Author: taudette

Earlier this summer, with the arrival of the Journal‘s team of intrepid intern reporters, I put my mind to explaining how to generate story ideas — the result, a lunch-hour presentation involving reporters and editors from throughout the newsroom, can be found here.

Even after my pre-brainstorming session brainstorming, however (how’s that for temporal confusion?), I couldn’t help thinking the art of coming up with story ideas is a learned one, heavily reliant on familiarity with your city or beat, and conversations with coworkers, family, friends and people you encounter while doing other stories, at parties, and generally out and about. There isn’t really an equation to it, there are no guarantees, and there are days it can feel like throwing spaghetti noodles at a wall and hoping something sticks. During my first summer in Edmonton, in 2005, I spent many a night poring over the websites and local newspapers of very small northern Alberta communities, then making endless phone calls. The effort resulted in familiarity with the geography of northern Alberta, at least one trip outside the city (Slave Lake!), and general skills that would prove handy when later assigned to the crime bureau.

So this presentation, to our crew of talented new reporters, offers just some starting points.

As newsrooms shrink, sometimes journalists worry over what we ought to say to incoming or graduating journalism students. I can’t help thinking there is more room today than ever before for student journalists and freelancers to pitch story ideas that end up under the radar on a busy news day. Whether freelance budgets are flexible enough to buy the pitches is another matter, of course. But I happen to have bottomless faith that, when a story meets a certain criteria of absolutely necessary to the public good (while still objective and non-partisan in its outlook) and fascinating to read, it will always find a market.

It’s been a busy couple months since I last posted — I headed back to London briefly for my graduation (amazing!) and spent most of January and much of December occupied with coverage of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.

On the personal front, after some editing, my dissertation was published as part of the LSE Media and Communication department’s Electronic MSc Dissertation Series. Entitled, “Observers, Witnesses, Victims or Activists? How Inuit Voices are Represented in Mainstream Canadian Press Coverage of Global Warming,” it is the product of much contemplation and research over the course of my year away. Here is the abstract:

“Global warming in the Arctic has prompted international debate over contested maritime borders and the potential promise and pitfalls of new natural resource extraction. However, heightened political rhetoric related to Canada’s North and Arctic sovereignty has not been accompanied by new attention to the political claims and narratives of people indigenous to
the region. Inuit cultures are endangered when receding ice and melting permafrost compromise hunting practices and threaten the sustainability of isolated northern communities. By surveying 135 articles published over a five-year period in three agenda setting Canadian newspapers – the Globe and Mail, Edmonton Journal and Toronto Star – this research shows Inuit voices are absent from nearly half of all articles dealing directly
with climate change, the Arctic and indigenous community issues.

“As a case study of the extent to which traditionally marginalized groups are represented in mainstream news coverage of ongoing political issues, this research is grounded in postcolonial theory and Nick Couldry’s (2010) concept of ‘effective voice.’ Content and critical discourse analysis are employed to interrogate how Inuit voices are represented, treating the
act of voicing claims as a political one. Among this paper’s key findings is the extent to which Inuit voices are marginalized when accounts of experience or observation are treated as the only narratives for Inuit community members to share, effectively framing them as witnesses to or victims of climate change rather than political actors.”

I also had an opportunity earlier this month to build on my Freedom of Information seminar, when I was a guest presenter for a second-year journalism class at MacEwan University in Edmonton. The presentation is here, and it expands on ideas from an earlier seminar I delivered to colleagues at the office. For this audience, I expanded a little on some basic do’s and don’ts (like please, please, please don’t lead a story by saying you got a document! boring!), and talked about non-journalists who could benefit from FOIP and ATIP know-how, like community or NGO advocates, post-graduate students, or business professionals….

Meanwhile, the Journal‘s dedicated page for all things related to the Northern Gateway pipeline can be found here. As an environment reporter, my part in our coverage includes landowners’ questions, Albertans’ stake in this, provincial politics, federal politics and aboriginal issues.

This week I had the privilege of leading a workshop on making access to information (or freedom of information) requests for my colleagues at The Journal.

You’ll find my slides here — pretty straightforward overview stuff designed to briefly consider why and when reporters might use FOIP. Feel free to send me tips for better approaches or things that should be considered. And, if you’re super keen on access to information and you haven’t come across it already, I’d definitely recommend The Paper Trail blog, currently on hiatus but due to return to the Vancouver Sun in September 2012.

