They’re also looking for anyone with a story — whether that be about a school shooting, gun violence, or simply a perspective they wish to share on the subject.
Frank hopes that combining all these points of view will set them apart from other media sources. “Probably everyone and their brother, media-wise, is going to be doing a 20th anniversary of Columbine report. We don’t want to do what everybody else is doing; there’s no point in just repeating that,” said Frank. “I don’t think there’s much point in commemorating an anniversary. We really want to look at what has changed, what do we know now, where do we go from here?”
If you are interested in volunteering for an interview or know of someone who is, contact professors Jordan Radke or Anthony Siracusa.