{"id":56,"date":"2022-08-07T21:08:16","date_gmt":"2022-08-07T21:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/?post_type=chapter&p=56"},"modified":"2022-08-20T21:51:40","modified_gmt":"2022-08-20T21:51:40","slug":"10-study-based-story-ideas-for-community-journalists","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/chapter\/10-study-based-story-ideas-for-community-journalists\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 24: 10 Study-based story ideas for community journalists","rendered":"Chapter 24: 10 Study-based story ideas for community journalists"},"content":{"raw":"Suggested ways to use scholarly research as a lens through which to see events in a reporter's area.\r\n\r\nPublished at The Journalist's Resource<\/a> by John Wihbey<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>|\u00a0May 18, 2011<\/span><\/span>\u00a0|\r\n\r\nJournalist\u2019s Resource encourages using scholarly research as a lens through which to see local events. Stories on a variety of topics \u2014 from immigration to water quality \u2014 can be enriched by referencing scholarly research and findings. Such data and insights can provide meaningful context that can elevate a reported piece and give it greater resonance.\r\n\r\nBrowsing research can also help stimulate new story ideas.\r\n\r\nThis site has a\u00a0wider library of studies<\/a>\u00a0that might be useful in this way; and here are 10 representative studies that might be localized by reporters:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Report on the dynamics between drivers and bicyclists on the roads.<\/strong>\u00a0In recent years, many cities and towns have shown significant increases in bicycling. What\u2019s happening in your community? Two pieces of research can provide frameworks: a study from the Harvard School of Public Health,\u00a0\u201cRisk of Injury for Bicycling on Cycle Tracks Versus in the Street,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and a study from Monash University, Australia,\u00a0\u201cIdentifying Risk Factors for On-road Commuter Cyclists.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Is there tension between drivers and cyclists in your area? Has your municipality made physical and legal provisions for cyclists, and are they effective? How law-abiding are drivers and cyclists? Can you get statistics on accidents and incidents in your area?<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Track how public closed-caption television cameras are being used in your community.\u00a0<\/strong>An analysis from Northeastern University and the University of Cambridge,\u00a0\u201cPublic Area CCTV and Crime Prevention: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0concludes that cameras are more effective in some areas than others. Where are the cameras on your beat? Is there a coherent strategy behind where they are placed? How do citizens feel about them?<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Examine the impact of curfew ordinances in your community.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of California, Berkeley,\u00a0\u201cImpact of Juvenile Curfew Laws on Arrests of Youth and Adults,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0shows that curfew restrictions lead to fewer crimes committed by both minors and young adults. Does your community have such a law or has it considered one? What\u2019s the perspective of law enforcement? Of teens? Has additional manpower been provided to enforce the curfew? Is the added expense worth it?<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Look at vacant lots from the perspective of health and safety.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of Pennsylvania,\u00a0\u201cAnalysis of Health, Safety, and the Greening of Vacant Urban Space,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0looked at how improving urban acres can positively change community behaviors. Sociologists are interested in how both \u201cbroken window\u201d and \u201cincivilities\u201d theories can play out in urban environments. How many vacant lots are in your community? What\u2019s the history behind them? How do residents and law enforcement officials feel about them?