Beach Front Erosion Causes Closings at Indiana Dunes National Park - ID# 574

Crown Point

News Package

Entry Description

CPTV reporter Zach Jones seeks answers as to why Lake Michigan water levels at the Indiana Dunes National Park are at an all time high while causing erosion of many NWI beach fronts. Produced by KJ Robinson.

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

• 4/23 8:13 pm - I like that you chose a unique topic to your community to highlight. I second the comments below and do not want to be redundant. I think there could have been more interviews with other stakeholders to this problem ie tourist, neighbors/taxpayers, gas stations or other close draws nearby. If you are an underclassman, keep making pieces. If you are a senior, I wish you the best in your future and congratulations!
• 3/16 8:25 pm - I thought you did a good job setting up the story and the issue. I like how you pull in experts to help tell your story, great research and follow through for them to tell your story. I appreciated the interviews with real people to and how it has affected them as well. Are there other reasons that the beaches are closed? I thought the lake was unusually high this past year causing beaches as far as door county to be experiencing closings, and it didn’t have to do with erosion, just high levels. These might be totally different stories, but know that your audience will want to hear all the facts, or possible reasons for closed beaches. Not that you were trying to hide anything, but maybe the problem is bigger than sand being pulled like you stated. Watch your audio levels Zach’s parts seemed louder than everyone else’s. Your story had a very professional look (keys) narration, B -Roll, reporter on site, you really did a good job pulling it all together. Just make sure audience members aren’t left with questions after it is over (like me wondering if there are other reasons for the closures and small beaches).

Judge 1

Positives: - You did a solid job of finding visuals that worked to tell your story, and I enjoyed your introduction. Great job making it active with the turn. - I love to see packages that feature more than just one sound bite. Great job incorporating different people to help tell this story.

Improvements: - I think there's work to be done when it comes to flow and writing here. When you have something that produces sound (the lake), utilize that sound. You should begin the package with the best natural sound you have, and then use that underneath your reporter track throughout the piece. - Try to tighten up your soundbites as best you can. This carried on a little long -- and feel free to introduce them (even use a two-shot with you in it).

Judge 2

Positives: Really really good piece. Your active stand up at the start was perfect. Always move or show something if you can. Usually 2 minutes feels long, but this moved. Great use of video to cover sound.

Improvements: Very little that could use improvement. Would it have been possible to have switched places with the teacher while interviewing him? All the windows behind him really washed him out. You could have used some line explaining the transition from the book author to the teacher and student.

Judge 3

Positives: -Great delivery by Zach. Sounded confident and credible when speaking during his stand-ups. -Editing looked good, no jump cuts.

Improvements: -Try to write more to images you see and use natural sound of the waves to drive the story. -Try to shoot more in sequences, less panning of the camera. The best way to do this is to pick a spot, and shoot it in at least three different ways (establishing shot, medium, close up)

Judge 4

Positives:

Improvements: