All students must produce a professional project, a work of journalism suitable for online dissemination at reputable, credible Web sites. The work must represent an original and in-depth contribution to the public knowledge of environmental science and natural resource issues, subject to the approval of a faculty project committee. Students may choose to produce one large, documentary-style project or three shorter but thematically related pieces.
Project committees must include a chair and reviewer chosen from the School of Journalism faculty and a faculty member from another school or department.
Professional Projects
In “The Last Best Fish,” Jonathan Stumpf examined collaborative efforts by ranchers and environmentalists in Montana to save the arctic grayling in the Big Hole River.
Laura Lundquist’s series, “Troubled Waters,” looked at the challenges for city water supplies and Montana’s water law that arise from population growth.
Natalie Mourton’s “Conflict at the End of the Road” reported on the impact of tourism and development on Tortel, a pristine region of Chile.
Ann Fleischli's professional project, a website entitled SavingtheWildPlaces.org, described a collaborative model of neighborly, respectful, community-based activity designed to preserve the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana.
Jason Belts Kauffman's professional project was titled "A Season of Predators," and was an hour-long documentary exploring the challenges of living with large predators in the northern Rockies and collaborative efforts that are attempting to address those issues.