Just a heads up that there are still two stories up for grabs for the January, 2009 edition of Speaknews:
1. We’re sure that everyone has noticed the minus bazillion degree weather in Edmonton over the last couple of weeks. While it’s unpleasant for everyone, it can be potentially deadly for homeless Edmontonians, straining the capacity of institutions like the Food Bank, the Mustardseed, and the Bissell Centre to keep up with demand. We’re going to be running a short piece on the work of one of these organizations, and how it changes during the winter season. If someone would like to take this article, we can arrange an email interview for you with someone at one of these institutions (of course, you’re more than likely to make it a slightly longer article and include more than one. But if you’d like to get some experience doing investigative journalism, it isn’t going to get any easier than this).
2. Omar Khadr is a 22-year old Canadian citizen being held in Guantanamo bay. Recent months have seen massive Canada-wide movements in an attempt to get the Canadian government to use diplomatic pressure to have him released. A short research piece on the Omar Khadr story is still up for grabs. We can hook the writer up with an appropriate U of A professor for an email interview. If you want to write a research-only story, that’s fine too (there is plentiful, reliable info through major news agencies on the internet).
These stories are relatively easy to research and write (and should be just a few hundred words), interviewees (should you opt for one) are exceedingly friendly and knowledgeable, and you’re looking at hundreds of guaranteed readers for your piece. The deadline is January 1st, which is more than enough time to submit a working draft (that’s all that’s required). And if you’d like to take one, but need a 24 or 48 hour extension, that can probably be arranged.
All in all, truly a great resume-building, skill-building, bragging-rights-building opportunity. If you’re interested, please reply ASAP – first come, first serve on both pieces.
Contact jhr.speaknews(at)gmail.com if you are interested, or for more information.
