Many people will have already seen the good news that the British Columbia provincial government has now moved decisively against uranium exploration and mining in their province. In Nova Scotia, the Premier and Natural Resources Minister David Morse has frequently made much of Nova Scotia being the ONLY province to ban uranium exploration and mining, hinting that this is yet another mark of being behind the times. This is an excellent opportunity to urge the NS govt. to make a similar decision and enact legislation to ban all potential uranium development. Contact the Natural Resources Minister: Honourable David Morse E-mail: morse.mla@ns.sympatico.ca or phone: 902-681-2015
The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation is inviting participants to the 2008 Annual General Meeting and Symposium, "Collaborating for Change" from May 8-10th in Debert, Nova Scotia. This year's symposium program covers a broad range of topics, from working with First Nations groups to Gender Based Analysis, to the challenge of funding our co-operative efforts. A complete agenda and detailed workshop descriptions are available, along with a required registration form, on the website at http://acic-caci.org/news_AGM2008.html.
Expires May 8, 2008.
The Urban Farm Museum Society of Spryfield is holding its Annual Plant Sale, Saturday, May 17th, 10 AM to 12 Noon at Captain William Spry Community Centre. For more information call Donna, 477-1772.
Expires May 17, 2008.
The Women Unlimited program helps diverse unemployed women get ready for – and get – jobs in trades and technology. The women, who apply directly or are referred by local employment agencies, get exposed to various trades and technology fields including carpentry, electrical, forestry, plumbing, diesel repair, welding, and aerospace. Only five per cent of all tradespeople in this province are female. The program has a marked impact on the economy – and holds great promise for addressing a serious skills shortage. To find out more about Women Unlimited, please go to weesociety.ca
St. John's Ambulance Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the following upcoming First Aid Training courses: Emergency First Aid and CPR level “A”, monday May 12th in Halifax, and Emergency First Aid and CPR level “C”, Monday and Tuesday, May 12th and 13th in Halifax, plus many other dates scheduled in the Dartmouth region. For more information please contact the Training Department at 463-5646 ext. 2201.
Pull May 14, 2008.
Greenpeace is launching a campaign to save Indonesia's rainforests from the development of palm plantations for palm oil, the main ingredient in Dove soap. Unilever, the huge multinational company behind Dove soap, is the biggest single user of palm oil in the world. Unilever buys its palm oil from suppliers who destroy Indonesia's rainforests to create palm plantations, leading to further climate change and killing orang-utans and other endangered species in the process. Check out www.greenpeace.org/international for more information.
Yom Hashoah (PRONOUNCE: "YOM HA SHOW AH") or Holocaust Memorial Day, will be commemorated in Halifax on Thursday, May 1 with a public recitation of reading of the names of the victims of the Holocaust, at Victoria Park, Spring Garden Road and South Park Street, between noon and 3:00 p.m. In the evening, a commemorative ceremony at the Loyola Building, 903 Robie Street on the Saint Mary's University campus will begin at 8:00 p.m. including readings, music and a talk by best-selling author Edwin Black. Edwin Black is the author of more than 56 books, including IBM and the Holocaust. These events are open to all members of the public and are free, thanks to the support of Saint Mary's University. For more information, please call 422-7491, extension 226.
Expires May 2, 2008.
There will be a free public forum on water in Nova Scotia, Monday, May 5, 7:00-8:30 pm in Room 1009 of the Rowe Management building, Dalhousie University, 6100 University Avenue. Panelists include: Dr. Karen Beazley, Director of the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University; Dr. John Brazner, Freshwater Ecologist; and Anna McCarron, Shubenacadie Watershed Environmental Protection Society. Organized by the Nova Scotia Environmental Network (NSEN Water Caucus). For more information, please contact Tamara Lorincz, Executive Director of NSEN at (902) 454-6846, nsen@cen-rce.org or go to www.nsen.ca
Expires May 6, 2008.
Come to learn about fundamental principles of environmental law in Canada and how the law can better protect our natural environment. On Tuesday, May 6th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in Room 104 of the Weldon Law Building, Dalhousie University, 6061 University Avenue. Organized by the East Coast Environmental Law Association, Nova Scotia Environmental Network and the Marine Environmental Law Institute. For more information, please contact Tamara Lorincz, Executive Director of NSEN at (902) 454-6846, nsen@cen-rce.org or go to www.nsen.ca.
Expires May 7, 2008.
On Sunday, May 11 come celebrate Mudders Day in the Central Common, by the playground in Halifax. We will celebrate not only mothers, but the original mother earth, kids, food, healers, local plants, the Common, music, and traditional cultural heritages with a full-out make-our-own-festival. It will be a space to open dialogue regarding urban agriculture, community gardens, planning, community design, and to raise awareness of the existence of Freshwater Brook beneath the Common. For more information, please contact Jayme Melrose, Seemore Green Garden, Ph. 494-6662 or 444-6989, http://seemoregreen.wordpress.org.
Expires May 12, 2008.
The Women's Rights Commitee of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is pleased to invite you to
Women at Work: A Dialogue on Women's Changing Roles in Industry, on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the NSCC Waterfront Campus, 80 Mawiomi Place, Dartmouth, NS (#60 Eastern Passage bus from the Bridge Terminal). Admission and lunch are free! Please RSVP to 423-0705, or ndpadmin@nsndp.ca.
Expires May 11th 2008.
Come and celebrate FAIR TRADE WEEK on Saturday, May 3 in Halifax. At noon, there is a free slide show and talk on “Social Fabric”. From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, there will be a display and sale of fairly traded silks and cottons; scarves, bags, tableware, yardage and more, all handcrafted with natural dyes by village artisans in Thailand and Laos. Both events will be held at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 5500 Inglis St. For more information, call 902-624-0427, ask@tammachat.com or www.tammachat.com.
Expires May 4, 2008.
ViewPoint Gallery is hosting a month long exhibit by Colin Campbell called Light Painting: Impressionist Photography, on display from May 1st to June 1st, 2008. The opening reception is Thursday, May 1st from 6 to 8 PM. Viewpoint Gallery is located at 1272 Barrington Street, Halifax. Colin Campbell, previously engaged with creating 'realist' and sharp images now displays startling evocative images using motion blur. ViewPoint Gallery is open from 12-5pm, Wednesday through Sunday and at other times by appointment. For more information visit the gallery website at www.viewpointgallery.ca or call 902-420-0854.
Expires May 31, 2008.
Do you have a cultural group registered with the Nova Scotia Joint Stock Registry? The Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia is accepting applications from all registered cultural groups in Nova Scotia who would like to participate in this year’s Multicultural Festival. For more information please contact The Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia @ 423-6534 or e-mail admin@mans.ns.ca.
Expires June 7, 2008.
Renewable energy experts will be converging in Halifax, June 3rd & 4th, 2008 for the 3rd annual Renewable Energy Conference. Producers of renewable energy, manufacturers, suppliers, large energy consumers, municipalities, and governments are meeting to discuss the advancement of wind, tidal, geothermal, biofuel, biomass, and solar projects and technologies in Atlantic Canada. A complete list of presenters and the conference agenda is available at www.renewableenergyconference.ca For more information please contact Bob Williamson at 902-454-4329.
Expires June 4th 2008
If you’re involved in a non-profit organization or group and would like to help raise money for a particular cause, the Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia has the solution! Sell Dream Destination Raffle tickets and your chosen group will retain half of the proceeds those sales generate! The Dream Destination Raffle is presented by MANS and supported by the Mountain Gap Inn, Ocean Explorations, The Westen Nova Scotian, Nubody’s Fitness and Digby Pines Golf Resort. For more information call 423-6534 and ask for Darryl.
Expires June 13, 2008.
The “Jeux de l'Acadie” brings young Acadians aged 11 – 16 together in regional competitive
sports events, and for the very first time in its history, the “Finale des Jeux de l’Acadie” is being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from June 27th to July 1st, 2008. The success of the “Jeux de l’Acadie” depends on the thousands of volunteers who support our youth every year. There are many shoes to fill and we need talented people to fill them – one of them could be you! Register online at www.jeux2008halifax.ca or call 902-425-1600 for more information.
Expires June 27, 2008.
