In-depth news reporting projects
Reporters and editors at The Evening News held our annual session this week to brainstorm in-depth news reporting projects for 2007.
Dozens of great ideas for stories were thrown out. These are stories - we call them “enterprise projects” - where we devote extra time and staff resources to taking a close look at an important issue.
A good example is the series by reporter Charles Slat in September that we called, “Our Changing Landscape.” Over six days, a series of stories covered growth and development topics ranging from urban sprawl to crumbling roads.
The ideas discussed at this year’s session ranged from studying health trends in Monroe County to probing the rise in methamphetamine use by drug abusers.
We’d love to hear your thoughts? What stories do you think we should take an in-depth look at in 2007?
December 9th, 2006 at 6:35 am
Dan, I’m wondering if transportation issues might be something to look at. There’s are two major expressways that run through the county, along with multiple rail lines, and various types of air and water traffic. How these are used and what future plans are might be interesting. But there’s also an almost forgotten past, such as the streetcar that used to run from Toledo, through Luna Pier to the old Toledo Beach park. Are there photos of any of this available? The paper’s archives might have some.
December 10th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Good suggestion, Dave. Our past is definately tied to the interstates and rail lines, and our future is likely connected to the transportation links, too.
There’s also the problem with the condition of roads. You don’t have to drive far to find a pothole.
January 1st, 2007 at 6:40 pm
This might be a bit late, but…
Energy is a big issue both internationally and locally.
We’ve just had a Supreme Court case that focused, in part, on Midwestern power production.
We have the evolving story of the Detroit Edison Monroe plant tower conversion project that is altering Monroe’s skyline.
As the auto industry changes, power production becomes an important hedge for Monroe against job economic loss.
The Middle East problems have much to do with energy use and production.
We have ethanol plants opening in nearby counties and a small indigenous gas drilling operation in the western portions of the county.
And while the power production is excellent for jobs, it means that even though I’m 31, I’ve never seen the mouth of the River Raisin and always had a brown streak across my hometown skyline.
Mike