Video producer and director takes students on an underwater investigation of vanishing kelp forests.
After an introductory discussion on underreported journalism by Pulitzer Center education coordinator Jessica Mims, video producer and director Andrew ‘Andy’ Robinson spoke to sixty 4th graders at Cloverdale Elementary School in Moreno Valley, CA. Robinson has degrees in film and multimedia journalism. He produces science and outdoor documentaries with a focus on sustainable production. His work has been published in The New York Times and Scientific American. During his virtual journalist visit, Robinson shared an underreported story that he has recently worked on: The Vanishing, Invisible Forest. Students learned about how Robinson participated in ocean science research with scientists. They learned how disappearing underwater kelp forests affect sea life and how that can in turn affect the entire ecosystem. Robinson showed students the equipment he used for underwater videography to capture glimpses of underwater forests and urchin barrens.
Many students had thoughtful questions regarding the process of creating an investigative piece. “Where do you start?” “How do you do research?” “How long does it take to prepare for a story?”
Robinson’s engaging talk inspired students to think of their own questions, what they would like to investigate and the stories they would like to tell. Students took diligent notes in their journals and will use them for future in-class writing assignments, where they will become reporters on a topic of personal interest to them.