Why not try something new this season and take a Learn to Row class? The Halifax Rowing Club is holding an Open House this Sunday, May 4, from 1 to 4 pm, located at 1641 Fairfield Rd. off Jubilee. If you can't make the Open House, you may also register after May 5 on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the boathouse (come down to the dockside level, last doors on the right) between 6 and 8 pm. We will be pleased to help you. For more information: 423-0323, halifaxrowing@gmail.com or www.halifaxrowing.ca
Expires May 5th, 2008.
The Maritime Museum is pleased to host a special event: British Asia and the British Atlantic, 1500-1820, Two Worlds or One? On Tuesday, May 20th, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, located at 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax. History has often been written as if the impact of British imperialism was separate and entirely different in areas such as the Atlantic World and South Asia. This new international research project challenges the conventional perception, emphasizing the role of indigenous civilizations that came into contact or conflict with British political, economic, or military forces. For more information, call 424-7490 or visit http://maritime.museum.gov.ns.ca
Expires May 21, 2008.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is pleased to present a free talk, Paddling with the Icebergs: Sea Kayaking in Northern Newfoundland, on Tuesday, May 6th at 7:30 pm, at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic located at 1675 Lower Water Street. The rugged shores of Newfoundland have changed little since the first Europeans arrived over five hundred years ago. Join Dr. Scott Cunningham for a photographic tour of this fascinating paddling domain that remains for most unknown and untouched. For more information, call 424-7490 or visit http://maritime.museum.gov.ns.ca
Expires May 7, 2008.
Tom Plewman, owner of Halifax's The Madrigal, presents another in a series of informative and enjoyable Composer Talks, this time on Antonin Dvorak, on Wednesday, April 30th at 7:30 p.m. at the record store located in Spring Garden Place at 5640 Spring Garden Road. As with previous talks, there will be a CD door prize, and musical examples of some of Dvorak's most famous pieces of music will be played throughout the evening. For more information please call 902-423-6453.
Expires May 1st, 2008.
Zwicker's Gallery is presenting Joseph Plaskett: An Exhibition to Honour Joseph Plaskett's 90th Birthday. A reception will be held on Thursday May 15th, 6:30 pm, the artist will be present. The exhibit will run from May 15th to June 7th, 2008. Joseph Plaskett is one of Canada's most established and talented painters, whose current career is as innovative and active as when he first began in the 1940's. Zwicker's Gallery is located at 5415 Doyle Street in Halifax. For more information please call 902-423-7662 or check out www.zwickersgallery.ca.
Expires June 6th, 2008.
If you're a student instrumentalist and you'd like to audition for the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra is holding auditions for its 2008-09 season on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, in Halifax. They are especially looking for oboe, bassoon, French horn, trombone, bass trombone and all string players. You can see the audition requirements and download an application by going to the NSYO website, www.novascotiayouthorchestra.com. For more information, please call 423-5984.
Expires May 5th, 2008.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Events to cover on CKDU? Book a recorder with staff!
Highlights at Zwicker’s Gallery:
Various artworks by noted artists such as Jean-Claude Roy, Richard Davis , Jeannie E. Hancock and Willem Verhulst.
Realistic bird carvings by Zwicker’s new artist Mark Dee.
Zwicker’s also offers a variety of Inuit prints and carvings as well as early decorative maps (17th and 18th century) and historical prints of Canada.
Zwicker’s Gallery is located at 5415 Doyle Street, Halifax.
Pull April 30, 2008
Dr. David Walton, who works in Haiti with Paul Farmer and is part of Partners in Health. He will be delivering a talk, organized by medical students at Dal and sponsored by the Dal Medical Alumni Association. It is planned for May 1st at the Ondaatje Room in the McCain Building from 6:30 to 8:00. Tickets are $10.00 for students and $20.00 for others. The major part of proceeds will
go to Partners in Health and the remainder to the Medical Alumni Association's fund for student initiatives. Tickets are available through the Medical Alumni Association (494-8800 or dmaadmaa@dal.ca).
Pull May 2, 2008
The Bay Chorale with special guests Shelley Solmes, highland dance troupe ‘Scotia Spirit’ and percussionist Teddy Skippington present Songs of Home. This lively and uplifting concert explores Atlantic Canada’s European heritage and changing cultural mosaic in song, dance and spoken word. Sunday May 4, at 3 p.m. St Luke’s United Church, 5374 St. Margaret’s Bay Rd., Upper Tantallon. Adults $10; students $5; children under six free.
Pull May 5, 2008
Immigrant Business Development Services at MISA is introducing a brand new event, The International Business Trade Show and Panel Luncheon on May 12, 2008. Join Canadian and Immigrant business owners for a day of business workshops, networking, and shopping for local and imported products and services. Doors open at 10am and trading continues until 5pm. There will also be a luncheon at 12 pm featuring prominent local entrepreneurs as guest speakers for $20. For more information or to reserve a booth call John at 423-3607 ext 237 or email ibds@misa.ns.ca.
Pull May 13, 2008
The schedule for the Atlantic Book Festival 2008 has been released. Here are some of the highlights:
Tuesday May 6
10 am PRESENTATION – Richard Rudnicki, illustrator, with Gracie, the Public Gardens Duck at Cole Harbour Library
Wednesday May 7
10 am PRESENTATION – Eric Orchard, illustrator, with A Forest for Christmas at Bedford Library, Bedford
7 pm READING – Carol Bruneau with Glass Voices at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
7 pm LAUNCH – Steve Vernon with Wicked Woods at Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton Street, Fredericton
7 pm LAUNCH – Ken Smith with History of Disaster at Bathurst Book Gallery, 145 Main Street, Bathurst
Thursday May 8
Noon READING & DISCUSSION – Stephanie Domet with Homing and Robbie MacGregor, publisher Invisible Books. First books – writing them, publishing them at Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax
7 pm Harvey Sawlor with Twenty-first Century Irvings at Keshen-Goodman Library, Halifax
7 pm READING – Cape Breton celebrates Atlantic Book Festival at McConnell Memorial Library, 50 Falmouth Street with Marq de Villiers, Beatrice MacNeil & Susan Zettell
7pm LAUNCH – Shauntay Grant and illustrator Susan Tooke with Up Home at Nelson Whynder School, 979 North Preston Road
Friday May 9
Am SIGNING – Marq de Villiers at Cole's, Sydney
7 pm READING – Don Domanski, George Murray, Anne Simpson, Herménégilde Chiasson, Study Lounge-Ward Chipman Building-UNBSJ, Saint John, NB
7 pm READING – Marq de Villiers with Witch in the Wind at Thomas More Church Hall, Pugwash
Saturday May 10
11 to 3 Shorts! – a day of exploration and writing workshops with Sheree Fitch, Stephens Gerrard Malone, Shandi Mitchell and Philip Moscovitch at WFNS
11:30 – 12:30 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Frog Hollow Books, Halifax
2 pm WORKSHOP – David Adams Richards at Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax, sponsored by the Writers' Trust of Canada
7 pm READING – Don Domanski and George Murray, Charlottetown, PE with PEI Writers' Guild
7 pm GALA BOOKFEST READING AT FRED, 2606 Agricola, Halifax with David Adams Richards, Stephanie Domet, Steven Laffoley, Stewart Donovan, moderated by Sue Goyette
Sunday, May 11
12 – 2 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Chapters, Dartmouth
2 pm Magical Mystery Murder Tour with Steven Laffoley, Hunting Halifax
3 – 5 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Chapters, Halifax
Monday, May 12
9 – 2 Halifax Grammar School hosts K.V. Johansen, Alice Walsh and Lesley Choyce
9 am Cobequid Consolidated Elementary in Old Barns (near Truro) hosts illustrators Nancy Keating, Eric Orchard and Richard Rucnicki
4 – 6 Atlantic Book Awards Ceremony at Alderney Theatre, Dartmouth
Tuesday, May 13
10 am READING – K.V. Johansen with Nightwalker at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
2 pm READING – Don Hannah with Ragged Islands at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
7 pm READING – Bernice Morgan with Cloud of Bone at Keshen-Goodman Library, Halifax
Thursday, May 15
7 pm READING – Stephanie Domet with Homing at Keshen-Goodman Library, Dartmouth
7 pm LAUNCH – Lawrence Coady with The Lost Canoe at Downhome Shoppe & Gallery, 303 Water Street, St. John's, NL
7 pm READING – Marq de Villiers, Bernice Morgan, George Murray at The Studio, 272 Water Street, St. John's, NL hosted by Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador
Pull May 16, 2008
The Institute for Humane Education (IHE) is bringing its acclaimed Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshop to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia on Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm to teach new approaches to educating others about global issues. The event is being held at Park View Education Centre, 1485 King Street, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia B4V 1C4. The registration fee is $10 and includes a copy of Zoe Weil's book The Power and Promise of Humane Education. Vegetarian and vegan lunch is available for $5.00.
