Les Anderson is a professor in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University. This is his second year of bringing journalism students to Greensburg to tell the story of its rebirth.
The author of this blog is Les Anderson, associate director of the Elliott School of Communications at Wichita State University. He explains what he and his students are doing:
Like many journalists, I wished I had been able to help provide coverage of the devastating Greensburg tornado last May. And, like a lot of other people, I also wished I had been able to spend some time helping people in the area rebuild their lives.
For the next two weeks, my summer presession class at Wichita State University will be doing both: covering the rebuilding of Greensburg and those who have made it possible, and also volunteering. I’ve asked each student to spend at least one day as a volunteer.
My students and I will write, photograph and shoot video for the state’s 250-some newspapers. We’re working with the Kansas Press Association, with the help of Cort Anderson, technology consultant for KPA. Cort spent time documenting through photos what the people of Greensburg experienced. He also volunteered his technology skills and helped set up a Web site that is being used by the volunteer center to coordinate the thousands of volunteers who have made their way to Greensburg.
We hope to interview some of those volunteers, as well as the people of Greensburg as they rebuild their community — and their lives. We welcome your story ideas.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Matt from VC // May 27, 2008 at 9:29 pm
There is nothing better than real-life, practical training for budding journalism students. Keep up the good work.
2 Janie Hahn // May 27, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Hello Les!
As I started reading this, I wondered if this might be you. Now I know that it is! I will be interested in what you guys uncover in the next two weeks. I look forward to reading it. Hope that you have a decent bed to sleep in.
Take care-Janie
3 Kevin McNally // May 28, 2008 at 8:19 am
Les- Two Greensburg projects that are of interest are the new Business Incubator Building & new K-12 School…please provide stories…Thank You and Dodge City is fun too…Kevin
4 Darcy Gray // May 28, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Les, you never cease to amaze me! I knew this had to be your project, and it will be a great experience for students.
Darcy
5 Aileen Hutchinson // May 28, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hi guys, hope you, your students and Nancy are having an interesting time. How did the cots sleep? I will be interested in following you the next 2 weeks.
Aileen
6 Claudia Campbell // May 29, 2008 at 11:11 am
What a great subject and wonderful experience. As a tornado survivor I understand how overwhelming it can seem. Document everything you can. This is great and do good work. Take care. Susie
7 Dan Close // May 29, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hey guys and gals, is it chilly out there at night? I remember going to Greensburg the night of the tornado as a temporary Eagle reporter/photographer and being buffeted by cold and wind and stray debris. We had little food and water, no toilets, no cell phone coverage — heck, you guys have it easy! I’ve covered a lot of disasters in my day, including the F5 Hesston tornado and lotsa plane crashes, but the devastation caused by the Greensburg twister was really scary. Anyway, best of luck. Give me a ring if yu need a bottle of rum to keep ya warm. Do good journalism. Dan.
8 Aileen Hutchinson // Jun 3, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed your good supper tonight. It sounded delicious when Nancy told me about Ben’s culinary endeavor. This is so interesting, keep up the good work. I have been listening to the weather warnings for Greensburg. Stay safe! Aileen
9 Steve Jones // Jun 3, 2009 at 8:54 am
Wow, great to run across this. I went to the school of Les 25 years ago (yikes!, hey Dan, hey Stan) it’s great to see the right kind of journalist training continuing. Hope to drop into Wichita one day before long.
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