<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Assess how much food waste is in your community and what is done about it.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the U.N.\u2019s Food and Agriculture Organization,\u00a0\u201cThe Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact,\u201d\u00a0<\/a>looks at increases in the amount of food that is typically discarded, and the environmental consequences. Another study, this one from Columbia University,\u00a0highlights<\/a>\u00a0how discarded plastic items may be potential sources of energy. How much waste is thrown away by schools, restaurants or other businesses in your community? A typical household? Is there anything that can be done in your area to reduce the amount of waste?<\/li>\r\n \t
  6. Determine the extent your community encourages business and industry opportunities through tax breaks.\u00a0<\/strong>A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research,\u00a0\u201cWho Offers Tax-Based Business Development Incentives?\u201d<\/a>\u00a0finds a connection between communities that offer more tax breaks for businesses and instances of federal corruption. To what extent does your community\u2019s business development strategy focus on tax breaks? How popular are these incentives with businesses? Do policymakers potentially benefit from this arrangement? What are some alternative strategies for enticing businesses to operate in your community?<\/li>\r\n \t
  7. Take account of municipal greenery and plantings patterns.<\/strong>\u00a0Ask how local residents feel about the way this is being done over time. A University of Pennsylvania study,\u00a0\u201cWhat Is a Tree Worth? Green-City Strategies, Signaling and Housing Prices,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0shows how curbside tree planting programs in Philadelphia affected home values. Is your city or town doing a good job on this front? What about condo associations and neighborhood groups?<\/li>\r\n \t
  8. See how well the local school system educates girls about politics.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of Missouri,\u201cGender Differences in Political Knowledge: Distinguishing Characteristics-Based and Returns-Based Differences,\u201d\u00a0<\/a>suggests that the U.S. education system produces better results for boys in terms of instilling political knowledge. What are children in your area taught in lower-level civics courses? How about in high school history and contemporary issues courses? How do girls feel about the curriculum from this perspective?<\/li>\r\n \t
  9. Investigate how your community handles smoking in public places.<\/strong>\u00a0A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research,\u00a0\u201cPublic-Place Smoking Laws and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0finds that bans on smoking in public spaces successfully reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Where do smokers gather outside in your community to smoke? What are the smoking rules in your community\u2019s public areas? In restaurants or bars? Have changes in smoking permissions met with approval or criticism, or impacted businesses\u2019 profits?<\/li>\r\n \t
  10. Evaluate your municipal \u201cinformation environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>A report from Pew, Knight and the Monitor Institute,\u00a0\u201cHow the Public Perceives Community Information Systems,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0suggests that how communities share information \u2014 particularly as it pertains to municipal government \u2014 relates to the strength of citizen activism, engagement and satisfaction. How would you rate your city, county or state\u2019s website? Are steps taken to make sure citizens are \u201cplugged in\u201d? Are citizens satisfied with the level of information they receive and to which they have access?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","rendered":"