Pull June 1rst, 2008
The preparation of the second edition of the Fête de la Musique Halifax has begun. The Alliance Française of Halifax, Le Conseil communautaire du Grand Havre, Canadian Parents for French and the Radio Communautaire are collaborating once again to bring the 27-year-old international celebration to Halifax. On June 21st Halifax will join cities around the world in the celebration of music. Volunteer professional and amateur musicians of various musical styles will be performing on three stages around the city. This year, the chosen subject is Movie Theme Music. The first challenge will be to create a line-up of local professional and amateur musicians of all cultural backgrounds and musical styles. Country or classical, sax or sitar, whatever your thing is, if you are a musician, budding or seasoned, or you know someone who might be interested, please get involved in the celebration. The objective is to reach as many people as possible, so all proposals are welcome. Contact Mathilde at the Alliance Française to send in a demo today. The Alliance is located in the Hydrostone Market on Young Street or phone 455-4411.
Pull June 22, 2008
Various artworks by noted artists such as Jean-Claude Roy, Richard Davis , Jeannie E. Hancock and Willem Verhulst.
Realistic bird carvings by Zwicker’s new artist Mark Dee.
Zwicker’s also offers a variety of Inuit prints and carvings as well as early decorative maps (17th and 18th century) and historical prints of Canada.
Zwicker’s Gallery is located at 5415 Doyle Street, Halifax.
Pull April 30, 2008
Dr. David Walton, who works in Haiti with Paul Farmer and is part of Partners in Health. He will be delivering a talk, organized by medical students at Dal and sponsored by the Dal Medical Alumni Association. It is planned for May 1st at the Ondaatje Room in the McCain Building from 6:30 to 8:00. Tickets are $10.00 for students and $20.00 for others. The major part of proceeds will
go to Partners in Health and the remainder to the Medical Alumni Association's fund for student initiatives. Tickets are available through the Medical Alumni Association (494-8800 or dmaadmaa@dal.ca).
Pull May 2, 2008
The Bay Chorale with special guests Shelley Solmes, highland dance troupe ‘Scotia Spirit’ and percussionist Teddy Skippington present Songs of Home. This lively and uplifting concert explores Atlantic Canada’s European heritage and changing cultural mosaic in song, dance and spoken word. Sunday May 4, at 3 p.m. St Luke’s United Church, 5374 St. Margaret’s Bay Rd., Upper Tantallon. Adults $10; students $5; children under six free.
Pull May 5, 2008
Immigrant Business Development Services at MISA is introducing a brand new event, The International Business Trade Show and Panel Luncheon on May 12, 2008. Join Canadian and Immigrant business owners for a day of business workshops, networking, and shopping for local and imported products and services. Doors open at 10am and trading continues until 5pm. There will also be a luncheon at 12 pm featuring prominent local entrepreneurs as guest speakers for $20. For more information or to reserve a booth call John at 423-3607 ext 237 or email ibds@misa.ns.ca.
Pull May 13, 2008
The schedule for the Atlantic Book Festival 2008 has been released. Here are some of the highlights:
Tuesday May 6
10 am PRESENTATION – Richard Rudnicki, illustrator, with Gracie, the Public Gardens Duck at Cole Harbour Library
Wednesday May 7
10 am PRESENTATION – Eric Orchard, illustrator, with A Forest for Christmas at Bedford Library, Bedford
7 pm READING – Carol Bruneau with Glass Voices at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
7 pm LAUNCH – Steve Vernon with Wicked Woods at Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton Street, Fredericton
7 pm LAUNCH – Ken Smith with History of Disaster at Bathurst Book Gallery, 145 Main Street, Bathurst
Thursday May 8
Noon READING & DISCUSSION – Stephanie Domet with Homing and Robbie MacGregor, publisher Invisible Books. First books – writing them, publishing them at Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax
7 pm Harvey Sawlor with Twenty-first Century Irvings at Keshen-Goodman Library, Halifax
7 pm READING – Cape Breton celebrates Atlantic Book Festival at McConnell Memorial Library, 50 Falmouth Street with Marq de Villiers, Beatrice MacNeil & Susan Zettell
7pm LAUNCH – Shauntay Grant and illustrator Susan Tooke with Up Home at Nelson Whynder School, 979 North Preston Road
Friday May 9
Am SIGNING – Marq de Villiers at Cole's, Sydney
7 pm READING – Don Domanski, George Murray, Anne Simpson, Herménégilde Chiasson, Study Lounge-Ward Chipman Building-UNBSJ, Saint John, NB
7 pm READING – Marq de Villiers with Witch in the Wind at Thomas More Church Hall, Pugwash
Saturday May 10
11 to 3 Shorts! – a day of exploration and writing workshops with Sheree Fitch, Stephens Gerrard Malone, Shandi Mitchell and Philip Moscovitch at WFNS
11:30 – 12:30 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Frog Hollow Books, Halifax
2 pm WORKSHOP – David Adams Richards at Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax, sponsored by the Writers' Trust of Canada
7 pm READING – Don Domanski and George Murray, Charlottetown, PE with PEI Writers' Guild
7 pm GALA BOOKFEST READING AT FRED, 2606 Agricola, Halifax with David Adams Richards, Stephanie Domet, Steven Laffoley, Stewart Donovan, moderated by Sue Goyette
Sunday, May 11
12 – 2 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Chapters, Dartmouth
2 pm Magical Mystery Murder Tour with Steven Laffoley, Hunting Halifax
3 – 5 SIGNING – David Adams Richards at Chapters, Halifax
Monday, May 12
9 – 2 Halifax Grammar School hosts K.V. Johansen, Alice Walsh and Lesley Choyce
9 am Cobequid Consolidated Elementary in Old Barns (near Truro) hosts illustrators Nancy Keating, Eric Orchard and Richard Rucnicki
4 – 6 Atlantic Book Awards Ceremony at Alderney Theatre, Dartmouth
Tuesday, May 13
10 am READING – K.V. Johansen with Nightwalker at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
2 pm READING – Don Hannah with Ragged Islands at Alderney Library, Dartmouth
7 pm READING – Bernice Morgan with Cloud of Bone at Keshen-Goodman Library, Halifax
Thursday, May 15
7 pm READING – Stephanie Domet with Homing at Keshen-Goodman Library, Dartmouth
7 pm LAUNCH – Lawrence Coady with The Lost Canoe at Downhome Shoppe & Gallery, 303 Water Street, St. John's, NL
7 pm READING – Marq de Villiers, Bernice Morgan, George Murray at The Studio, 272 Water Street, St. John's, NL hosted by Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador
Pull May 16, 2008
The Institute for Humane Education (IHE) is bringing its acclaimed Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshop to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia on Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm to teach new approaches to educating others about global issues. The event is being held at Park View Education Centre, 1485 King Street, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia B4V 1C4. The registration fee is $10 and includes a copy of Zoe Weil's book The Power and Promise of Humane Education. Vegetarian and vegan lunch is available for $5.00.
Pull June 1rst, 2008
The preparation of the second edition of the Fête de la Musique Halifax has begun. The Alliance Française of Halifax, Le Conseil communautaire du Grand Havre, Canadian Parents for French and the Radio Communautaire are collaborating once again to bring the 27-year-old international celebration to Halifax. On June 21st Halifax will join cities around the world in the celebration of music. Volunteer professional and amateur musicians of various musical styles will be performing on three stages around the city. This year, the chosen subject is Movie Theme Music. The first challenge will be to create a line-up of local professional and amateur musicians of all cultural backgrounds and musical styles. Country or classical, sax or sitar, whatever your thing is, if you are a musician, budding or seasoned, or you know someone who might be interested, please get involved in the celebration. The objective is to reach as many people as possible, so all proposals are welcome. Contact Mathilde at the Alliance Française to send in a demo today. The Alliance is located in the Hydrostone Market on Young Street or phone 455-4411.
