|
|
|
It's getting hot out there. Really hot.
A heat wave has been consuming much of the country this week, with mid-90 to well over 100-degree temperatures impacting most regions and nearly all GateHouse Media markets.
The hot and sticky weather has been fun for kids who can be seen playing in sprinklers in their front yards on most evenings, but it's created headaches for health officials who are concerned about illness and death.
This is a story that can be told in a variety of angles in any community. Here are a few ideas:
Story ideas
IMPACT OF THE HEAT: Most newspapers have done a roundup story on folks dealing with the heat. A new angle to this story would be to find four people and write four separate small profiles on how the heat is impacting them. Consider finding folks in four different distinct areas of your community, maybe a health official, a kid who is playing outside, an athlete and a senior citizen. Write six inches on each and take a photo of each. Consider a consistent format for each profile like: Name, age, job, where we found them, how the heat is impacting them, how they are surviving.
POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Consider a man on the street with a spin. Find some people who are out reveling in a day like today because they love summer, then find some folks who love winter and let them square off.
BRING ON THE CHILL: Last year, the Journal Star in Peoria did a piece on those who install air conditioners. These guys are life savers this week. Here's a link.
SPORTS AND KIDS: The State Journal Register did a story for today's edition on how kids can still play outside, but parents just need to be smart. Here's a link.
BEST PLACES IN YOUR AREA TO GET COOL: Not just pools and lakes, but ice cream parlors or libraries or malls are great places to cool down. Show folks how and where they can enjoy their summer without sweating. Consider setting the story up in a glance format, similar to the profile idea, like: Where, why it's cool, why you should go, what you can do there.
HOW TO BE SAFE: Consider sitting down with a health official and discuss the dangers of heat waves and what folks, especially kids and seniors should do to protect themselves from the heat in a Q&A format.
It's getting hot out there. Really hot.
A heat wave has been consuming much of the country this week, with mid-90 to well over 100-degree temperatures impacting most regions and nearly all GateHouse Media markets.
The hot and sticky weather has been fun for kids who can be seen playing in sprinklers in their front yards on most evenings, but it's created headaches for health officials who are concerned about illness and death.
This is a story that can be told in a variety of angles in any community. Here are a few ideas:
Story ideas
IMPACT OF THE HEAT: Most newspapers have done a roundup story on folks dealing with the heat. A new angle to this story would be to find four people and write four separate small profiles on how the heat is impacting them. Consider finding folks in four different distinct areas of your community, maybe a health official, a kid who is playing outside, an athlete and a senior citizen. Write six inches on each and take a photo of each. Consider a consistent format for each profile like: Name, age, job, where we found them, how the heat is impacting them, how they are surviving.
POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Consider a man on the street with a spin. Find some people who are out reveling in a day like today because they love summer, then find some folks who love winter and let them square off.
BRING ON THE CHILL: Last year, the Journal Star in Peoria did a piece on those who install air conditioners. These guys are life savers this week. Here's a link.
SPORTS AND KIDS: The State Journal Register did a story for today's edition on how kids can still play outside, but parents just need to be smart. Here's a link.
BEST PLACES IN YOUR AREA TO GET COOL: Not just pools and lakes, but ice cream parlors or libraries or malls are great places to cool down. Show folks how and where they can enjoy their summer without sweating. Consider setting the story up in a glance format, similar to the profile idea, like: Where, why it's cool, why you should go, what you can do there.
HOW TO BE SAFE: Consider sitting down with a health official and discuss the dangers of heat waves and what folks, especially kids and seniors should do to protect themselves from the heat in a Q&A format.
HOT DEALS: In many communities, there are some great deals for golfers who are willing to play during the middle of the day. What are other good deals that businesses are offering locally to beat the heat? How can you save money in the heat?
READER PHOTOS: Ask readers to send in photos of how they are beating the heat or playing in the heat. Make a photo gallery on your web site.
A DAY OF HEAT: Consider a day in the life of your community on how it's surviving the heat, showing how people hour by hour are coping in your community.
A DAY OF PHOTOS: Showcase in a photo page how locals are coping with the heat. This also could be set up in a day in the life. Make a photo gallery on your web site.
Glances and breakouts
COMPARING THE PAST: Consider showing readers what the temperature was for a specific day the past five years or what the record high is for that specific day.
HOT ENOUGH TO FRY AN EGG: Put an egg on a variety of surfaces (asphalt, sidewalk) and see how quick the egg fries and time it. This is a great video opportunity.
YOU THINK IT’S HOT HERE? Compare the temperature in your town to the temps in the Sahara or on Mars or some other really hot places.
TIMELINE OF A DAY: Show a timeline of the heat for one day, on how it changes by temperature from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HOW A HEAT WAVE WORKS: Talk to a local expert about how heat waves start and why they happen.
READER STORIES: Ask readers to write in about their memories of their hottest summers. Maybe in your community there is a well-known hot summer that old-timers could share their memories on. If you have access to some of those old photos, run them and seek reader stories. The photos may trigger those memories.
BY THE NUMBERS: Show high temperatures around your region in a quick by the numbers box.
LOTS OF TIPS: The CDC is a good source for tips on staying cool and being safe. Check out this link. Here are some tips from Peoria.
PROTECT YOUR PETS: Keeping your pets safe from the heat. Here's a link.
FOR SENIORS: In this News Service health rail, you can find some information on tips on heat stress for the elderly.
What are you doing with the heat wave? Send links and PDFs to me.
David Arkin is the executive director of the News & Interactive Division for GateHouse Media. He can be reached at darkin@gatehousemedia.com.
