In a unique collaboration, 13 School of Journalism students took part in a special reporting project this summer in collaboration with the regional online publication NewWest.Net. Titled Big Sky, Past and Future, the project involved a series of stories, videos, and photo essays about the history of the Southwestern Montana resort community and the many issues it faces today.
The project resulted in several important scoops. One involved the issue of landslide risk in Big Sky; the students were the first to report a very damaging lawsuit over the issue involving the Spanish Peaks development, and an accompanying video report aired the grave concerns of several Montana geologists. A second exclusive detailed the financial debacle of Everlands, a vacation club that acquired the historic Lone Mountain Ranch.
The students also reported on the opening of the new Lone Peak High School and what it took for the community to make that happen. Another piece detailed the ongoing argument over the possible incorporation of Big Sky into a town. Yet another looked at how the "myth" of the Yellowstone Club was created (the media played a big part) and how it came undone. A map-based interactive interface to the entire project will be posted shortly.
The collaboration was a great success in showing how students could engage with a professional news organization and produce very high-quality work in multiple media.
