Multimedia journalism

Student journalism project evolves into humanitarian effort after deadly tsunami

• español

In 2006, 20 UNC and Chilean students spent 10 days in Robinson Crusoe Island, off the coast of Chile, to document its land, culture, and people for their award-winning multimedia project, Chasing Crusoe. Four years later, they learned that a recent tsunami caused by the Chilean earthquake devastated the small island and its people. By leveraging their multimedia storytelling skills, the former students quickly acted, in what has become a full-fledged grassroots humanitarian campaign.

What is probably most impressive about this feat is the fact that the UNC alumni collaborated from across the US to make this video campaign happen, with contributors in California, New York, North Carolina and Florida.

Personally, I think what they are doing is great. As journalists and storytellers, we become attached to our story subjects whether we would like to admit it or not. As former UNC master’s student Jay Heinz said, “The people on this island had a profound effect on me and many of my friends.”

By using their talents and connection to this island, they will help publicize a news-worthy story that may not get as widely covered by the mainstream media. I applaud them for their hard efforts and I hope you all will consider joining their campaign.

“Robinson Crusoe Island has temporary phone connections back up. Everyone on the island is still in a bit of shock. The death toll has risen to 20 people. You can view new photos of the destruction in La Tercera’s coverage of the aftermath.”

Below is their letter appealing for help:

“In the spring of 2006, as a combined group of American and Chilean journalism students, we traveled together to Robinson Crusoe Island, four hundred miles off the coast of Santiago, Chile, to document life on this small and isolated island.

In the ten days we spent recording and photographing the people of the island, each and every one of us was struck by their unique way of life and the resolve with which they carve out their existence in such a remote place, rich with history but severely lacking in resources that we often take for granted.

And so it was with great sorrow and shock – in the days following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the Chilean mainland in February 2010 – that we began to hear news trickle in about Robinson Crusoe Island.

According to reports, the island’s emergency warning system failed, and a giant tsunami took the residents by surprise, covering nearly two miles of the island and reaching 300 meters up from the natural coastline. When the ocean retreated, it took with it nearly all of San Juan Bautista, the coastal settlement that the island’s 650 residents call home.

What few community resources that served the people of Robinson Crusoe Island before the tsunami hit are now completely wiped away: the school, community center, fishing boats, supply stores… and many, many homes.

As you can tell from the stories and lives highlighted on this site, the fragile yet resilient community of Robinson Crusoe Island is a special place in this world, and its people need our help in rebuilding their lives. Anything you can give to help these families would be a tremendous help. Oikonos, a 501 c 3 non-profit, has set up a donation fund to directly support the people of Robinson Crusoe Island. All of the money they receive will go specifically to the people of the island, to rebuild their homes, their school and their livelihoods.

Please take a moment to do what you can, and explore this site to learn about the unique and wonderful lives you are helping to rebuild.

We thank you for your open hearts”

Relief Efforts

1. Donate to the cause. Please give what you can. Go straight to oikonos.org/donate.htm and send some tax deductible dollars. 100% of your donation goes to the island.

2. Spread the word. Email your friends, colleagues and family members. Twitter and Facebook the story. Many of you work at major news organizations. Use your connections to get this written about, blogged about and talked about. A little effort goes a long way.

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Disclaimer: I was not involved in this project, but I know many of the former students who were. II Spanish Editor Andrea Ballocchi was involved and is helping to lead the relief effort.

Other posts that might interest you:

• The importance of social media during natural disasters: a first-hand perspective in the aftermath of the Chile earthquake
• AP Chile earthquake interactive under utilizes navigation
• The philanthropic use of innovative media to fight donor fatigue

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