Numbers and big projects
I put another story in the can today, had Chinese food for lunch and started another big project... because I was bored. Then I called it a day after less than six hours. I ran to the library to see if they could answer a question for me. They couldn't. By the way, does anyone know what a law enforcement group in Tijuana during the late 30s would be called?
So the new project springs directly from the IRE (investigative reporters and editors) training. I looked up some census data because the US is approaching 300 million people. I talked about this before. Anyway, I asked my editor if any towns in the area had seen significant growth. He suggested three. I called up, looking for population data. I only got a hold of one town, but they've seen a 13 percent increase in the last five years—twice that of the national average. I see a medium range project here. Talk to some people, find out who's coming, why and what the effects are in the town. More people means more infrastructure needed and such.
IRE training reared its head in another place. I got my hands on the police statistics for the last three months for one of my towns. The stats showed a marked increase in traffic stops. I called the chief and asked why. Apparently, this state writes grants to local towns to put extra officers on duty for the expressed purpose of catching dangerous drivers and drivers under the influence. You gotta love how a little research and a little math can lead you to a story.
I got my first check today and I took it to a local bank. I'm going to set up direct deposit and get an ATM card (my second, but I'm getting rid of the first.) It wasn't as big as I would have liked, but I understand my normal weeks will be notably bigger. As a free gift for opening the account, I got a tool box. I actually thanked them. Since moving out of my mother's house, I haven't had tools. Now I do.
On another note, I might do a HUGE project. I got pissed off today. I picked up a local daily and saw that 150 local soldiers shipped out. I knew this was coming, and had called the national guard's PR guy, but he never got back to me. I called him again. This time, he got back to me. Eight of those soldiers came from my coverage area. Now they were gone. I could have gotten some good pictures and a better article. Now they're out.
Well, he might more than compensate. The PR guy says the national guard is arranging a press trip from here to Mississippi, where the soldiers are training. I might be on it. If this happens, it would be the biggest thing this paper has ever done, and I'll have only been here for a month.
So the new project springs directly from the IRE (investigative reporters and editors) training. I looked up some census data because the US is approaching 300 million people. I talked about this before. Anyway, I asked my editor if any towns in the area had seen significant growth. He suggested three. I called up, looking for population data. I only got a hold of one town, but they've seen a 13 percent increase in the last five years—twice that of the national average. I see a medium range project here. Talk to some people, find out who's coming, why and what the effects are in the town. More people means more infrastructure needed and such.
IRE training reared its head in another place. I got my hands on the police statistics for the last three months for one of my towns. The stats showed a marked increase in traffic stops. I called the chief and asked why. Apparently, this state writes grants to local towns to put extra officers on duty for the expressed purpose of catching dangerous drivers and drivers under the influence. You gotta love how a little research and a little math can lead you to a story.
I got my first check today and I took it to a local bank. I'm going to set up direct deposit and get an ATM card (my second, but I'm getting rid of the first.) It wasn't as big as I would have liked, but I understand my normal weeks will be notably bigger. As a free gift for opening the account, I got a tool box. I actually thanked them. Since moving out of my mother's house, I haven't had tools. Now I do.
On another note, I might do a HUGE project. I got pissed off today. I picked up a local daily and saw that 150 local soldiers shipped out. I knew this was coming, and had called the national guard's PR guy, but he never got back to me. I called him again. This time, he got back to me. Eight of those soldiers came from my coverage area. Now they were gone. I could have gotten some good pictures and a better article. Now they're out.
Well, he might more than compensate. The PR guy says the national guard is arranging a press trip from here to Mississippi, where the soldiers are training. I might be on it. If this happens, it would be the biggest thing this paper has ever done, and I'll have only been here for a month.
posted by Matt Casey at 4:39 PM
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