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Chicago, IL —
Every family has a story about Thanksgiving -- the weather and traveling, the burned or frozen turkey, the annual football rivalry.
Tap into these and get a reader-driven feature going now for Thanksgiving:
-- Disasters: Cooking turkey, stuffing and the rest of the holiday feast takes skill. Sometimes, it ends in calamity, and a phone call to the nearest pizza place. Ask readers to submit stories and photos of Thanksgiving gone bad -- I think you'll be surprised at what people share. Could be a contest opportunity here, too -- maybe the self-proclaimed "worst local cook" can win a gift card to a local grocery store, or have the holiday meal catered.
-- Football: I'm not sure when the sport and Thanksgiving became so intertwined, but for some families, the post-dinner scrum is a big deal. Find a family who will let you take video of their game, and ask for photos and stories of past matchups. You can even provide tips before the holiday for other post-dinner activities, such as the best local nature trails to walk or motion video game recommendations.
-- Centerpieces: Every kid has at least made a hand turkey for Thanksgiving -- ask readers if their kids have made other art projects that adorned the holiday table. I'd love to see this turn into a photo gallery for you.
-- Kids: What do kids think about Thanksgiving? Do they know why we celebrate? Find a local teacher who will let you interview the class about the first Thanksgiving, or have them write in what they're thankful for. Kids always think of things adults never do -- or say!
-- Mmm, food: What food is a must for your readers' holiday table? What are some Thanksgiving dishes specific to your region? Ask for readers' recipes and must-haves. This would be great to run the week of Thanksgiving with the Butterball and Crisco holiday hotline numbers.
What other Thanksgiving stories are you pursing? Let me know, and I may include them in a future GHNewsroom post.
Every family has a story about Thanksgiving -- the weather and traveling, the burned or frozen turkey, the annual football rivalry.
Tap into these and get a reader-driven feature going now for Thanksgiving:
-- Disasters: Cooking turkey, stuffing and the rest of the holiday feast takes skill. Sometimes, it ends in calamity, and a phone call to the nearest pizza place. Ask readers to submit stories and photos of Thanksgiving gone bad -- I think you'll be surprised at what people share. Could be a contest opportunity here, too -- maybe the self-proclaimed "worst local cook" can win a gift card to a local grocery store, or have the holiday meal catered.
-- Football: I'm not sure when the sport and Thanksgiving became so intertwined, but for some families, the post-dinner scrum is a big deal. Find a family who will let you take video of their game, and ask for photos and stories of past matchups. You can even provide tips before the holiday for other post-dinner activities, such as the best local nature trails to walk or motion video game recommendations.
-- Centerpieces: Every kid has at least made a hand turkey for Thanksgiving -- ask readers if their kids have made other art projects that adorned the holiday table. I'd love to see this turn into a photo gallery for you.
-- Kids: What do kids think about Thanksgiving? Do they know why we celebrate? Find a local teacher who will let you interview the class about the first Thanksgiving, or have them write in what they're thankful for. Kids always think of things adults never do -- or say!
-- Mmm, food: What food is a must for your readers' holiday table? What are some Thanksgiving dishes specific to your region? Ask for readers' recipes and must-haves. This would be great to run the week of Thanksgiving with the Butterball and Crisco holiday hotline numbers.
What other Thanksgiving stories are you pursing? Let me know, and I may include them in a future GHNewsroom post.