The best part of my presentation, however, was the part I can’t share — all the amazing story ideas reporters came up with in break-out groups. It’s hard not to be pumped about journalists taking an hour out of their day to think about great journalism and fill a white-board with a range of ideas relevant to all sections of the newspaper.

On Oct. 7, Alison Redford was sworn in as Alberta’s first female premier, and I was assigned to “live Tweet” the event for The Edmonton Journal.

On one hand, this isn’t a totally new way of covering an event for me; as part of Postmedia’s team, we  used Twitter to cover the Royal Wedding in London this spring. As well, when I was assigned to the provincial affairs beat at The Journal, I was one of the first reporters to use Twitter to find stories, talk to sources and cover events happening inside the Legislature chamber such as debate over Bill 44, a controversial piece of human rights legislation.

Nonetheless, it speaks to a new, digital-first mode of news coverage. The Tweets are an engaging way of covering a live event for print reporters — my Twitter timeline is below — and ultimately contribute to this story.

(#ableg is the hashtag for Alberta’s provincial legislature; #Redford is the hashtag for the new premier; #yeg is the hashtag for Edmonton.)

9 a.m. Alta’s 1st female premier to be sworn in today at #ableg I’ll be live-tweeting, follow edmontonjournal.com #Redford http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Watch+Alison+Redford+sworn+Alberta+premier+today/5514184/story.html

This column from @Graham_Journal sets up today’s swearing-in #ableg #redford http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Gaffes+come+with+territory/5510000/story.html

10 a.m. Setting up the #ableg rotunda for #Redford‘s swearing-in http://yfrog.com/nyrowrnj

About 100 seats on main floor for invited guests, standing room 2nd level for public #ableg #Redford

11 a.m. On other floors of #ableg, closed-circuit TVs so staff can watch #Redford‘s swearing-in ceremony

Spouses, [including] Glen Jermyn, #Redford‘s husband, and Marie Stelmach, to arrive at 1050 am #ableg

Another picture from inside #ableg in preparation for #Redford‘s swearing-in, which starts 11 am

Stelmach hands in his resignation letter at 11:10 am, according to ceremony plan given to media #ableg #Redford

At 11:15 am, #Redford takes Oath of Office, the whole event to wrap by 11:30 #ableg

#Redford just walked along 2nd level of #ableg to clapping of those gathered

12-yr-old Sneh Yadav, from Calgary, says “it’ll be cool to see a girl leader now” #Redford #ableg

Sneh drove up with dad Dave last night, she’s friends with #Redford‘s daughter Sarah, they had [breakfast] together this morning #ableg

I wrote a first-person piece about the London riots for Postmedia News this week, which in turn appeared in The Edmonton Journal, The Vancouver Sun and The Victoria Times Colonist.

Aug 10 2011

This is probably my last blog post for Polis, a journalism and society think tank based in LSE’s Media and Communications department, as my web editor internship comes to a close.

As a Canadian looking on at the British phone-hacking scandal, I have so many questions going forward, and some very mixed feelings, including not a little unease at the notion politicians would define reporting standards…. That said, my blog post ends with a question about where the boundaries of any increased/externally-enforced regulation might lie. Will bloggers face the same scrutiny as mainstream press? Should they?

(The picture included in this post was originally posted here.)

I took some time out this week for some personal travel writing; here’s my piece on lovely Zadar, in northern Croatia.

It’s been a sort of crazy spring, with term papers, exams, and the fantastic opportunity to file stories for Postmedia News about the Royal Wedding. Using Wordle, I’ve cobbled together a word cloud from my essay notes to shed some light on my assigned work for the MSc Media, Communication and Development program.

And, here are snapshots of studying for May exams…

all alongside an embarrassingly awful soundtrack. No judgment though, right?

Closing out my part in covering the Royal Wedding, here is a colour story I wrote for the papers, and my last blog post, which drew on the eager Canadians I met waiting outside Buckingham Palace early Friday morning.

