Follow the Money
Every September, Forbes publishes an update of The Forbes 400, the list of the richest people in America.
Every spring Forbes runs the richest people in the world and every fall, the publisher lists the richest people in the United States. Each list is an opportunity for local coverage.
A year ago, this MLive post was typical of the way local outlets used the material: Metro Detroit boasts 5 on Forbes 400 richest list: Ilitch, Taubman, Moroun, Penske, Ford | MLive.com.
Here is a similar post about the spring list, from a Florida TV station: Central Florida billionaires make Forbes’ richest list.
The Forbes site allows you to search by state. For example, here are the Connecticut people on the 2010 rich list.
Publishing at a time President Obama is pushing his Buffett rule for a minimum tax on millionaires, the Forbes list is also an opening for a local reporter to ask the wealthiest people in your area to weigh in on the tax debate.
Ask, Tell
Starting today, (Tuesday Sept. 20), the US military is open to openly gay service members. The topic can be mined for Facebook and Twitter prompts that will stir conversation in your area. What does it mean to a local recruiter? To students in your area considering enlisting? To veterans groups?
The AP has a strong piece about elite military training: Academies don't expect much change from DADT end http://bit.ly/oyZkN2
Even the Pentagon is tweeting about this: Twitter / @DeptofDefense: #DADT is Repealed. http://bit.ly/no1rRi
The Army is there, too: @USArmy Today marks the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell." The law is repealed. http://ow.ly/6zmR1 #DADT #Military
A local reporter can use advanced Twitter search, the hashtag #DADT and local geographical information to find people in your area who are also Tweeting about the day.
ASNE Chat
Copy editors in staggered shifts, starting at 6 AM? Dismantling the night rim was just one step Sherry Chisenhall took in Wichita. Read more and ask Sherry questions at #ASNEchat today at noon, Eastern time.
Wichita Eagle: Testing a new organizational model for a digital-first newsroom | Knight Digital Media Center http://bit.ly/okhsUf
Hat Tip
Many thanks to Yvette Walker and Steve Buttry, who continued the discussion about the use of Twitter for breaking news stories, based on my note about the Reno air crash and the @rgj Twitter feed.
Yvette: NewsTeach - Disaster plan 2.0 — does it include social media? http://bit.ly/qiCYUN
Steve: Carl Lavin studies Twitter use in covering Reno air crash « The Buttry Diary http://bit.ly/o7GO2R
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