Pull June 22, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Community Events to Cover on CKDU?
Friends of McNabs Island ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING features Guest Speaker - Chris Mills, author of "Lighthouses of McNabs Island" on Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 pm at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street. For details contact: Cathy McCarthy at 434-2254.
Pull April 30, 2008
The First Halifax African Violet Society Annual African Violet Show and Sale--"Violets of Yore"-- will happen at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, on Saturday May 3, 1:00-5:00 pm and Sunday May 4, 1:00-4:00 pm. Free admission. Everyone welcome!
Pull May 4, 2008
The East Coast Aquarium Society is pleased to announce their 4th Annual Talk Fish! Symposium which will be held at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on Saturday May 3rd, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. This year’s event will feature Larry Johnson (Hamilton & District Aquarium Society), who will share his experiences collecting in Lake Malawi and Patrick Foster (Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society), who will discussing marine conservation and preservation. This event also features displays by local aquarium hobbyists, a chance to talk with local aquarium experts and projects for children, as well as a coral fragging workshop, a bowl show and a live fish auction! Talk Fish Symposium is free to the public, and offers a wonderful opportunity for hobbyists and interested people to gather and discuss all aspects of the aquarium hobby. Please call (902) 829-3222 or visit the East Coast Aquarium Society on the web at www.eastcoastaquariumsociety.ca for the details.
Pull May 4, 2008
Jane’s Walks took place in Toronto and New York last year; this year they’ll be held in several places across Canada, including Halifax, on May 3 and 4. Join Jane Kansas and Jane Wright on Sunday, May 4th starting at 2 pm and consider leading a walk as well! Jane’s Walk celebrates the legacy of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs with a series of free neighbourhood strolls that emphasize the importance of walkable and diverse cities and neighbourhoods. Lead a tour as part of this event in an area where you live, work or play. Leading a walking tour simply involves planning a route, thinking through the stories, places and people you want to talk about, then walking participants through it – you decide what’s important. If you like, you could share the guiding duties with a few other resourceful friends or colleagues. Jane’s Walks are meant to be fun, engaged and participatory – everyone’s got a story and they’re usually keen to share it. All tours are given, and taken, for free. For more information, visit www.janeswalk.net
May 5, 2008
ALL ABOARD FOR SAFETY AT THE HALIFAX VIA RAIL STATION! A free two-day open house event with a focus on rail safety. Guaranteed fun for the whole family and for rail fans of all ages. Take a tour of our trains, see model railway displays... and many other surprises! Drop in anytime on: Tuesday, May 6th from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. or Wednesday, May 7th from 1:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Pull May 7, 2008
May 11 of this year, celebrate not only mothers, but also the original mother earth, kids, food, healers, local plants, the Common, music, and traditional cultural heritages with a full-out festival. Mudder's Day: a celebration honoring local plants, earth, and mothers will be taking over the commons. This fun community event will be a launch into the growing season. It will be an opportunity to encourage civil participation and strengthen relationships among volunteers, non-profit groups, and the general public. It will be a space to open dialogue regarding urban agriculture, community gardens, planning, community design, and raise awareness of the existence of Freshwater Brook beneath the Common. Expect workshops on gardening and composting, a red tent hosted by the Midwifery Association, music, film screenings, and games for children. The event will be FREE and open to everyone and all ages.
Pull May 12, 2008
GHOST WALKS of HALIFAX
Wednesday through Sunday evenings
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Begins at the Old Town Clock
(halfway up Citadel Hill)
$10.00 per person
Children under 13 half price
Group discounts available
Contact: Andy Smith
(902) 494–0525
andysmith@ns.sympatico.ca
Pull October 2008
Pull April 30, 2008
The First Halifax African Violet Society Annual African Violet Show and Sale--"Violets of Yore"-- will happen at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, on Saturday May 3, 1:00-5:00 pm and Sunday May 4, 1:00-4:00 pm. Free admission. Everyone welcome!
Pull May 4, 2008
The East Coast Aquarium Society is pleased to announce their 4th Annual Talk Fish! Symposium which will be held at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on Saturday May 3rd, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. This year’s event will feature Larry Johnson (Hamilton & District Aquarium Society), who will share his experiences collecting in Lake Malawi and Patrick Foster (Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society), who will discussing marine conservation and preservation. This event also features displays by local aquarium hobbyists, a chance to talk with local aquarium experts and projects for children, as well as a coral fragging workshop, a bowl show and a live fish auction! Talk Fish Symposium is free to the public, and offers a wonderful opportunity for hobbyists and interested people to gather and discuss all aspects of the aquarium hobby. Please call (902) 829-3222 or visit the East Coast Aquarium Society on the web at www.eastcoastaquariumsociety.ca for the details.
Pull May 4, 2008
Jane’s Walks took place in Toronto and New York last year; this year they’ll be held in several places across Canada, including Halifax, on May 3 and 4. Join Jane Kansas and Jane Wright on Sunday, May 4th starting at 2 pm and consider leading a walk as well! Jane’s Walk celebrates the legacy of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs with a series of free neighbourhood strolls that emphasize the importance of walkable and diverse cities and neighbourhoods. Lead a tour as part of this event in an area where you live, work or play. Leading a walking tour simply involves planning a route, thinking through the stories, places and people you want to talk about, then walking participants through it – you decide what’s important. If you like, you could share the guiding duties with a few other resourceful friends or colleagues. Jane’s Walks are meant to be fun, engaged and participatory – everyone’s got a story and they’re usually keen to share it. All tours are given, and taken, for free. For more information, visit www.janeswalk.net
May 5, 2008
ALL ABOARD FOR SAFETY AT THE HALIFAX VIA RAIL STATION! A free two-day open house event with a focus on rail safety. Guaranteed fun for the whole family and for rail fans of all ages. Take a tour of our trains, see model railway displays... and many other surprises! Drop in anytime on: Tuesday, May 6th from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. or Wednesday, May 7th from 1:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Pull May 7, 2008
May 11 of this year, celebrate not only mothers, but also the original mother earth, kids, food, healers, local plants, the Common, music, and traditional cultural heritages with a full-out festival. Mudder's Day: a celebration honoring local plants, earth, and mothers will be taking over the commons. This fun community event will be a launch into the growing season. It will be an opportunity to encourage civil participation and strengthen relationships among volunteers, non-profit groups, and the general public. It will be a space to open dialogue regarding urban agriculture, community gardens, planning, community design, and raise awareness of the existence of Freshwater Brook beneath the Common. Expect workshops on gardening and composting, a red tent hosted by the Midwifery Association, music, film screenings, and games for children. The event will be FREE and open to everyone and all ages.
Pull May 12, 2008
GHOST WALKS of HALIFAX
Wednesday through Sunday evenings
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Begins at the Old Town Clock
(halfway up Citadel Hill)
$10.00 per person
Children under 13 half price
Group discounts available
Contact: Andy Smith
(902) 494–0525
andysmith@ns.sympatico.ca
Pull October 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Upcoming events that CKDU volunteers could cover!
Visual Arts Nova Scotia presents... CORRIDOR GALLERY Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Location: 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax, NS. April 2 - 29, 2008: Portraits and the Sea - Lawrencetown artists Art Livingston and Geraldine Bushell say it with paintings. Art Livingston was born in Montreal, Quebec and joined the Royal Canadian Navy when he was eighteen. His love of the sea brought him to Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, where he now resides. Constantly inspired by his surroundings, Livingston creates paintings from the memory of storms and a love for whales. Geraldine Bushell was raised in the small fishing village of Canso, Guysborough County. At the age of eighteen she moved to Dartmouth, raising five children. She quit painting for years after losing two of her sons ten years apart, but has recently come back to it. Also a musician, Bushell's paintings are inspired by her fascination with others. Portraits and the Sea showcases the work of two friends whose paintings have emerged out of a love of life itself.