• The hour-by-hour forecast for London Friday — fingers crossed no rain! http://bit.ly/cKOu7w #RoyalWedding
• Telegraph headline: Kate waves goodbye to her life as a commoner #RoyalWedding
• Sun headline, above pic of Kate and William, inset pic of Diana: Mum would be so proud #RoyalWedding
• Vanloads of police moving up Northumberland Ave toward Trafalgar, helicopters overhead… #RoyalWedding
• New Brunswick retiree Connie Carter is just two pple away from the front of the crowd on the Mall – and she didn’t have to sleep here!
• Carter says she was drawn to #Royalwedding by heritage
• Line of 25 at Cafe Express on the Mall; people are surprisingly chipper for 6 am! #RoyalWedding
• “It’s like history,” Andrea Robb, wearing a Cdn flag, says of coming to the #RoyalWedding
• She and mom Robin Robb, from Lakefield, Ont., have been on the Mall ssince 5-530 am – and should have a pretty great view of #RoyalWedding
• “Anything is good, we can’t wait. All our friends are very envious back home,” Robin Robb says #RoyalWedding
• It is BACKED UP trying to get to Buckingham Palace – in fact police are blocking the walk to Victoria Monument #RoyalWedding
• Wrist bands needed to get through SouthAfrica gate at BuckinghamPalace… #RoyalWedding
• Meanwhile crowd is cheering for everything that passes, including newscasters #RoyalWedding
• Toronto couple Joey and Peter Kalata got here 6am, hoping to get thru crowded SouthAfrica gate – #RoyalWedding
• “I just want to see the queen on the balcony waving,” says Peter Kalata. “It’s going to be a lot of fun here in England” #RoyalWedding
• After some of the pushing and shoving at the gate, nice to meet people genuinely excited for the event – why come to #RoyalWedding angry?
• Bruce Lockhart, from Dundas, Ont., got to Buckingham Palace with his wife Karen and friends at 330 am. Perfect view of balcony #RoyalWedding
• Newfoundland Gate is viable entryway to Victoria Monument circle, if you’re in London – go through from Green Park tube stn #RoyalWedding
• Dawn Zucchelli, from Van, found spot right in front of the balcony, too – this is her 1st live #RoyalWedding, watched Charles+Di on TV in 81
• “It’s very exciting, it’s history, and it’s something that’s very happy, it’s a happy event,” Zucchelli says. #RoyalWedding
• @jesspowless thank you! You should see some of the fabulous outfits and shoes people are wearing!
• BBC cameraman kind enough to deliver Newfoundland mom and daughter straight in front of the palace at 630 am #RoyalWedding
• “Whether you’re a monarchist or not…we need this,” Brenda Hunt-Stevenson of Harbour Grace, NF says of #RoyalWedding
• @carycastagna thankfully not raining here so far! Grey skies and a little chilly tho… #RoyalWedding
• While some have already broken into Pimms and wine, others are still trying to sleep on ground outside Buckingham Palace #RoyalWedding
• Just met two teens from Bedford, UK wearing vintage wedding gowns, signs: “it should have been me” #RoyalWedding
• Father to daughter: we’re not drinking any liquids. But you can have chocolate. #RoyalWedding #avoidingportapotties
• People cheerily waving Union Jacks, making noise for vans believed to be carrying royals, and public works trucks. #RoyalWedding
• (Yes, a few hours still from #RoyalWedding kiss, crowd getting a titch bored at Buckingham Palace)
• Halifax women Carla Beyreis and Michelle Doucet promised each other 5 yrs ago they’d attend Prince William’s #RoyalWedding. Got here 2 am
• “They’re a perfect match,” Beyreis says of Will and Kate. “We’re looking forward to see them reigning.” #RoyalWedding
• People cheering sporadically and waving flags, but at 5’4″ it’s hard to tell whether it’s Will-related #RoyalWedding
• After hrs waiting, people at Buckingham Palace are ready for something to happen #RoyalWedding
• Organ music playing over speakers at Buckingham Palace #RoyalWedding
• What has felt like a party much of the morning is quiet now with Abbey happenings laying soundtrack #RoyalWedding
• People cheer as vows broadcast outside Buckingham Palace #RoyalWedding
• 15-yr old Sydney Rossiter, from Ottawa, is waiting outside Buckingham Palace for the big kiss #RoyalWedding
• “It’s awesome,” Rossiter said of the day. I’m so glad it hasn’t rained yet” #RoyalWedding
• Children on their parents’ shoulders, waiting for Will and Kate to be on the balcony. Follow @sproudfoot for kiss deets #RoyalWedding
• People at Buckingham Palace being allowed forward, to palace gates ahead of #RoyalWedding kiss
• It looks like a sea of people sweeping up the Mall #RoyalWedding
• Brenda Hunt-Stevenson, a NF woman who’s been at BPalace since 630am, says Will and Kate’s 2 kisses well worth wait #RoyalWedding
• Also, crowds now slowly dispersing, leaving trash, paper flags and even mattresses in their wake #RoyalWedding
• Photo gallery from my spot at Buckingham Palace today #RoyalWeddinghttp://bit.ly/jJpTL6