News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
WCTE is kicking off the Indie Lens Pop-Up season with a virtual screening of Storm Lake.
Education and Engagement Coordinator Misty Stewart said on Tuesday night viewers get an inside look at the struggles of local journalism. Stewart said the documentary focuses on a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper that is struggling.
“This film is actually taking a look at what happens when you do not have those local news sources to inform the public and to report,” Stewart said. “On things like corruption or other important things and events that are going on in the community. What happens when that disappears?
Stewart said that films that end up in the series are collected and curated for their importance. She said they get brought to areas like the Upper Cumberland by voting on topics seen as most important to the region.
“I don’t know that this one was chosen to start the season for any particular reason,” Stewart said. “But it is a very pertinent one all around. I think everybody can relate to the concept of the importance of small town journalism and local journalism.”
Stewart said the movies all come with their own vested interest in what message viewers leave with. She said that is exactly why the screening is followed by a Q&A to broaden the topic and get viewer questions answered.
The discussions are moderated by Dr. Cephas Ablakwa.
“He likes to look at things from both sides and he likes to open up the discussion,” Stewart said. “Then actually take the major topic of the film and say, ‘what is that relevance? Is it the same here, does it have that same relevance? Is this an issue that you see, are there elements that perhaps, were not discussed in the film?”
Stewart said the screening begins at 7:00 PM and can be viewed on Facebook and Youtube. She said anyone is free to register for the early screening before it premiers on WCTE on November 15.
