Under Fire
The Rising Threats Against Drag Story Hour Events
Escalating threats faced by Drag Story Hour events across the country highlight how political rhetoric and messaging contribute to an environment of hostility and fear. The impact of anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment on these storytelling sessions leave lasting impacts, forcing them to consider community safety as their lives go under attack. Their fight for inclusivity and reading literacy depicts how the resilience of those who stand against intimidation can preserve a space for creativity and acceptance in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Hickman band takes Faurot
What started off as a photo story quickly bloomed into a micro-documentary. During the initial coverage of this monumental moment in Mizzou and Hickman high school history, Paola Rodriguez felt that there was something missing– the sights and sounds of marching bands. Immediately after a photo editing shift that ended at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Rodriguez went straight to senior drum major Abby Oreskovich’s house to document what this moment in history meant to her. After following her and her peers throughout the day and seeing their traditions, Rodriguez went back to the newsroom where fellow photo editor Irynka Hromotska would edit the final video.
When two become eight
After two months of interviews and getting to know the communities of Norborne and Hardin, MO, Paola Rodriguez managed and editted a micro-documentary of their journey to saving football. Videographer Zachary Linhares worked tirelessly to capture the essence of Friday night football, making multiple two hour drives whenever home games would happen. The video was published in a package that was accompanied by text, photo and graphics. Rodriguez managed this project with fellow Columbia Missourian photo editors Michelle and Nicole Gutierrez and Tom Kavanaugh.
Friday Night Sights
Paola Rodriguez, with the assistance of four other photo editors, produced a series called, 'Friday Night Sights - the magic and wonder of Friday night football.' While Friday Night Sights soon became equated to staying in the newsroom until the early hours of the morning, the team of five photo editors pushed boundaries and for the first time created and produced ‘From the Sidelines,' a weekly micro-documentary series and ‘Under the Lights,' a collection of football action photography, while still producing a collection of feature photos. Rodriguez was in charge of producing, coaching and editing the weekly micro-documentary series along with fellow photo editor Tom Kavanaugh. They would encourage and mentor first time videographers to then send them out into the field. By the end of the football season, the team published 210 photos for Friday Night Sights, 90 photos for Under the Lights and 11 micro-docs. This series would not have been possible without photo editors Michelle and Nicole Gutierrez, Tom Kavanaugh and Hudson Heidger.