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Story Subject Category: University of Illinois
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Is it necessary to force pilots to retire when they reach age 65? While it’s clear that we all slow down mentally and physically as we age, researchers at the Institute of Aviation in Savoy, IL are looking into ways to help aging pilots perform just as well as their younger counterparts. Dr. Dan Morrow uses a flight simulator and eye tracking equipment to put older pilots through their paces in the hopes of developing strategies and tools to help pilots maintain their flying skills as they age.
Segment duration: 09:11
Story links:
- Dr. Dan Morrow, University of Illinois
- ARTICLE: Morrow Focuses on Pilot Expertise and the Aging Mind
Producer: Steve Drake
Editor: Steve Drake
This segment is filed in these categories: Science/Nature • University of Illinois • Savoy
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Odyssey of the Mind is an international competition centered around creative problem-solving for students from kindergarten through college. But researchers at the University of Illinois are using those same brain teasers, stage performances, and long-term problem solving challenges to study the possible benefits these types of activities might have on the minds and overall well-being of older adults.
Segment duration: 07:46
Story links:
- Senior Odyssey
- Dr. Elizabeth Stine-Morrow, University of Illinois
- Odyssey of the Mind (International Program)
Producer: Steve Drake
Editor: Steve Drake and Tristan Riddell
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • Science/Nature • University of Illinois • University of Illinois • Urbana
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The Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya borders the famed Serengeti, where the wildebeest migrate. Recently named one of the seven tourist wonders of the world, this territory was once a favorite hunting ground for big game. The elephants, lions, buffalo, hippo and leopards are now protected. But the Maasai tribespeople say they need protection, too. They are being attacked by the increasing numbers of wild animals that roam outside the game reserves. This story takes you on safari to Kenya where you will hear from the Maasai. University of Illinois journalism professor Nancy Benson traveled with U of I law professor Patrick Keenan who is working with the Maasai to write new laws designed to provide compensation when a life, or crop, is lost. This story provides one example of what is happening in many developing countries where tourism is big business.
Segment duration: 07:24
Producer: Nancy Benson
Editor: Michael Koliska
This segment is filed in these categories: Livestock/Animals/Zoology • Travel • University of Illinois
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China is one of the fastest growing nations on Earth. China is changing in many regards. The economy is booming. China is becoming a more vital part of the world—politically and economically, positively and negatively. Air pollution from China drifts half way around the world. Some Chinese are becoming more affluent and more Western.
John Paul produced this feature report about China as part of his graduate studies in journalism. John was part of an international reporting class, taught by Professor Nancy Benson, that took 10 University of Illinois students to China in May 2007.
Each student reported on a different aspect of China—from its growing economy to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the increasing amount of electronic waste sent there from America. The students produced a two hour radio documentary titled “Beyond the Great Wall,” which aired on WILL-AM 580.
This story for Prairie Fire gives the viewer a glimpse of the China the students saw—from the Great Wall to Tiananmen Square and the streets of Shanghai. It also tells what it’s like to report in China.
Segment duration: 09:02
Story links:
Producer: John Paul
This segment is filed in these categories: Travel • University of Illinois
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Segment duration: 2:51
Story links:
Producer: Eleanore Stasheff
Chief Camera - Segment: David Noreen
This segment is filed in these categories: Food/Restaurants • Literature • University of Illinois
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When I first heard about Quen Cultra, I was interested in doing a story about how he built a boat on his family’s farm in Onarga and sailed it around the world in the 1960s. We knew that he had recently returned from his trip around Cape Horn, but we didn’t realize that he would have as much video footage as he did (he gave me about 20 hours of footage of the trip to comb through) or that his trip itself would have been as exciting as it was (complete with exotic South American locations, dangerous seas, and even a man overboard!). I had originally envisioned making one segment featuring Quen’s 1960s trip that would just touch on his Cape Horn trip. But, after finishing our interview with Quen and his daughter Ashley, and seeing all of the great photos and videos they had, it was clear that both stories were worth telling in their own right. Prairie Fire segments are usually only around 5 minutes each, but given the epic nature of both of Quen’s voyages, these two turned into epic segments as well (the Sailing Around the World segment came out at 12-minutes and this Cape Horn segment is a whopping 16-minutes). Hopefully you agree with me that they’re worth the time.
Segment duration: 16:34
Producer: Steve Drake
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • University of Illinois
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Allerton Park is truly an oasis on the prairie. When you walk through the shaded canopy on a hot summer day, it is incredible to think that Robert Allerton built the entire park out of nothing. The place was the vision of one man and we are lucky that he chose to let us all enjoy it. Eleanore Stasheff’s story does a wonderful job of explaining the history of the park and lets people in on the behind the scenes stories of its creation. My favorite is that the Sun Singer Statue was to originally sit on the patio. But when it arrived from the sculptor, it was quite a bit larger than expected. If placed on the patio, guests would gaze out the parlor windows to be greeted by the Sun Singer’s private parts! I hope this story looking back at the history of the park helps people appreciate this wonderful gift to central Illinois and that all will help to keep the park around for future generation.
Segment duration: 05:41
Story links:
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • University of Illinois • Champaign County • University of Illinois
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When your local team produces five NBA players, it is hard not to get excited. Illini basketball fever is very contagious here in C-U, especially with the students. So I was not surprised when two of our student production assistants proposed a story on the notorious cheering section called the Orange Krush. Matt Brickman and Abby Silverman produced, shot and edited this story and I was very impressed by their finished product. They shot from the floor during the 2005-2006 season, so they got to see James Augustine and Dee Brown in action. Plus they attended the press conference and had a chance to ask both Head Coach Bruch Weber and James Augustine about the Krush. The finished story not only does a great job of showcasing the fun antics of the Krush but it tells viewer what most people don’t realized, that the Orange Krush has raised thousands of dollars for children’s charities. So here’s to you Krush members…I-L-L…I-N-I! ... Written by Alison Davis Wood
Segment duration: 04:10
Story links:
Producer: Matt Brickman and Abby Silverman
This segment is filed in these categories: Sports • University of Illinois
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The Hartley Selections Garden at the University of Illinois is a testing ground and display garden for new flowering plants. The living laboratory, dedicated in the fall 1994, displays hundreds of different flowering plants. New varieties are compared to commercial varieties to see if they’re an improvement.
(Photo by ACES-ITCS: David Riecks)
Location: Lincoln Avenue south of Florida Avenue in Urbana
Admission: Free
Segment duration: 06:21
Story links:
Producer: Maeve Reilly
Chief Camera - Segment: Julius Bolton, Tim Hartin
This segment is filed in these categories: Agriculture/Agribusiness • Horticulture • University of Illinois
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For a group of University of Illinois graduate journalism students, the beat was a foreign country with an unfamiliar language. Prairie Fire follows the 10 students through three weeks in Peru, where they talked with government leaders, poor villagers, alleged terrorists and ordinary Peruvians.
(Above: Student reporter Adam Jadhav interviews Peruvian sociologist Pilar Arroyo)
WILL-AM news director Tom Rogers talked to two of the student reporters and the professor who oversaw their South American trip.
Listen to the interview as aired
Listen to the entire interview
Students produced a radio documentary about their experiences. Hear Assignment: Peru.
Segment duration: 11:47
Producer: Abby Rhodes
This segment is filed in these categories: Ethnicity/Culture • History • Travel • University of Illinois
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