School of Journalism & Media

Cherokee Stickball Documentary Scheduled for TV, Festival Premiere

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Documentary Synopsis

Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina is a tight-knit community of the remaining members of the Cherokee tribe, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. One of the tribes’ cultural traditions still practiced is the game of stickball. In the year 2000, nearly 100 women: mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins, and friends, took the field to play and exercise the matriarchal spirit that the Cherokee were known for. ᎡᏘᏴ ᏥᎾᎾᏛᏁᎮ ᎠᏰᎵᏐ ᎾᏛᏁᎰ / She Carries On tells the story of these women, how and why they played, and what the game means to them and their

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Knox County Library Honors Geidner, ‘The Library that Dolly Built’

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Knox County Library honored journalism and electronic media associate professor Nick Geidner by presenting him with its 2020 Seeds of Imagination Award on Sept. 17 for his work on the Land Grant Films’ documentary “The Library that Dolly Built.”

This documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides registered children with one free book each month from when they are born to when they turn five years old.

Geidner, who directed and produced the film, has personal experience with this program.

“My oldest son got the Imagination Library books, and we just … Read more “Knox County Library Honors Geidner, ‘The Library that Dolly Built’”

Geidner: ‘Goodnight with Dolly’ Off to Great Start

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Goodnight Dolly

With Dolly Parton’s new 10-week bedtime-story series Goodnight with Dolly under way, the honorary UT alumna is doing her part to comfort kids all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to Associate Professor of Journalism and Electronic Media Nick Geidner, who produced and directed the documentary film The Library That Dolly Built.

“My one-and-a-half-year-old, Sam, who makes some cameos in the film, loved the first episode, especially at the end when Dolly sang ‘I Believe in You,’” Geidner said. “He loved the woo-woo-woos in the song, but I also think he loved it because it is … Read more “Geidner: ‘Goodnight with Dolly’ Off to Great Start”

JEM’s Land Grant Films Creates Veteran Documentaries for East Tennessee PBS

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Healing WatersEast Tennessee PBS will air five microdocumentaries on area veterans created by UT School of Journalism students, Land Grant Films, and UT’s WUOT-FM.

A release of the microdocumentaries began on Facebook and YouTube in late October. WUOT  aired the audio versions October 29 through November 2 along with original content from interviews with East Tennessee veterans.

The microdocumentaries will be compiled into a half-hour show that airs on East Tennessee PBS at 4 p.m. Sunday, November 11, and 5 p.m. Sunday, November 18.

“This project was a great opportunity for us to work with East Tennessee PBS and WUOT to … Read more “JEM’s Land Grant Films Creates Veteran Documentaries for East Tennessee PBS”