About the Course
Audio Production: Nonfiction Narrative Podcasting (JMC:3600)
With the rise of podcasting and the success and influence of Serial, the popularity of long-form audio storytelling has increased dramatically in recent years. The goal of this course is to produce a narrative audio series that educates and entertains its audience on a topical issue related to the University of Iowa, or a forgotten or untold story from the university’s rich history. Students will examine the elements that contribute to a compelling series and learn the fundamentals of audio storytelling from pitch to recording, editing and publishing.
Student Work
A CAMPUS IN CONFLICT
DESCRIPTION:
Spring 1970. Turmoil and tension grip the United States. With the Vietnam War raging, young Americans—on campuses nationwide and at the University of Iowa—are rising in protest. "A Campus in Conflict" traces the roots of activism at Iowa, where students grappled with conscience, conflict, and change. Drawing on firsthand accounts and archival material, this limited series explores how a quiet campus became a stage for resistance—and what that legacy means today. Podcasts by undergraduate students in Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
STANDOUT EPISODES
Ep. 1 - Rising Fears, Rising Voices
As the Vietnam War escalated, tension built on the University of Iowa campus. College
students were reaching the age where, if the war didn’t end soon, even a draft
deferment might not save them from the horrors of Vietnam. In this episode, historians
and former students reflect on the early sparks of protest and how fear, frustration, and
hope ignited a fire that would challenge the status quo.
Producer: Rose Grau
Host: Maddy Hellwig
Editor: Abbie McLaren
Associate Producers: Brian Allen, Karina Navarro
Ep. 3 - Emerging Leaders and Tough Decisions
With student resistance rising, University President William “Sandy” Boyd faces difficult
decisions about how to conclude the school year safely. Meanwhile, ROTC student
Richard Tyner grapples with how to handle the upcoming Governor’s Day celebration
and the potential threat of clashes between students and military troops on campus, and
former members of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) discuss their efforts to
protest the university’s involvement in the war. Host James McCurtis explores the inner
conflicts and uncertainties that loomed over the campus as the spring semester came to
a close.
Producer: Cassidy Safris
Host: James McCurtis
Editor: Grace Westergaard
Associate Producers: Sydney Libert, Dawson Moore