In studio this week is Fritz Crabb, Director of Literary Services at United Way's Schools of Hope. Many teachers will dig into their own pockets to provide art supplies for their elementary school students. Find out how Schools of Hope helps to alleviate those sacrifices.
Music this week is by two artists from the east side of the state, Sheila Landis and Rick Matle. The song is "Back to School" from their release, Riding the Round Pool.
MEDIA ANALYSIS
Slingshot SMS (Augmented reality + media)
A group out of Berlin has developed a slingshot device to couple with a large projector so users can type in a message and shoot at any large facade. What results is the message, splattered onto the facade with a paint stain dripping down the building.
[Read more: Guerilla Innovation, Gizmodo]
Freelance journalist solicited for corporate spying
The Atlantic recently ran a piece by freelance journalist Mary Cuddhe about how a company hired by Chevron approached her to investigate a health study in Colombia. The health study is a cornerstone in an environmental lawsuit against Chevron for improper maintenance of oil wells, causing high rates of cancer and death in the area. Cuddhe was offered a large sum of money to pose as herself in the investigation, and she ultimately refused because she would not be doing journalistic work.
[Read more: Democracy Now, The Atlantic]
Israeli soldier poses with Palestinian prisoners
An Israeli soldier whose photo appeared in a fellow soldier's Facebook album shows the Israeli soldier posing with Palestinian prisoners who have been blindfolded. The soldier defended her actions, saying that she has been a model soldier, and that the picture was a memento of her time in the military.
[Read more: Democracy Now, New York Times]
Mobile magazine Nomad Editions to launch in October
A group of media entrepreneurs, including a former president of Newsweek, have embarked on a new venture to create a bite-sized, weekly mobile magazine. Each Friday beginning in October, the New York-based startup will publish the mobile magazine, meant to be consumed in about 30 minutes. Each issue will be topical and will have two long-form pieces accompanied by four shorter pieces.
[Read more: New York Times, Poynter, GoMoNews]
Story Lab model inspires imitations
The Washington Post is trying an on-the-fly reporting by assigning select reporters each week to go to a location, pre-determined and publicized, and cover the most interesting story in the vicinity. Called the Story Lab, Washington Post has received both praise and criticism for this approach. Among its recent victories, the Story Lab project inspired an episode of This American Life in which reporters were sent to nine different towns in Georgia to seek out the most interesting person in town and create an audio story.
[Columbia Journalism Review, Washington Post]
2010 Knight News Challenge winners: Order in the Court 2.0
Order in the Court is a project out of Boston that aims to update judicial reporting. The project is based on a couple of premises. First, that courtroom reporting conventions haven't changed since the 1970s and '80s, second that there needs to be more transparency in courtroom so citizens have confidence in judicial work, third that judicial branch is slowest to adopt digital tech. There will be an area with wi-fi connection and Order in the Court will experiment with live streaming.
[Read more: Knight, MediaShift]
CALENDAR
[FUNDRAISER] Grand Rapids NOW Night at the Meanwhile
Saturday, August 21 at 4 p.m. at The Meanwhile Bar, 1005 Wealthy St SE
a night benefiting the National Organization for Women - Grand Rapids Chapter, is being held at The Meanwhile Bar. There will be a reception with food from 4 to 8 p.m. and proceeds from the entire evening (until 2 a.m.) will benefit NOW-GR. Many of the NOW-GR Board members will be there. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
[More info]
[COMMUNITY EVENT] BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Southwest Park Party
Monday, August 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clemente Park, at the corner of Godfrey Ave. and Rumsey St. SW
GRPS has several back to school neighborhood park parties planned this year with food and helpful information about the district and the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. At this event, there will be GRPS information booths, food, fun games and children's activities. Check The Rapidian calendar for more information.
[More info]
[EDUCATION] GR Free School: French language course
Wednesday, August 25 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cherry Park: 725 Cherry St. SE.
The GR Free School, a loose collective of volunteers who are interested in peer education, is offering an ongoing French course taught by two skilled speakers of French. This class continues every Wednesday at the same time through September. For more information, visit the GR Free School calendar.
[More info]
[LITERATURE] Story Time with the Mighty Wurlitzer
Monday, August 30 at 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and noon
Characters and animals from the pages of story books will be brought to life through the sounds of the accompanying Wurlitzer organ at the Grand Rapids Library. Admission is free with general admission. Call (616) 456.3977 for more info or visit the downtowngr.org calendar.
[More info]
The Rapidian, a program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Community Media Center, relies on the community’s support to help cover the cost of training reporters and publishing content.
We need your help.
If each of our readers and content creators who values this community platform help support its creation and maintenance, The Rapidian can continue to educate and facilitate a conversation around issues for years to come.
Please support The Rapidian and make a contribution today.
