About Backpack Journalism
Backpack Journalism at Creighton University is a collaboration between the Theology Department and the Journalism, Media, & Computing Department. It came about because of a theologian interested in social justice and filmmaking and a journalist and an artist interested in filmmaking and social justice.
Every other summer, a small group of students travels to a community in search of a story. Led by professors Dr. John O'Keefe, Tim Guthrie, and Carol Zuegner, the students immerse themselves in the communities, interviewing, filming, recording, and writing. When they return to Creighton, they take the stories they have collected and develop them into a short documentary film. The Backpack Journalism documentaries have been accepted at several film festivals across the United States. The class has traveled to such far-flung places as the Dominican Republic and Uganda, Bethel Alaska and Nogales Arizona/Sonora.
The next project is scheduled for the summer of 2020 and will focus on deforestation in Eastern Africa.
Creighton Backpack Journalism
2018 Uganda
2016 Arizona/Mexico
2014 Alaska
2010 Dominican Republic
The Displaced
El Deportado
Mother Kuskokwim
Wer Uganda
Mato Oput
June 20, 2012 2012 Ugandaelephants, giraffes, Heidi Hoffman, leopard, safariHeidi Hoffman
Giraffe sighting on the game drive.
Carol asked me how big the giraffe exhibit is at the zoo in Omaha. My immediate response was to tell her that it was small – but I'm pretty sure it's because I had just seen about 50 giraffes roaming freely on the vast African savannah (and I'm pretty sure my jaw was wide open the entire time).
I had been looking forward to seeing the giraffes on this trip – to me there is just something so majestic about these tall creatures. But make no mistake, just because they are gentle and don't have a voice box doesn't mean that they'll go down without a fight. Our safari guide told us that it would take a pack of 7-10 lions to take down a single giraffe.
Not only was it a treat to see giraffes, elephants, waterbuffalo and other wildlife, we were also lucky enough to witness a leopard (yep, you read that right) take down its prey. Seeing a lion is pretty rare on a safari, so seeing a leopard – that's one in a million.
I'm pretty sure that in any other situation, it's advised to stay away from wild leopards. But when you are on a safari, in a huge blue bus, it's clearly expected to do some off-roading and head straight toward the leopard. It's a good thing it already had its dinner in its mouth.
← The gift of a baby chick	Pics of animals and water and such →
2 thoughts on "Don't feed the animals"
Marilyn Woodden says:
Wow…sounds awesome..Will look forward to seeing your pictures…..Gma
Clara M. Hoffman (sis) says:
You lucky bunch of poop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to see some animals!!!!!!!!!
Now What? July 1, 2018
What I've learned (the three big take-aways): July 1, 2018
Getting back July 1, 2018
I feel weird July 1, 2018
Refugees July 1, 2018
2016 Arizona and Mexico