Pull April 29, 2008
The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and King’s View Academy will again co-host a Public Forum on the Arts moderated by CBC’s Olga Milosevich. The forum on the future of fine arts will take place Monday, April 28th at 7:30 pm at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, 6199 Chebucto Rd. The topic of the forum this year is: “How do we ensure our children and youth receive an arts education?” Guest speakers include: Ron Ulrich (Neptune Theatre), Carole Olsen (Halifax Regional School Board), Stephen McNeil, MLA (Lib), Alexa McDonough, MP (NDP), Al Chaddock (writer and musician), Sheilagh Hunt (Dancer, choreographer and designer) and Dr. Walter H. Kemp (Opera Nova Scotia). For further information, call 429-5434 or visit www.kingsviewacademy.com.
Pull April 29, 2008
Building on an old Maritime tradition of baked beans at week end, Brunswick Street Mission will be offering "Mission Beans” for sale to the public as a fundraiser every Friday in April in support of the Mission's programs. “Mission Beans” is a “Heat-and-Eat, Beans and Brown Bread, Take-out” which will run every Friday in April from 4 to 6 pm. Most United Churches in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and Tantallon will serve as sales locations. Call 423-0425 for specific sales locations. $8.00 will get you 1 Liter of baked beans - enough for 4 people - and a loaf of brown bread.
Pull April 30, 2008
Are you an aspiring photographer with a unique perspective on our beautiful city? Enter your digital photos for free in the Great Show Us Your City Photo Contest to win fantastic prizes! You can submit photos taken in four areas: downtown Dartmouth, downtown Halifax, Quinpool Road and Spring Garden area. Enter up to two photos per area, for a maximum of eight photos in total. Images can represent: architecture, streetscape, landscape and scenery, public art, public events and outdoor activities and urban life. Prizes include: an Olympus Evolt Digital SLR Camera with Starter Kit; a Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera with Camera Pouch; and a Pentax Waterproof Optio W30 Digital Camera. Visit www.halifax.ca/photocontest for photo requirements, full rules and regulations and to submit your photos online. Deadline for submissions is April 30th and there is no entry fee.
Pull May 1, 2008
Don't miss the Canadian premiere performance of Where I Live, a breast cancer oratorio featuring Halifax's women's choir, the Aeolian (PRONOUNCE AY-OLE-EE-EN) Singers, plus guest musicians and the fabulous Canadian folk singing group, Quartette, on Saturday, May 3, at 8:00 p.m. at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale at the Cohn Box Office at $25 each. Call the Cohn at 494-3820 or 1-800-874-1669, or buy on-line at http://artscentre.dal.ca. You can also pay tribute to a woman in your life at the concert through a tax-deductible donation of $20. Find out more at www.aeoliansingers.ca.
Pull May 4, 2008
Seton Cantata Choir celebrates its 25th anniversary with a concert entitled Here's to Song - Celebrating 25 Years, on Sunday, May 4 at St. Matthew's Church on Barrington Street at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 regular, and $10 for students, and are available at the door. For more information, please call 889-2620.
Pull May 5, 2008
A Weekend of Loving Kindness: May 2nd – 4th. Stepping out of the swirling current of everyday life, retreat to the peaceful surroundings of the Second Paradise Retreat at Second Peninsula, N.S., taking time to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. This will be a weekend of practicing loving kindness towards ourselves and others as the retreat is also a fund-raising event for the Grandmothers for Grandmothers Campaign, Stephen Lewis Foundation, working to relieve the suffering of Aids Orphans in Africa. Space is limited to 14 women in shared accommodations. Register or inquire with Heather at 223-1832 or doylehj@hotmail.com
Pull May 5, 2008
The 28th Atlantic Film Festival announces its Call for Feature Film Outlines for the Festival’s Inspired Script program. The Inspired Script program offers a unique opportunity for four Atlantic Canadian writers to develop their feature film outlines to treatments and pitch them at the 28th Atlantic Film Festival, September 11-20, 2008. The program will culminate in the selection of one screenplay that will be eligible to receive a maximum of $20,000 in development financing from the presenting sponsors and allow the writer to work with a veteran story editor to help bring the treatment to a first draft script to be presented as the Script Out Loud at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival in 2009. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 5, 2008. The entry form is available for download from the AFF website at www.atlanticfilm.com under “For Filmmakers & Delegates.” Participating writers will be announced in early June.
Pull May 6, 2008
“Parenting in the Early Years: For the Best Possible Start in Life” is an event for no parent or parent-to-be to miss. Featuring guest speakers: Nova Scotia's own best-selling children's author, Sheree Fitch, and McMaster University's Dr. Jean Clinton, reknowned early years advocate and child psychiatrist. The discussion takes place on Saturday, May 10th, from 9:30 - 11:00 am at the St. Agnes Parish Church Hall, 6903 Mumford Road. This is a free event, with refreshments and door prizes, but please register by calling: 902-864-8744 or e-mail uey@ueyhalifax.com
Pull May 11, 2008
This year, the Metropolitan Immigrant Association is hosting a brand new, all day event; an International Business Trade Show and Panel Luncheon with workshops throughout the day. This unique event is providing an opportunity to showcase and sell your products and services to prospective buyers from around the Atlantic Region. Accelerate the growth of your business by testing new products, sourcing out suppliers and distributors, and taking advantage of networking opportunities. Meet and mingle with the larger business community by attending a luncheon with a panel of prominent guest speakers. The event takes place on May 12 at the Westin Hotel from 10am to 5pm. Cost of a booth is $225 with a luncheon ticket included, or $195 before April 12. To rent a booth or for more information, call John Metcalf at 423-3607 or visit misa.ns.ca.
Pull May 13, 2008
The Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project is pleased to announce five day-long workshops and field trips in May and June. Designed for owners of small private woodlots in Nova Scotia and forestry contractors who work on these woodlots, the workshops will provide information on uneven-aged management and the Category 7 Quality Improvement Silviculture Program. Uneven-aged management permits woodlot owners to grow high-value trees while managing their woodlands for multiple species, ages, values and benefits. Space for workshops is limited. Register by calling the Outreach Project telephone number (902-673-2278) or emailing the project at outreach@asforestry.com.
Pull June 20, 2008
Strategic Partners (SP), Canada’s only international co-production market for film and television projects, is now calling for applications. Film & TV producers looking to submit projects involving co-production opportunities with Canada, the United States, United Kingdom or this year’s spotlight countries--Argentina, Brazil and Mexico--are encouraged to apply for selection. Strategic Partners this year runs September 12-14, in Halifax. The deadline for applications is Wednesday July 9th, 2008. As numbers are restricted to keep the event intimate, sales agents, broadcasters, financiers and agencies looking to partner with producers and new projects are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Applications and information are available at www.atlanticfilm.com
Pull July 10, 2008
AMEC, an international engineering and project management company, offers these few tips to cure cellphone driving addicts:
1. Plan ahead – call before leaving.
2. Select relaxing music in traffic.
3. Don't foolishly believe that text messaging at stoplights is safe; most accidents occur at intersections.
4. Turn your phone off so that it will not ring and generate anxiety.
5. Heavily tempted? Put your phone in the trunk.
6. Instead of driving, walk, bike or take public transit.
7. Let regular callers know that you are not available for calls while driving.
8. Put an "I'm away from my phone or driving" message on your voicemail.
No Pull Date
Pull April 29, 2008
The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and King’s View Academy will again co-host a Public Forum on the Arts moderated by CBC’s Olga Milosevich. The forum on the future of fine arts will take place Monday, April 28th at 7:30 pm at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, 6199 Chebucto Rd. The topic of the forum this year is: “How do we ensure our children and youth receive an arts education?” Guest speakers include: Ron Ulrich (Neptune Theatre), Carole Olsen (Halifax Regional School Board), Stephen McNeil, MLA (Lib), Alexa McDonough, MP (NDP), Al Chaddock (writer and musician), Sheilagh Hunt (Dancer, choreographer and designer) and Dr. Walter H. Kemp (Opera Nova Scotia). For further information, call 429-5434 or visit www.kingsviewacademy.com.
