The Rural Blog

A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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Ken Burns says his 'American Buffalo,' premiering Monday on PBS, is mainly a tragedy but one that offers hope

Grocery, destroyed by E. Ky. flood and owned by Black woman who's been there 50 years, to reopen Saturday

'We've run the table this week,' rural editor-publisher writes after documentary premiere and tentative decision to close

'East Kentucky Flood' tells the story of a deadly disaster, a courageous and heartfelt recovery, and an uncertain future

Holiday roundup: Blizzard creates a temporary community of travelers; an enchanted garden also cultivates people

In notorious case of water pollution, big oil-and-gas firm will build water system and pay residents' bills for 75 years

The Rural Blog's Top 10 stories for 2021 illustrate the rural journalism institute's history, mission and forms of service

Ken Burns: The one national historic site with 'massacre' in its name shows we should teach history, not mythology

Documentary chronicles Pulitzer Prize-winning rural paper; can be viewed online through a film festival this Saturday

Documentary on rural soldier's heroism and campaign to get him the Medal of Honor is returning to TV this weekend

In Nomadland, about a homeless rural migrant worker, 'a ghost of a Western' and maybe 'The Grapes of Wrath'

Film on journalists' rural-America trek premieres Tuesday

Federal court strikes down Interior Department rule requiring paid permit to film in national parks

Recent films, including Hillbilly Elegy, prompt discussion about how Hollywood views rural America

New Ron Howard-directed film 'Hillbilly Elegy', based on controversial J.D. Vance memoir, mostly panned by critics

Rural Assembly Everywhere virtual festival Oct. 26-30

Promotional trailer released for film adaptation of controversial Hillbilly Elegy memoir, which debuts Nov. 24

Mountain students' evocative photos from the 1970s have become a book and a documentary, on PBS this week

Ky. soldier’s heroism, and 20-year campaign to recognize it with Medal of Honor, are subjects of documentary to air on Kentucky TV at 8 p.m. ET Monday, May 25 – Memorial Day

Documentary explores African-American Appalachian diaspora connecting through a historic social club