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June 2007 - Posts

Thursday, June 28, 2007 9:35 PM

Alabama Accolades

Kudos to two Alabama papers for a couple of strong projects. "Flood Maps" by Steve Myers of the Mobile Register investigated how federal flood maps for the state are dangerously inaccurate. Myers looked at flood records for eight hurricanes that
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 28, 2007 8:15 AM

Poisoning Children

Children's toys and jewelry sold in stores throughout the Tampa Bay area contain dangerous amounts of lead, the Tampa Tribune's Mary Shedden reports in "Toxic Trinkets." Out of 50 items tested by the Tribune, one in three contained lead
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:30 AM

A Burning Question

The Press-Enterprise in inland Southern California has developed an impressive multimedia look at the costs and benefits of alternative energy options to combat global warming. Its "Future Power" project, appearing Sunday, examines how development
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 8:30 AM

The Powerful Mr. Cheney

This week Barton Gellman and Jo Becker of The Washington Post are presenting an extraordinarily deep portrait of Dick Cheney. Their "Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency" runs for four days and shows with terrific details how Cheney has accumulated
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Sunday, June 24, 2007 2:01 PM

Legislative Largess

Brett J. Blackledge of The Birmingham News is continuing his Pulitzer-winning investigation into corruption at Alabama's community colleges. His "Follow the Money" story in Sunday's paper reveals that state legislators have sent more than $1 million
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Friday, June 22, 2007 8:15 AM

A Bill of One's Own

Virginia Young and Jake Wagman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch are doing a great job of being watchdogs for the public. Their "A Tax-Credit Bill for One Man?" investigates how developer Paul J. McKee Jr., has amassed hundreds of pieces of property
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 21, 2007 8:30 AM

Reporter Superhero

The wonderful "Expose: America's Investigative Reports" is back. The newest episode, "Think Like a Terrorist," went online yesterday and premiers on PBS tomorrow night. It follows Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Carl Prine as he reveals the
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 8:15 AM

A Small County in Texas

The Texas Observer, the former home of journalism legends such as Willie Morris and Molly Ivins, continues to feature some great reporting and writing. Earlier this month the biweekly Observer ran Mary Jo McConahay's "They Die in Brooks County," which shows
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 8:30 AM

Be All You Can Be

Yesterday I featured a great story by Dana Priest and Anne Hull of the Washington Post about what happened to a war hero after he returned from Iraq. Today I want to showcase a brilliant story by Ben Montgomery of the St. Petersburg
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Monday, June 18, 2007 8:30 AM

Mental Battle Scars

Two powerful stories appeared Sunday on the emotional wounds being carried home from Iraq and Afghanistan. "The War Inside" by Dana Priest and Anne Hull of the Washington Post describes the plight of Army Spec. Jeans Cruz, who was hailed
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Friday, June 15, 2007 8:30 AM

Common People

Many reporters, myself included, have struggled over the years to humanize stories about the legislative process. Stephanie Garry of the Miami Herald, however, successfully finds a way to breathe life into coverage of the Florida Legislature with "Personal
posted by jonmarshall | 1 Comments
Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:15 AM

Queen of Soul

It was 40 years ago this month that Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, and the Detroit Free Press is giving the masterpiece its propers. Its "Forty Years of 'Respect'" Web package features a
posted by jonmarshall | 3 Comments
Wednesday, June 13, 2007 8:15 AM

One Marine's Battle Back Home

The Times Herald-Record in New York's Catskills and Hudson Valley deserves applause for its continuing coverage of what's happened to a local marine since he returned home from Iraq with severe brain injuries. In the "Saving Sgt. Ryan" series,
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:30 AM

From Afghanistan to the Classroom

The Washington Post had two powerful stories yesterday. "The Sole Survivor" by Laura Blumenfeld narrates the life-and-death struggle of Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell as he lies in the bottom of a gulch in Afghanistan, his body riddled with shrapnel
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Monday, June 11, 2007 8:10 AM

Big Test Cheating

The tests scores of more than 50,000 Texas students show evidence of cheating, especially on a high-stakes exams required for graduation, Joshua Benton and Holly K. Hacker of The Dallas Morning News reported last week. Benton and Hacker's three-part
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Friday, June 08, 2007 2:27 AM

Risking Public Money

The July issue of Bloomberg Markets has a great story by David Evans describing how Wall Street is selling risky investments to public pension funds. Evans' "The Poison in your Pension" details how public funds such as the California Public Employees'
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:02 PM

Campaigning on the Edge

With all the attention being paid to Mitt, Rudy, Hillary, Barack and other big-name candidates, it's fun to read about an intriguing candidate that hardly anyone thinks has a chance -- except himself. In "The Sane Fringe Candidate," Matt
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 05, 2007 1:32 AM

Military Aid

The Center for Public Integrity, whose motto is "Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest," has put together a fascinating look at U.S. foreign and military policy. The Center's "Collateral Damage" project features a database that allows
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 05, 2007 12:09 AM

Old-Timers in Flight

Lots of great stories have been written about the toll the Iraq War has taken on troops and civilians. David Wood of The Baltimore Sun takes a different look at the war's cost by looking at how it's straining the capacity of U.S. Air Force equipment.
posted by jonmarshall | 1 Comments
Sunday, June 03, 2007 3:55 PM

Rite of Passage

Maybe it's the thrill of rebellion, or the defiance of danger, or just the satisfaction of jumping into cool water on a hot, sticky day. Whatever the reason, the young people of Milford, Mass., keep returning to the local quarries to dive into the water,
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments
Friday, June 01, 2007 8:30 AM

The Immigrants

As the immigration debate simmers around the country, "Beyond Borders" does an outstanding job of sharing information and giving the human side of the story through multiple media. "Beyond Borders" is part of the Chicago Matters series, a collaborative
posted by jonmarshall | 0 Comments