Alabama Public Radio is collaborating with Alabama Public Television on a program involving public schools and the fight for civil rights. “Project C: Lessons from the Civil Rights Movement,” gives grade school teachers access to educational materials related to the fight against segregation and racism, and to use those materials at no cost. Cindy Kirk is Alabama Public Television’s Vice President of Educational Services. She says along with the free materials, school students can post their own thoughts, pictures, and videos on social media…
“And they have,” says Kirk. “We encouraging that sort of on-going dialog, so we’re trying to utilize the best of social media to get the kids more engaged in the topic.”
Alabama Public Radio’s contribution to the effort is the news team’s national winning series of reports on the 50th anniversary of key moments in Alabama’s civil rights effort. News director Pat Duggins, and reporters Ryan Vasquez, Stan Ingold, and Maggie Martin produced 17 long form radio features and a half hour documentary during the yearlong project. The subjects ranged from the “children’s march” where young black demonstrators were met with fire hoses and police dogs, to the “stand in the schoolhouse door” in Tuscaloosa, to how the media in 1963 covered civil rights stories.
“APR was very flattered to be asked to participate,” says Duggins. “The whole team worked very hard on these stories, and this material was meant to serve the public good. It’s great to see school students may benefit from this work.”
Kirk explains how teachers can access Alabama Public Radio’s stories and all the material in “Project C” by clicking on APT’s website and registering for the program. “It’s free. They essentially put in their email address, their school, how many kids they anticipate participating in the project, and they get access to all of this content.”
Alabama Public Radio’s civil rights coverage was well received and generously honored with 6 national awards for journalistic excellence. The list includes a national UNITY award from the Radio Television Digital News Association, an international Silver Radio Award from the New York Festivals, and a Gabriel award from the Catholic Church. APR’s civil rights effort also won three regional Edward R. Murrow awards, and an Alabama AP award for best documentary.
Public school teachers can register for "Project C" materials at www.project-c.org
