Aug. 13--CHAPEL HILL -- The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC has launched an experimental multimedia news Web site that explores U.S. energy use and its relationship to the country's demographics.

"Powering a Nation" is Carolina's contribution to the News21 project led by eight of the 12 top journalism programs participating in the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education funded by the Carnegie Corp. of New York and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami, Fla.

Ten Carolina journalism students selected as News21 fellows have been working since January with two faculty members -- joined by two students from Harvard University and the University of Missouri -- to produce stories about wind farms, the electrical grid, mountaintop removal, coal activists, biofuels, religious response to environmental issues and other topics.

The stories are presented as feature articles, multimedia documentaries, motion graphics, blog posts and games. An interactive energy challenge game allows users to track their energy use and get personalized tips for conservation. Users can compare their energy profiles with others by using online social networks.

"Changing demographics and energy use is a critical issue in North Carolina and the nation," said Jean Folkerts, dean of the school.

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