We're Building A Better Tri-State Together
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
0000017c-83f8-d4f8-a77d-b3fd0d9f0000In 2020, WNIN, the Center for Innovation and Change at the University of Evansville and ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? collaborated on a seven month research and reporting project to find stories of the coronavirus pandemic in seven Midwestern states.Students from two UE ChangeLab classes provided substantial data and reporting resources for this project. Explore their work here and the entire CBC series below. COVID Between the Coasts is an ongoing project. If you know of a Midwestern story of the pandemic that has not been told, let us know.0000017c-83f8-d4f8-a77d-b3fd0da00000CBC: Binge Listen to Season OneThe reporting was research driven. Dr. Darrin Weber and his fall semester ChangeLab class students, Maya Frederick, Timmy Miller, Ethan Morlock and Pearl Muensterman gathered, cleaned and created visualizations of demographic and coronavirus data in our selected region. Their work culminated in an extensive data visualization of the coronavirus progression in our seven state project area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smvmyHHNNEI" target="_blank">Learn more about the app and research.Full size Mobile0000017c-83f8-d4f8-a77d-b3fd0da00001

Binge Listen to CBC: Season One

Mariah Winne

Since the pandemic began, WNIN, the University of Evansville and contributors across seven Midwestern states have worked to chronicle its impact. You won't see or hear these stories anywhere else.

We call it COVID Between the Coasts- stories of the impact of the historic time we're living in. Since April, WNIN lead reporter Sarah Kuper and reporter Steve Burger have worked closely with researchers and journalism students from the University of Evansville to comb through the data on the coronavirus in seven Midwestern states. Their work resulted in a comprehensive data visualization of the spread and impact of the virus. It also produced the stories you see below.

By using the data, we were able to quickly focus on the geographical areas of the selected region that needed closer attention. Using a small grant from Google, we contracted with public media reporters and acquired government documents that sharpened our inquiries into important areas like the medical supply chain.

COVID Between the Coasts is an ongoing reporting project. Please check back in the coming weeks and months for other stories from the Midwest. Let us know if you have an interesting story of the pandemic. It is our hope that we'll be able to gather enough information so you and others can know the lessons learned, and how we might handle something like this in the future.

CBC S 1 E1: Survivor Stories- Reporter Julianna Dunphy went deep into social media to find Midwestern stories of people who've had the virus, and those deeply affected by it.

CBC S 1 E 2: Detroit: A Day in District Five- Reporter Steve Burger spent a day in the city that was badly hit early in the pandemic. 

CBCepisode2FINALwithfade.mp3

CBC S1 E3: Chicago: A Tribute to Essential Workers- When ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? reporters Judith Ruiz-Branch and Karli Goldenberg wanted to produce a story on the essential workers of their city, they looked no further than those featured on a mural in Pilsen.

112220_cbc_episode_3_unrelenting_ver.mp3

CBC S 1 E4: Minneapolis- The Supply Chain- Reporter Sarah Lemancyzk lives close to a 3M plant in Minnesota. 3M makes N95 masks and other protective gear. Sarah wondered why she can't get one. It turns out the medical supply chain is complicated and driven by profits.

CBCepisode4FINALwithfade.mp3

CBC S1, E5: COVID by the Numbers- Data researchers from the University of Evansville spent weeks gathering and cleaning data to help inform our reporting. In the process, they discovered that while the pandemic is a natural occurance, the depth of the crisis it caused is our own fault.

CBCepisode5FINALwithfade.mp3

CBC S1, E6: COVID in the Countryside- Lead reporter Sarah Kuper discovered that in rural areas of the Midwest, cultural clash over pandemic mitigation measures is killing us.

CBCepisode6FINALwithfade.mp3

CBC S1 E7: Borders- There are many types of borders. Some of them caused considerable disruption and controversy during the pandemic.

CBCepisode7FINALwithfade.mp3

CBC S1 E8: COVID Interrupts Athletes' Dreams- A ChangeLab investigations class at the University of Evansville tracked down athletes, coaches and trainers to talk about the pandemic's impact on college recruiting.

CBCepisode8FINALwithfade.mp3

Related Content