Latest Stories

Recognition Does Not Create Identity: The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Federal Recognition Story

UNC student Peyton Brooks and Lumbee voices reflect on the tribe’s 2025 federal recognition after centuries of advocacy. The milestone brings validation, new opportunities in education and healthcare, and renewed cultural pride, while emphasizing identity existed long before recognition and that future progress will require continued effort and community resilience.

Growing Roots – Nik Narain: Music, Drag and Comedy 

Nik Narain is a science communicator who sings, performs stand-up comedy and does drag. He incorporates science into his art and also uses art to express his identity. Narain creates his own original music that he performs at open mic nights at local establishments in the Triangle. His comedy is a mixture of his personality and his academic background. As Narain develops his art, he grows his own roots in the queer community and in Durham. 

How AI Could Solve Natural History’s Biggest Research Challenge

Natural history museums face massive backlogs of undigitized specimens and data. Researchers are using AI to speed up tasks like reading handwritten notes, analyzing images and processing video. While not perfect, these tools can save time and expand research, helping scientists better understand biodiversity, despite environmental costs and technical limitations.

The Scoop: Nutrition

This multimedia package explores differences between U.S. and European food systems through reporting, photos and audio. While Americans focus on additives like dyes, experts say overall diet quality matters more. The story highlights processed foods, misleading “clean labels,” and barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious options, emphasizing whole foods and informed choices.

The Classroom Under Watch: AI Surveillance in Schools and the Ethics Behind It

This investigative podcast looks at how AI-based surveillance tools are being used in schools across the state, drawing on specific local cases. It examines the legal frameworks that govern student monitoring, alongside the ethical concerns around privacy, consent, and the student experience. UNC Professor Sun-ha Hong helps unpack these cases and their potential implications.

What is Media Hub?

UNC Media Hub is a cohort of students from various concentrations within UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media who collaborate to produce top-tier integrated media packages covering stories across North Carolina.

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