I can’t stop watching this video. Not because I have a deep personal passion for fracking. Nor because it is uplifting or inspiring (on the contrary, the story it tells is sobering—laying out entrenched political and environmental challenges linked to our ever-increasing energy
consumption).
I can’t stop watching it because of how effectively and simply it communicates complexity. It’s a great example of how technology is transforming the way we communicate. I’ve read a handful of stories in print and on the web over the past month about fracking as this simmering issue has suddenly captured national media attention. None of these stories came even close to communicating the gist of the issue and key drivers as effectively and memorably as “My Water’s on Fire Tonight (The Fracking Song)".
Even better, this video was done by a small group of journalism students at NYU's Studio 20—a program focused on driving innovation in communications and adapting journalism to the web. ProPublica, an independent, award-winning non-profit newsroom producing investigative journalism in the public interest is a partner of the program. Together, they’re trying to build better
explanations for important stories. It’s working.
Originally published 5/29/11
consumption).
I can’t stop watching it because of how effectively and simply it communicates complexity. It’s a great example of how technology is transforming the way we communicate. I’ve read a handful of stories in print and on the web over the past month about fracking as this simmering issue has suddenly captured national media attention. None of these stories came even close to communicating the gist of the issue and key drivers as effectively and memorably as “My Water’s on Fire Tonight (The Fracking Song)".
Even better, this video was done by a small group of journalism students at NYU's Studio 20—a program focused on driving innovation in communications and adapting journalism to the web. ProPublica, an independent, award-winning non-profit newsroom producing investigative journalism in the public interest is a partner of the program. Together, they’re trying to build better
explanations for important stories. It’s working.
Originally published 5/29/11