Documentaries
and Features

We want to explore the past, present and future of Bloomington with you with City Limits.

Several large data centers have been proposed throughout Indiana in recent years, prompting questions from readers.

Heroin addiction along the shared borders of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky has sparked an unprecedented increase in overdose deaths and contractions of HIV and Hepatitis C. Finding the Fix explores the epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse and addiction in the Midwest.

Paper Cuts: When private equity firms control local newspapers is a project on the influence private equity has had on local news.

Red, White, and Righteous, a four-part series from WFIU, investigates the political actions, theological divisions, and historical context of Christian Nationalism.

The U.S. government’s sole execution chamber is on the grounds of a prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. A team of public radio journalists covered each execution in person.

We take a look at the high rate of sexual assault in Indiana, and we’ll also look at states that are doing much better to find out what they’re doing differently.

Travel along the Wabash river and discover the inspiring stories of the people who lived along side it—from Tecumseh’s attempt to form a pan-Indian coalition to the experimental societies of New Harmony, and many destinations in between.

Travel along the Wabash river and discover the inspiring stories of the people who lived along side it—from Tecumseh’s attempt to form a pan-Indian coalition to the experimental societies of New Harmony, and many destinations in between.

With nearly 6,000 miles of hiking, pedestrian, and biking trails within its borders, Indiana boasts a wide range of recreational trails. Tour some of Indiana’s finest outdoor nature trails, hikes, rails-to-trails conversion projects, and urban trails systems.

Indiana’s Wild Landscape uses striking aerial drone footage and time-lapse techniques not available just a few years ago to give audiences a look at Indiana as it has never been seen before.

Indiana State Parks: Treasures in Your Own Backyard showcases and celebrates Indiana state parks, and introduces viewers to their vibrant, natural beauty and the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving them for future generations.

Southern Indiana is home to some of nature’s most amazing treasures – over 4,000 caves, stretching for hundreds of miles beneath the surface of the Hoosier state. From show caves to state parks, Journey Indiana: Underground transports viewers to a world that few will experience in person.

Discover the diverse history of distilling across Indiana and its rebirth as a thriving business. The film features the inimitable voices and music of Reverend and Breezy Peyton, as well as interviews with historians, legislators, and distillers.

Hoosier Brew is about capturing the heart and soul of Indiana's craft beer industry. Our goal with Hoosier Brew was to explore the culture, community, and industry that has grown over the last 25 years, and find out what makes Hoosier beer unique.

WTIU’s Hoosier Hospitality: Craft Beer is an hour-long travelogue and informative television documentary that takes you on an arm-chair journey into the world of craft beer and micro-brewing in Indiana.

Take a journey across Indiana to uncover the rich history and culture of Hoosier winemaking. We sit down with local vintners to explore their year-round production process and take you to two of the state’s largest wine festivals. Along the way, experts from the Indiana Wine Grape Council share the secrets to a perfect tasting.

Bill Cook is the visionary founder and leader of the medical devices company Cook Group.

Bob Hammel & Bloomington: A 50-Year Love Affair explores how a city, a newspaper, and history intersected to propel Hammel from small-town reporter to a nationally-celebrated figure in the world of sports.

The father of the American diesel truck engine, Cummins combined elbow grease, a keen mind, and rural pragmatism to co-found what became Cummins, Inc., a Fortune 500 international diesel and alternative fuel engines company headquartered in Columbus, Indiana.

Ernie Pyle: Life in the Trenches is a 90-minute WTIU documentary that tells the story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist who reached millions each week with stories about ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.

The Ernie Pyle Experiment was created from the archives of the Ernie Pyle collection at the Lilly Library of Indiana University. It is a thirteen-episode podcast chronicling Ernie Pyle’s pre-war work as a traveling columnist for the Scripps-Howard Newspaper syndicate.

This half-hour documentary chronicles George Taliaferro’s rise to stardom, from his emergence as a high school phenom in Gary, Indiana to an All-Pro career in the NFL in the 1950s.

During his lifetime (1849–1916), James Whitcomb Riley was one of the most popular poets in America. James Whitcomb Riley: Hoosier Poet explores his lasting legacy and the personal and professional challenges and successes he experienced as he became a beloved literary icon.

Lew Wallace led a storied life: He fought in the Civil War as the youngest major general in the Union Army; wrote Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ; as a lawyer, tried two of the most infamous acts of the Civil War; served as governor of the New Mexico territory; and served as minister to the Ottoman Empire.

Indiana Legends: Madam C.J. Walker - Two Dollars and a Dream is a story of the first woman in history to start with nothing and earn her own million-dollar fortune. This pioneering businesswoman is an inspiring illustration of a rags-to-riches existence.

This WTIU documentary examines the life and accomplishments of Major Taylor, the world's first Black sports superstar and early civil rights pioneer. Taylor set more than 20 world speed records and was one of most famous people on three continents, all while battling segregation in Jim Crow America.

Theodore Clement “T.C.” Steele was one of the most celebrated American Impressionist painters of his time. We look at the life and works of the great Hoosier Impressionist – from his hardscrabble youth, to his journey through some of the major art centers of Europe, to his return to his native Indiana.

Discover the story of a legendary jazz guitarist and composer from Indiana. Wes Montgomery was born in Indianapolis on March 6, 1923, and rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. This documentary of Wes Montgomery is told through the eyes of his youngest child, Robert Montgomery.