Stories of Our State: South Carolina
Ever thought about a home birth using a midwife? Ever been to God’s Healing Acre
to get some divine spring water? Want a deep look into South Carolina’s 25-year fight
over public school funding? Welcome to the “Stories of Our State: South Carolina,”
an in-depth, multimedia look at stories impacting South Carolina. All stories are
produced by SJMC students over the course of a semester under the guidance of Instructor Andy Burns. Enjoy our new initiative: Stories of
Our State: South Carolina.
Walking Out: The Push for Public Education Reform in South Carolina
In early 2018, high school teacher Lisa Ellis was fed up. She made a Facebook post
asking if other teachers were also fed up. A year later, 10,000 teachers rallied
at the South Carolina Statehouse to push for education reform. USC student Cory Michael
Peeler follows her journey from frustration to a statewide movement, culminating in
an education reform ultimatum for lawmakers that more than 30,000 teachers support.
Will the reforms lower South Carolina’s high teacher turnover rate?
Down Under Columbia: An interactive tour of the Mysterious Underground Mall
It is a rumor and a legend in the Midlands. Is it really down there? A mall? Underneath
Main Street? In downtown Columbia?
Closed and shuttered for more than 40 years, the mysterious mall that was a playground
for Midlanders during the 1970’s is now easy to explore with this 360 degree interactive our,
created by Jacob Cohen. You can also experience the tour on mobile in virtual reality.
Explore, enjoy, and remember … yes, it’s really down there.
The legend of Pee Wee Gaskins
AWARDS WON:
First Place: Best Student Multimedia Report
2019 Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas/Associated Press
16th Place: National Multimedia Hearst Awards
A string of murders kept South Carolina residents terrified in the early 1970s. A
serial killer was on the loose. One who published an autobiography. The claims were
incredible:
Over 110 murders: the most from any serial killer in American history — several times
more than the Zodiac Killer, Ted Bundy, or any other household name. And yet, his
name is one you would not recognize. Kyle O'Connor looks into the legend of South
Carolina’s most infamous — and unknown? — criminal: Pee Wee Gaskins.
In their home: An intimate look at home birth in South Carolina
AWARDS WON:
Second Place: National Hearst Award
She had six children. She was pregnant with her seventh. She wanted a different kind
of birth — at home, with her family.
Dee Peifer allowed Kristin Stitzlein to document her birth experience. For four months, Stitzlein
followed Peifer, her midwife, and two other home birthing couples. She also spoke
with obstetricians. From there, things got complicated.
Stitzlein's short documentary details Peifer's experience and the tension apparent
between the midwife vs. OBGYN models. Stitzlein also included a photo essay of Dee’s
labor and birth. The infographic details the various licensing available in each state.
After a 25-year legal battle over school funding, SC still struggles with “Minimally
Adequate” model
AWARDS WON:
13th Place: National Hearst Award
A public school teacher near Hilton Head got school funding for multi-colored chairs
because she read colors stimulate children’s brains. Another public school teacher
near Hilton Head maxed out her personal credit cards just to have some books in her
classroom.
J-school student Brooke Rakowski went to both schools and spoke with both teachers.
She found that a 25-year battle over how the state funds its public schools is back
to square one. A written and documentary profile of the two teachers and their schools
is linked to the “story” and “video” tabs. A full timeline of the 25-year-old “Abbeville”
court case is linked to the “Timeline” tab.