    Suggested ways to use scholarly research as a lens through which to see events in a reporter’s area.<\/p>\n

    Published at The Journalist’s Resource<\/a> by John Wihbey<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>|\u00a0May 18, 2011<\/span><\/span>\u00a0|<\/p>\n

    Journalist\u2019s Resource encourages using scholarly research as a lens through which to see local events. Stories on a variety of topics \u2014 from immigration to water quality \u2014 can be enriched by referencing scholarly research and findings. Such data and insights can provide meaningful context that can elevate a reported piece and give it greater resonance.<\/p>\n

    Browsing research can also help stimulate new story ideas.<\/p>\n

    This site has a\u00a0wider library of studies<\/a>\u00a0that might be useful in this way; and here are 10 representative studies that might be localized by reporters:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Report on the dynamics between drivers and bicyclists on the roads.<\/strong>\u00a0In recent years, many cities and towns have shown significant increases in bicycling. What\u2019s happening in your community? Two pieces of research can provide frameworks: a study from the Harvard School of Public Health,\u00a0\u201cRisk of Injury for Bicycling on Cycle Tracks Versus in the Street,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and a study from Monash University, Australia,\u00a0\u201cIdentifying Risk Factors for On-road Commuter Cyclists.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Is there tension between drivers and cyclists in your area? Has your municipality made physical and legal provisions for cyclists, and are they effective? How law-abiding are drivers and cyclists? Can you get statistics on accidents and incidents in your area?<\/li>\n
    2. Track how public closed-caption television cameras are being used in your community.\u00a0<\/strong>An analysis from Northeastern University and the University of Cambridge,\u00a0\u201cPublic Area CCTV and Crime Prevention: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0concludes that cameras are more effective in some areas than others. Where are the cameras on your beat? Is there a coherent strategy behind where they are placed? How do citizens feel about them?<\/li>\n
    3. Examine the impact of curfew ordinances in your community.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of California, Berkeley,\u00a0\u201cImpact of Juvenile Curfew Laws on Arrests of Youth and Adults,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0shows that curfew restrictions lead to fewer crimes committed by both minors and young adults. Does your community have such a law or has it considered one? What\u2019s the perspective of law enforcement? Of teens? Has additional manpower been provided to enforce the curfew? Is the added expense worth it?<\/li>\n
    4. Look at vacant lots from the perspective of health and safety.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of Pennsylvania,\u00a0\u201cAnalysis of Health, Safety, and the Greening of Vacant Urban Space,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0looked at how improving urban acres can positively change community behaviors. Sociologists are interested in how both \u201cbroken window\u201d and \u201cincivilities\u201d theories can play out in urban environments. How many vacant lots are in your community? What\u2019s the history behind them? How do residents and law enforcement officials feel about them?<\/li>\n
    5. Assess how much food waste is in your community and what is done about it.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the U.N.\u2019s Food and Agriculture Organization,\u00a0\u201cThe Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact,\u201d\u00a0<\/a>looks at increases in the amount of food that is typically discarded, and the environmental consequences. Another study, this one from Columbia University,\u00a0highlights<\/a>\u00a0how discarded plastic items may be potential sources of energy. How much waste is thrown away by schools, restaurants or other businesses in your community? A typical household? Is there anything that can be done in your area to reduce the amount of waste?<\/li>\n
    6. Determine the extent your community encourages business and industry opportunities through tax breaks.\u00a0<\/strong>A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research,\u00a0\u201cWho Offers Tax-Based Business Development Incentives?\u201d<\/a>\u00a0finds a connection between communities that offer more tax breaks for businesses and instances of federal corruption. To what extent does your community\u2019s business development strategy focus on tax breaks? How popular are these incentives with businesses? Do policymakers potentially benefit from this arrangement? What are some alternative strategies for enticing businesses to operate in your community?<\/li>\n
    7. Take account of municipal greenery and plantings patterns.<\/strong>\u00a0Ask how local residents feel about the way this is being done over time. A University of Pennsylvania study,\u00a0\u201cWhat Is a Tree Worth? Green-City Strategies, Signaling and Housing Prices,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0shows how curbside tree planting programs in Philadelphia affected home values. Is your city or town doing a good job on this front? What about condo associations and neighborhood groups?<\/li>\n
    8. See how well the local school system educates girls about politics.<\/strong>\u00a0A study from the University of Missouri,\u201cGender Differences in Political Knowledge: Distinguishing Characteristics-Based and Returns-Based Differences,\u201d\u00a0<\/a>suggests that the U.S. education system produces better results for boys in terms of instilling political knowledge. What are children in your area taught in lower-level civics courses? How about in high school history and contemporary issues courses? How do girls feel about the curriculum from this perspective?<\/li>\n
    9. Investigate how your community handles smoking in public places.<\/strong>\u00a0A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research,\u00a0\u201cPublic-Place Smoking Laws and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0finds that bans on smoking in public spaces successfully reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Where do smokers gather outside in your community to smoke? What are the smoking rules in your community\u2019s public areas? In restaurants or bars? Have changes in smoking permissions met with approval or criticism, or impacted businesses\u2019 profits?<\/li>\n
    10. Evaluate your municipal \u201cinformation environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>A report from Pew, Knight and the Monitor Institute,\u00a0\u201cHow the Public Perceives Community Information Systems,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0suggests that how communities share information \u2014 particularly as it pertains to municipal government \u2014 relates to the strength of citizen activism, engagement and satisfaction. How would you rate your city, county or state\u2019s website? Are steps taken to make sure citizens are \u201cplugged in\u201d? Are citizens satisfied with the level of information they receive and to which they have access?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"menu_order":24,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-56","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/56\/revisions\/165"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/56\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/medianewsandreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}