Pull April 29, 2008
Building on an old Maritime tradition of baked beans at week end, Brunswick Street Mission will be offering "Mission Beans” for sale to the public as a fundraiser every Friday in April in support of the Mission's programs. “Mission Beans” is a “Heat-and-Eat, Beans and Brown Bread, Take-out” which will run every Friday in April from 4 to 6 pm. Most United Churches in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and Tantallon will serve as sales locations. Call 423-0425 for specific sales locations. $8.00 will get you 1 Liter of baked beans - enough for 4 people - and a loaf of brown bread.
Pull April 30, 2008
Are you an aspiring photographer with a unique perspective on our beautiful city? Enter your digital photos for free in the Great Show Us Your City Photo Contest to win fantastic prizes! You can submit photos taken in four areas: downtown Dartmouth, downtown Halifax, Quinpool Road and Spring Garden area. Enter up to two photos per area, for a maximum of eight photos in total. Images can represent: architecture, streetscape, landscape and scenery, public art, public events and outdoor activities and urban life. Prizes include: an Olympus Evolt Digital SLR Camera with Starter Kit; a Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera with Camera Pouch; and a Pentax Waterproof Optio W30 Digital Camera. Visit www.halifax.ca/photocontest for photo requirements, full rules and regulations and to submit your photos online. Deadline for submissions is April 30th and there is no entry fee.
Pull May 1, 2008
Don't miss the Canadian premiere performance of Where I Live, a breast cancer oratorio featuring Halifax's women's choir, the Aeolian (PRONOUNCE AY-OLE-EE-EN) Singers, plus guest musicians and the fabulous Canadian folk singing group, Quartette, on Saturday, May 3, at 8:00 p.m. at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale at the Cohn Box Office at $25 each. Call the Cohn at 494-3820 or 1-800-874-1669, or buy on-line at http://artscentre.dal.ca. You can also pay tribute to a woman in your life at the concert through a tax-deductible donation of $20. Find out more at www.aeoliansingers.ca.
Pull May 4, 2008
Seton Cantata Choir celebrates its 25th anniversary with a concert entitled Here's to Song - Celebrating 25 Years, on Sunday, May 4 at St. Matthew's Church on Barrington Street at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 regular, and $10 for students, and are available at the door. For more information, please call 889-2620.
Pull May 5, 2008
A Weekend of Loving Kindness: May 2nd – 4th. Stepping out of the swirling current of everyday life, retreat to the peaceful surroundings of the Second Paradise Retreat at Second Peninsula, N.S., taking time to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. This will be a weekend of practicing loving kindness towards ourselves and others as the retreat is also a fund-raising event for the Grandmothers for Grandmothers Campaign, Stephen Lewis Foundation, working to relieve the suffering of Aids Orphans in Africa. Space is limited to 14 women in shared accommodations. Register or inquire with Heather at 223-1832 or doylehj@hotmail.com
Pull May 5, 2008
The 28th Atlantic Film Festival announces its Call for Feature Film Outlines for the Festival’s Inspired Script program. The Inspired Script program offers a unique opportunity for four Atlantic Canadian writers to develop their feature film outlines to treatments and pitch them at the 28th Atlantic Film Festival, September 11-20, 2008. The program will culminate in the selection of one screenplay that will be eligible to receive a maximum of $20,000 in development financing from the presenting sponsors and allow the writer to work with a veteran story editor to help bring the treatment to a first draft script to be presented as the Script Out Loud at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival in 2009. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 5, 2008. The entry form is available for download from the AFF website at www.atlanticfilm.com under “For Filmmakers & Delegates.” Participating writers will be announced in early June.
Pull May 6, 2008
“Parenting in the Early Years: For the Best Possible Start in Life” is an event for no parent or parent-to-be to miss. Featuring guest speakers: Nova Scotia's own best-selling children's author, Sheree Fitch, and McMaster University's Dr. Jean Clinton, reknowned early years advocate and child psychiatrist. The discussion takes place on Saturday, May 10th, from 9:30 - 11:00 am at the St. Agnes Parish Church Hall, 6903 Mumford Road. This is a free event, with refreshments and door prizes, but please register by calling: 902-864-8744 or e-mail uey@ueyhalifax.com
Pull May 11, 2008
This year, the Metropolitan Immigrant Association is hosting a brand new, all day event; an International Business Trade Show and Panel Luncheon with workshops throughout the day. This unique event is providing an opportunity to showcase and sell your products and services to prospective buyers from around the Atlantic Region. Accelerate the growth of your business by testing new products, sourcing out suppliers and distributors, and taking advantage of networking opportunities. Meet and mingle with the larger business community by attending a luncheon with a panel of prominent guest speakers. The event takes place on May 12 at the Westin Hotel from 10am to 5pm. Cost of a booth is $225 with a luncheon ticket included, or $195 before April 12. To rent a booth or for more information, call John Metcalf at 423-3607 or visit misa.ns.ca.
Pull May 13, 2008
The Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project is pleased to announce five day-long workshops and field trips in May and June. Designed for owners of small private woodlots in Nova Scotia and forestry contractors who work on these woodlots, the workshops will provide information on uneven-aged management and the Category 7 Quality Improvement Silviculture Program. Uneven-aged management permits woodlot owners to grow high-value trees while managing their woodlands for multiple species, ages, values and benefits. Space for workshops is limited. Register by calling the Outreach Project telephone number (902-673-2278) or emailing the project at outreach@asforestry.com.
Pull June 20, 2008
Strategic Partners (SP), Canada’s only international co-production market for film and television projects, is now calling for applications. Film & TV producers looking to submit projects involving co-production opportunities with Canada, the United States, United Kingdom or this year’s spotlight countries--Argentina, Brazil and Mexico--are encouraged to apply for selection. Strategic Partners this year runs September 12-14, in Halifax. The deadline for applications is Wednesday July 9th, 2008. As numbers are restricted to keep the event intimate, sales agents, broadcasters, financiers and agencies looking to partner with producers and new projects are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Applications and information are available at www.atlanticfilm.com
Pull July 10, 2008
AMEC, an international engineering and project management company, offers these few tips to cure cellphone driving addicts:
1. Plan ahead – call before leaving.
2. Select relaxing music in traffic.
3. Don't foolishly believe that text messaging at stoplights is safe; most accidents occur at intersections.
4. Turn your phone off so that it will not ring and generate anxiety.
5. Heavily tempted? Put your phone in the trunk.
6. Instead of driving, walk, bike or take public transit.
7. Let regular callers know that you are not available for calls while driving.
8. Put an "I'm away from my phone or driving" message on your voicemail.
No Pull Date
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Contribute to Groundwire!
GROUNDWIRE
Mandate
GroundWire is a 29-minute news radio program featuring headlines, reports and features from the community radio sector in Canada. The program aims to be a strong, reliable, high-quality newscast, engaging the audience with geographically and culturally diverse features that address issues of interest to specific communities as well as to a national audience.
GroundWire balances grassroots coverage of local stories with progressive perspectives on national and international issues. Voices of people living in Canada, or Canadians living and working abroad, are a priority. GroundWire works to encourage self-representation from diverse communities
in Canada, Quebec, and in indigenous nations, and features music from underrepresented Canadian artists.
GroundWire is produced by members of the Community News Network and aired on campus and community radio stations across Canada, and is also distributed online through the NCRA and other independent media sites.
GroundWire aims to connect diverse communities that take part in community radio programming all over Canada by featuring stories that are local, regional and national in scope and that share an ethic of human rights activism, equity, labour rights, democractic communication and information
exchange, and progressive political and social policy.
Production Committee
GroundWire is produced and directed by a production committee composed of staff and volunteers from participating NCRA stations. The committee makes all efforts to include members from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds to ensure that GroundWire programming speaks well to many different communities and not just the core listenership of community radio stations.
The production committee is mandated to make practical decisions about the content and direction of each episode of GroundWire. This includes reviewing submissions, choosing a limited number of features for each episode, choosing two Canadian artists to feature during musical bridges,
communicating with potential and actual contributors, and writing an editorial statement for each episode.
The production committee may have a monthly facilitator who will communicate directly with contributors about the decisions of the editorial committee, write runsheets and scripts, assemble the show and upload the show to distribution networks in a timely manner.
