Radio reporter and filmmaker Allison Herrera will discuss the ins and outs of tackling an investigative reporting project in this workshop. We’ll concentrate on the Native American community in Minneapolis and how media coverage of Native issues is problematic in largely focusing on social ills, protests, or powwows and overlooking many of the complexities behind the headlines. A recent Minneapolis Star Tribune story about heroin overdoses at the Little Earth Housing complex explained some of the problems the Native community faces with addiction. But there’s more to the story, and we’ll dig deeper during the workshop. You’ll learn basic shooting and interviewing techniques, how to highlight data and numbers in your story, and how to tell stories about underserved communities and why they deserve special attention from reporters and filmmakers. We’ll travel to a specific location and conduct interviews with the goal of completing a rough edit by day’s end.

Tuition: $100 regular/$50 low-income

Allison Herrera has a broad background in youth media. She has served as FilmNorth’s Youth Program Director and taught youth workshops for Saint Paul Neighborhood Network and Intermedia Arts. Allison has been a reporter and producer for AMPERS, an association of 15 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, and has worked as a freelance video producer. She currently works for Public Radio International as a reporter and social media editor.

Class Registration Guidelines & Cancellation Policy

• Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full to be valid. Registrations are accepted beyond registration deadlines as long as space is available.
• If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 5 days prior to the start date of a class, IFP MN may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund by PayPal or charge card credit (for phone or in person credit card registrations) within 5 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another course if scheduled in the same calendar year.
  For those wishing to cancel a registration prior to the class registration deadline, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received after the registration deadline but prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of the day of class, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given.

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