The UBC Graduate School of Journalism’s International Reporting Program web project, “Cheap Shrimp, Hidden Costs,” has been nominated for a 2011 Online Journalism Award.
It is a finalist in the category of Online Video Journalism, Small Site, and the only ONA nomination for a web project created by a Canadian university.
“Cheap Shrimp, Hidden Costs” showcases a year-long reporting project on the social and environmental impact of intensive shrimp farming. Ten students in the International Reporting class led by Prof. Peter W. Klein at the School of Journalism traveled to Thailand, the largest supplier of shrimp to North America.
The project began in September 2009, when students undertook months of research before traveling to Thailand in December. Once students returned, they spent several months creating a multimedia story, which drew upon more than 100 hours of footage from the field.
The website includes video reports on four of the main issues explored in relation to Thailand’s shrimp industry: reefs, mangroves, labour, and health.
The site also includes a timeline and site map, which showcases the places visited by students during their investigation, a photo and sound slideshow, interviews, as well as a sidebar on the consequences of human health relating to imported shrimp.
The students partnered with The Global & Mail to produce a web video project for the Globe’s food series, “The high environmental cost of global shrimp,” which officially launched on November 20, 2010.
International Reporting Fellows involved in the project include Kate Allen, Sarah Berman, Kerry Blackadar, Brandi Cowen, Darren Fleet, Rebecca Lindell, Karen Moxley, Alexis Stoymenoff, Faiza Zia Khan, and Magally Zelaya. Sarah Stenabaugh served as project coordinator, and Erin Empey was the web developer.
Prof. Klein was the lead producer, along with co-instructors Trisha Sorrells Doyle and Dan McKinney. Prof. Alfred Hermida was the web project supervisor.
In addition, Prof. Klein’s The Civil Rights Cold Case Project, was nominated for an ONA in the category of Specialty Site Journalism, Affiliated.
