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. Ami Vitale, Senior Producer for the Center and a multimedia graduate student, was the project’s producer.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.”  (http://roma.glocalstories.org)

To see “My Story, My Goal” visit, http://mdg.glocalstories.org/                    
To see “Colorful but Colorblind: Roma Beyond Stereotypes” visit, www. http://roma.glocalstories.org/