The production committee communicates with contributors via the groundwire@ncra.ca email address. this email is accessible by any member of the production committee, however, the monthly facilitator is responsible for communicating editorial decisions to contributors.
GROUNDWIRE Production Guidelines
2 WEEKS before the production deadline, send a call-out for content to the NCRAlist, Groundwire listserve and rabble producers list. The call out should refer to the submission guidelines, the run-sheet and the Groundwire website and e-mail address.
1 WEEK before the production deadline, check the Groundwire website at and email account for submissions.
SELECT the contributions that are of interest keeping in mind sound quality; timeliness; geographic diversity, originality of subject matter; usefulness, quality and novelty of information or ideas; and international importance.
NOTIFY contributors being considered for inclusion in the program and make any editorial requests for modifications to submissions.
ALONG with their audio, contributors should send a short text that will be read by the host(s) to present their audio piece.
IDENTIFY potential host(s) and music for the Groundwire program.
DOWNLOAD/COLLECT all items for inclusion in the program a few days before the production deadline.
PREPARE GROUNDWIRE for upload: see the step-by-step guidelines to include scripting, choosing music breaks, recording, editing segments together, etc.
DRAFT editorial statement: guidelines to include rationale for segments included in the program; info about other content submitted that could be included in future shows.
REMEMBER to alternate as much as possible between women and men?s voices.
UPLOAD the program and editorial statement to the Groundwire page.
SEND a release stating the content of this week?s Groundwire to the NCRAlist, Groundwire listserve and rabble producers list.
Show Structure
0:00-1:00 Theme music and program highlights (outline upcoming
features)
1:00-5:00 Headlines (30-90 second stories with or without actualities)
5:00-8:00 Canadian campus and/or community station report
8:00-9:00 Music break #1
9:00-14:00 Feature segment #1 (1, 5-minute feature or 2, 2-minute
features with intros/extros)
14:00-15:00 Music break #2
15:00-27:00 Feature segment #2 (one or more 2-minute, 5-minute or
10-minute features with intros/extros, adding up to no more than 12 minutes
total)
27:00-28:00 National upcoming events listings
28:00-29:00 Sign off, thank yous, contact information, theme music
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Editorial
INFORM US: We are looking for grassroots coverage of local stories, and progressive perspectives on cross-Canada and international news. Voices of people living in Canada, or Canadians living or working abroad, will be prioritized. Groundwire strives to represent the diverse communities of
Canada, Quebec and indigenous peoples, in a manner which is respectful, informed, and relevant.
(INTER)NATIONAL INTEREST: Would your story be more interesting to your local station than to people across the country? Groundwire is a national and international news show so we are looking for stories with a national angle.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE: Include whether the story is time-sensitive: e.g., "Klein's story will be published in the April edition of This Magazine," ?These hearings wrap up on Friday, June 30? or "This would be great to run with the anniversary of the Inquiry into Neil Stonechild?s murder next August."
JUST THE FACTS: Please ensure that your contributions are factual, can be verified by at least 2 sources and that material being presented is in no way libelous or slanderous.
STREET LEGAL: No person's voice should be used on your piece unless the person speaking was aware they were being recorded for possible broadcast. Identify your sources on the air, unless the source has asked not to be identified, in which case say that this is so. Synthesizing information you get from various sources is a normal part of journalism, but plagiarism is not acceptable. If you use information from other media outlets, give them credit: "The Associated Press reports...", etc.
MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS: Include at least 2 contrasting viewpoints in your submissions to Groundwire.
OUR PROCESS: Production of Groundwire rotates among stations with the interest and resources to take on the editing process. Producing stations will choose content among the material available on the Groundwire website and will provide the rationale for their selections in an Editorial Report posted to the site with the program. Groundwire cannot currently remunerate content providers financially, however reporters will be thanked during the program and the program provides an opportunity for nation-wide broadcast of journalistic pieces.
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Technical
HEADLINES: Headlines are 30- to 90- second scripted stories with or without actualities (sound clips).
STATION REPORTS: The Canadian campus and/or community station report is a 3-minute feature exploring developments at at Canadian campus and/or community radio station. These reports should include at least 2 voices and the station?s contact information.
FEATURES: Features may be submitted in 2-minute, 5-minute or 10-minute lengths. There is some flexibility in these time guidelines; however features that run overtime (2:30, 5:15) or of radically different lengths (7 minutes, 15 minutes) will not be considered for inclusion in the program. Features must include more than one voice and at least 2 contrasting viewpoints or opinions on the issue being discussed. In addition to the pre-produced audio feature, a 10-30 second lead and extro should be submitted as text, including the story?s highlights, the name of the feature developer, and the location(s) of the story.
NATIONAL LISTINGS: Listings should be 10-15 second scripts highlighting upcoming events of national significance (anniversaries, mobilizations, grassroots projects) submitted as text in the body of an email to: groundwire@groundwire.ca.
Submit each listing individually and do not submitt .jpegs, .pdfs or other files with listings.
FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS: For headlines, Station Reports and Features, a text file including the links to actualites and/or features, the producer?s name and contact, and information as to why the story is important and what current news/political events make it important to air now must be included for the piece to be considered for inclusion in a Groundwire program. This information may be included in the same document as your headline, or your lead/extro.
FORMATS: Groundwire currently accepts content in digital formats only. Headlines, intros and extros, and text files should be submitted as text (.txt), word documents (.doc) or rich text format (.rtf) files, uploaded to our website at http://secure.groundwire.ca or emailed to
groundwire@groundwire.ca. Audio should be submitted in mono, as .mp3 or .wav at a sampling rate of 44.1khz, 16-bit and a bit-rate of 128 or higher.
SOUND QUALITY: Always ensure that you can hear what you are recording in your headphones when gathering sound.
Ensure that connections on all recording devices are solid and that there is no buzzing or humming in the background of your recordings.
Whenever possible, record interviews in person instead of on the phone. Ensure the you and your guests use proper microphone technique: keep the microphone about a handspan away from people?s mouths. Avoid excessive microphone popping or hissing during talk and narration segments by talking over or across the mic instead of directly into it.
Do not record with a microphone directly into a computer: either record onto a separate recorder and transfer to a computer, or plug your microphone into a recorder, connect the line-out/speaker-out/headphone-out? of the recorder to the ?line-in? of your computer and have the recorder on ?record pause? or ?monitor input? mode. This way you are using the preamp built into your recorder instead of the one in the computer.
Adjust the sound levels of the elements in your submission so that the entire piece rests between -12 and -6db.
EDITING: It is easiest to edit your pieces on a computer, using an audio editing program such as Audacity, SoundForge or Audition. There are lots of resources on-line for downloading free .wav and .mp3 recording/editing software, and for learning how to use it. Your local campus-community radio station may also be able to provide you with technical training, resources and assistance.
Make sure that the edits in your piece are clean. Do not cut breaths in half, paste two breaths back to back, leave extra bits of words or cut off the end or beginning of a word. Use fade-outs and cross-fades instead of abrupt cuts when layering sounds. Be sure that the start and the end of your piece are silent (-Inf db)
Digitial editing makes it possible for you to build soundbites using several different comments that may have been spoken minutes apart. You can really make people say anything you want them to say. This is of course immoral, inaccurate, and probably illegal. A good rule of thumb when cutting and pasting various statements into a soundbite is to ask yourself, "Would this
person approve of the edits I have made? Does it accurately express what they were trying to say?" If the answer is no, then don't use it.
Don?t be afraid to include lots of ambience! If you are recording people outside on the street, let your mic run for a minute or two without anyone talking, until you get something interesting. A car honk, a group of kids walking by, whatever! If you are at the docks, record the foghorn, or a bell, or a ship coming in. If you are in an office, get the sound of the phone ringing and the receptionist answering.
UPLOADING: Go to http://secure.groundwire.ca and follow the instructions for uploading via our .php page.
FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: email groundwire@groundwire.ca. We?ll be happy to help you troubleshoot.
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Creative
TIPS ON SCRIPTWRITING: Every second counts. Write short sentences with one basic idea in each. Put the subject at the front of each sentence, using the formula: (subject) + (verb) + (object) + (...all other stuff). Sentences should be written in the positive, as opposed to the negative: Avoid using "not", "no", "don't", "doesn't", "won't", etc. Write in the present tense, whenever possible. Be sure to answer the "Five W's": Who, What, Where, Why,
and When.
