Multimedia Reporting students produce stories about impact of labor shortage on local businesses

Classwork by students in JOUR 215: Multimedia Reporting, taught by Charles "Stretch" Ledford, associate professor of journalism, was featured on CU-CitizenAccess.org in May. The journalism students produced stories in Fall 2021 about how the nation's pandemic-induced labor shortage has affected local businesses.

Farrah Anderson, a sophomore in journalism, wrote the article that gave an overview of the projects. Students interviewed people from the Champaign-Urbana businesses Esquire Lounge, Cracked, World Harvest, Black Dog, Maize Mexican Grill, and Jarling's Custard Cup, as well as a local family seeking care for a child with disabilities. Anderson's story about childcare was featured additionally on Illinois Newsroom from Illinois Public Media in May.

  • Watch the student-produced videos: