The Waterkeeper Alliance, http://www.waterkeeper.org/, is a group that looks over local groups that are involved in providing a voice for waterways and their communities worldwide. They support Waterkeeper organizations to protect communities, ecosystems and water quality, as well as promoting watershed protection worldwide.
Here is a news link about the Waterkeeper Alliance - http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-md.poultry24jan24,0,7526704.story
Emerald Coastkeeper, http://emeraldcoastkeeper.org/, is the local group here in our area that is involved with the Waterkeeper Alliance. They are dedicated to protecting the waterways of this area, and do so through education, outreach programs and leading by example, and at times through legal remedies.
Here is a news link about the Emerald Coastkeeper - http://www.pnj.com/article/20090106/NEWS01/901060314/1006/NEWS01
With the local problems with water pollution, a possible story angle could be how do they respond to and act against the local plants and companies that pollute into the local waterways.
Some key questions that could be asked at the news conference are:
1. Where does the majority of the problems come from in regards to pollution in the waterways in our area?
2. In what ways are the Emerald Coastkeepers actively fighting the pollution problems in our area?
3. What are the negative effects of pollution in our area that the group is aware of?
The way to connect with the readers would be to make it hit as close to home as possible. Make them feel like they are part of the story, and that the Emerald Coastkeepers are trying to prevent things that are happening in their neighborhood.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Reading 1
White, de Crevecouer and Bartram all had unique and differing views on nature and ways of portraying their views. I do not think any of the writers are “better”, but I feel that each of them are unique in their own way.
To me, the most interesting of the three to read was Bartram. Bartram had a true and natural enthusiasm for nature and he revealed that in the way he wrote. I felt he was the least knowledgeable of the three, but it did not stop him at all. He really enjoyed his encounters with nature and even put himself in danger with the alligators.
White was a definite scientist. He documented many his encounters with nature and he looked at nature as an experiment. He didn’t seem all that concerned with taking nature out of its environment or altering nature, but he always seemed to have a reason to do it.
De Crevecouer depended on nature, obviously as a farmer, but it almost seemed as if he felt bad at times for using nature to his benefit, like when he ate the egg. De Crevecouer was protective of nature, but realized that sometimes nature needed to be impeded with, such as when he killed the animals to protect his farm.
I feel that Bartram reflects today’s environmental consciousness more than White and de Crevecouer. Bartram enjoyed nature and his passion for it can be seen today in many naturists. But I do feel that White and de Crevecouer both had some characteristics that do reflect today’s environmental consciousness, such as White and his documentation and de Crevecourer and his protection.
To me, the most interesting of the three to read was Bartram. Bartram had a true and natural enthusiasm for nature and he revealed that in the way he wrote. I felt he was the least knowledgeable of the three, but it did not stop him at all. He really enjoyed his encounters with nature and even put himself in danger with the alligators.
White was a definite scientist. He documented many his encounters with nature and he looked at nature as an experiment. He didn’t seem all that concerned with taking nature out of its environment or altering nature, but he always seemed to have a reason to do it.
De Crevecouer depended on nature, obviously as a farmer, but it almost seemed as if he felt bad at times for using nature to his benefit, like when he ate the egg. De Crevecouer was protective of nature, but realized that sometimes nature needed to be impeded with, such as when he killed the animals to protect his farm.
I feel that Bartram reflects today’s environmental consciousness more than White and de Crevecouer. Bartram enjoyed nature and his passion for it can be seen today in many naturists. But I do feel that White and de Crevecouer both had some characteristics that do reflect today’s environmental consciousness, such as White and his documentation and de Crevecourer and his protection.
Response to Sisskin
The League of Women Voters seems to be a good organization with the community coming first in their objectives. They work through the government to help combat their issues. They seem very organized and really believe in getting voters involved in all of their issues. I also noticed that they will not endorse candidates, but only back issues.
The Bay Area Resource Council seems as it is a fair and balanced organization that consists of elected officials from the local governments. They have different groups that have different purposes for the environment, from working with schools to working with environmental standards.
As far as Sisskin’s op-ed, I think she had some good and bad ideas, but all from a good heart. Synchronizing traffic lights and educating youth about the environment were two ways that I really felt were reasonable, but having alternative work hours and more carpooling may be a little too much. Many businesses have to get their work done at the “working hours” of the day, and asking them to change might hurt their business. And neighborhood carpooling is something that is hard for this area with how spread out the area is.
The Bay Area Resource Council seems as it is a fair and balanced organization that consists of elected officials from the local governments. They have different groups that have different purposes for the environment, from working with schools to working with environmental standards.
As far as Sisskin’s op-ed, I think she had some good and bad ideas, but all from a good heart. Synchronizing traffic lights and educating youth about the environment were two ways that I really felt were reasonable, but having alternative work hours and more carpooling may be a little too much. Many businesses have to get their work done at the “working hours” of the day, and asking them to change might hurt their business. And neighborhood carpooling is something that is hard for this area with how spread out the area is.
Response to coal ash story
I think this is a very feasible as a class project.
First of all, the plant is so close to the UWF campus that it makes it a legitimate story for a class at UWF to cover. With it being so close, it could be a danger for the students at UWF. Just imagine if an accident occured such as the one in Tennessee and the toxic materials reached the UWF campus, which is very likely considering the one in Tennessee went across 300 acres.
What effect would that have on the students and campus at UWF?That is the angle I would take as a reporter, a cautionary one. One that informs and warns the UWF students that something of that nature may occur, the ways to help to prevent it and the if something does happen, how to react.
As far as multimedia, I think videos of the plant and the proximity to UWF would work great, as well as a possible demonstration of the plant having an accident and the harm it could cause the UWF campus.
Obviously, you want to contact the highest authority possible at the plant, and let them relegate from there. I have learned that through contacts for stories at school and at work. When you go to the top, you may not get the top, but you cover yourself. Also some good contacts would be emergency management at UWF and the EPA, which is located in Gulf Breeze.
First of all, the plant is so close to the UWF campus that it makes it a legitimate story for a class at UWF to cover. With it being so close, it could be a danger for the students at UWF. Just imagine if an accident occured such as the one in Tennessee and the toxic materials reached the UWF campus, which is very likely considering the one in Tennessee went across 300 acres.
What effect would that have on the students and campus at UWF?That is the angle I would take as a reporter, a cautionary one. One that informs and warns the UWF students that something of that nature may occur, the ways to help to prevent it and the if something does happen, how to react.
As far as multimedia, I think videos of the plant and the proximity to UWF would work great, as well as a possible demonstration of the plant having an accident and the harm it could cause the UWF campus.
Obviously, you want to contact the highest authority possible at the plant, and let them relegate from there. I have learned that through contacts for stories at school and at work. When you go to the top, you may not get the top, but you cover yourself. Also some good contacts would be emergency management at UWF and the EPA, which is located in Gulf Breeze.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
