NMiF looks at restoring state rivers; UNM signs check for Coach Eck

This week on New Mexico in Focus, two environmental experts tell us why they are pushing state officials to invest more heavily in river restoration.

Correspondent Elizabeth Miller sits down with Dan Roper, an advocate from nonprofit Trout Unlimited, and docuseries filmmaker Renea Roberts, to talk about the importance of caring for our rivers.

The 2025 New Mexico Local News Ecosystem Report includes a first-of-its-kind interactive map that includes details about nearly every newsroom in our state. Host Nash Jones recently met with the three people who put the report together to discuss their project and how the map also shows the state's many news deserts.

The University of New Mexico signed head football coach Jason Eck to a new five-year contract worth up to $8 million and change, making him the highest paid public employee in state history. To learn more about the first-year coach and the historic check the university signed, DiVizio breaks it all down with Albuquerque Journal sportswriter Sean Reider.

A short student documentary, "La Planta," tells the story of a local Latino organization that promotes veganism among Mexican and Mexican American communities. Lou spoke with two of the student documentarians about their work.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

NMiF Segments

How NM Can Do More to Restore Its Rivers
Correspondent
Elizabeth Miller

Guests
Dan Roper, advocate, Trout Unlimited
Renea Roberts, filmmaker, "Thinking Like Water" docuseries

Mapping New Mexico's Newsrooms
Host
Nash Jones

Guests
Gwyneth Doland, UNM professor and NMiF contributor
Michael Marcotte, journalism consultant
Rashad Mahmood, executive director, New Mexico Local News Fund

UNM Signs Check for Coach Eck
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio

Guest
Sean Reider, sportswriter, Albuquerque Journal

Student Documentary Explores Vegan Mexican Cuisine
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio

Guests
Jovana Flores, UNM student filmmaker and director, "La Planta"
Matt Finlay, UNM student filmmaker, "La Planta"

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.