Start and end your story with a person, a personal story, an illustrative anecdote...something that the listener can understand and relate to immediately.
Remind your listeners of the subject of your story as you go along, and again near the end. If you are having a hard time coming up with a definitive general statement for the conclusion of your story, conclude by telling the listener what they can expect to happen next.
Words to avoid in radio writing, whenever possible:
-All forms of the verb to be (is, am, are, were, will be, have been, being,
etc.)
-Get (use an action verb instead)
-Adverbs, those words that usually end in -LY.
-That and Which
-Cliches and overused phrases
TIPS ON SOUND GATHERING: Let your sources give the examples, and (if possible) draw the conclusions. The reporter should state the general fact/trend/phenomenon, then the source should illustrate with an example.
Take notes when you're recording, whenever possible. When someone says something you might use in your story, make a note of what they said and where it is on your tape. Label your tapes/discs/files diligently, with date, name, and location.
Once you have chosen a clip you want to use, avoid editing it, especially if there is background sound that would be interrupted by your edits.
Whenever possible, primary sources should be used to tell a story. If you're reporting on a judicial nominee accused of torturing small animals, call him and ask if it's true! He's the only one who knows for sure. Don?t relying on pundits and bystanders to tell the story.
If you're having trouble locating opposing viewpoints for your story, ask your sources who their enemies are, and call them.
TIPS ON INTERVIEWING: Before you enter an interview location, press record on your machine and leave it running until after you leave. Even if you're in a quiet office, recording a minute or two of the sound of the location with nobody talking provides "room tone" that comes in handy when you're editing. You can't air coments recorded while a person thought the machine was off, but you will get the sounds of phones ringing, machines grinding, and people introducing themselves. If you don't turn your machine off right after the end of your questions, you won't miss the best part of the interview, which starts at the moment the person thinks it's over. Again, before you use pre- or post-interview tape, you must ask permission, but at least you'll have it, in case they say yes!
Don't be afraid to explain what you're going to do in the interview, before you start asking questions. However, don?t read all your questions to your guest before you begin!
Before you ask questions, have your sources identify themselves on the mic, with their full names and titles. One useful technique in a crowd is to ask for ID and info at the same time: "What's your name and title, what do you think about the tax cut plan, and why?" This way you'll have an actuality and ID all in one: "I'm Ronnie Fong, I'm a pipefitter, and I think the tax cut is terrible idea! Billionaires are rich enough already!"
If you have time, ask a few throwaway questions at the top of the interview, to get your guest comfortable. "When did you start doing this kind of work?" "How did you get into it?" If what you really want on tape is the answer to the question, "Did you embezzle $10,000 from city government?", you might want to start with some softballs which make the source feel good: ?How has the first year of your term been going, Mr.Mayor??
Ask one question at a time. Keep your questions short and direct, while avoiding those with ?yes or no? answers. Asking, "Why did you do it, and what do you think is going to happen next?" gives the guest the option of answering either or neither: if they're good at avoiding questions, by the time they've given an answer, you've forgotten the other question.
Be careful not to say, "Uh huh", "Mmm Hmm" when the person is talking, as we all do naturally in conversation. Just nod your head to show you are listening.
TIPS ON NARRATION: Read your script aloud before you record it. Note those places where you may have to emphasize certain words to make your point. But be careful not to over-emphasize or emote while you?re reading.
Don't look down at the page when you read. Hold the script up to your head level and read upward. It opens up your chest cavity and improves the delivery of your voice. Remember to breathe: it's easy to get through half a page and find yourself running out of air. Also remember to vary your
tone, but keep your volume consistent.
When you make a mistake, start over at the beginning of the paragraph.
Mandate
GroundWire is a 29-minute news radio program featuring headlines, reports and features from the community radio sector in Canada. The program aims to be a strong, reliable, high-quality newscast, engaging the audience with geographically and culturally diverse features that address issues of interest to specific communities as well as to a national audience.
GroundWire balances grassroots coverage of local stories with progressive perspectives on national and international issues. Voices of people living in Canada, or Canadians living and working abroad, are a priority. GroundWire works to encourage self-representation from diverse communities
in Canada, Quebec, and in indigenous nations, and features music from underrepresented Canadian artists.
GroundWire is produced by members of the Community News Network and aired on campus and community radio stations across Canada, and is also distributed online through the NCRA and other independent media sites.
GroundWire aims to connect diverse communities that take part in community radio programming all over Canada by featuring stories that are local, regional and national in scope and that share an ethic of human rights activism, equity, labour rights, democractic communication and information
exchange, and progressive political and social policy.
Production Committee
GroundWire is produced and directed by a production committee composed of staff and volunteers from participating NCRA stations. The committee makes all efforts to include members from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds to ensure that GroundWire programming speaks well to many different communities and not just the core listenership of community radio stations.
The production committee is mandated to make practical decisions about the content and direction of each episode of GroundWire. This includes reviewing submissions, choosing a limited number of features for each episode, choosing two Canadian artists to feature during musical bridges,
communicating with potential and actual contributors, and writing an editorial statement for each episode.
The production committee may have a monthly facilitator who will communicate directly with contributors about the decisions of the editorial committee, write runsheets and scripts, assemble the show and upload the show to distribution networks in a timely manner.
The production committee communicates with contributors via the groundwire@ncra.ca email address. this email is accessible by any member of the production committee, however, the monthly facilitator is responsible for communicating editorial decisions to contributors.
GROUNDWIRE Production Guidelines
2 WEEKS before the production deadline, send a call-out for content to the NCRAlist, Groundwire listserve and rabble producers list. The call out should refer to the submission guidelines, the run-sheet and the Groundwire website and e-mail address.
1 WEEK before the production deadline, check the Groundwire website at and email account for submissions.
SELECT the contributions that are of interest keeping in mind sound quality; timeliness; geographic diversity, originality of subject matter; usefulness, quality and novelty of information or ideas; and international importance.
NOTIFY contributors being considered for inclusion in the program and make any editorial requests for modifications to submissions.
ALONG with their audio, contributors should send a short text that will be read by the host(s) to present their audio piece.
IDENTIFY potential host(s) and music for the Groundwire program.
DOWNLOAD/COLLECT all items for inclusion in the program a few days before the production deadline.
PREPARE GROUNDWIRE for upload: see the step-by-step guidelines to include scripting, choosing music breaks, recording, editing segments together, etc.
DRAFT editorial statement: guidelines to include rationale for segments included in the program; info about other content submitted that could be included in future shows.
REMEMBER to alternate as much as possible between women and men?s voices.
UPLOAD the program and editorial statement to the Groundwire page.
SEND a release stating the content of this week?s Groundwire to the NCRAlist, Groundwire listserve and rabble producers list.
Show Structure
0:00-1:00 Theme music and program highlights (outline upcoming
features)
1:00-5:00 Headlines (30-90 second stories with or without actualities)
5:00-8:00 Canadian campus and/or community station report
8:00-9:00 Music break #1
9:00-14:00 Feature segment #1 (1, 5-minute feature or 2, 2-minute
features with intros/extros)
14:00-15:00 Music break #2
15:00-27:00 Feature segment #2 (one or more 2-minute, 5-minute or
10-minute features with intros/extros, adding up to no more than 12 minutes
total)
27:00-28:00 National upcoming events listings
28:00-29:00 Sign off, thank yous, contact information, theme music
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Editorial
INFORM US: We are looking for grassroots coverage of local stories, and progressive perspectives on cross-Canada and international news. Voices of people living in Canada, or Canadians living or working abroad, will be prioritized. Groundwire strives to represent the diverse communities of
Canada, Quebec and indigenous peoples, in a manner which is respectful, informed, and relevant.
(INTER)NATIONAL INTEREST: Would your story be more interesting to your local station than to people across the country? Groundwire is a national and international news show so we are looking for stories with a national angle.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE: Include whether the story is time-sensitive: e.g., "Klein's story will be published in the April edition of This Magazine," ?These hearings wrap up on Friday, June 30? or "This would be great to run with the anniversary of the Inquiry into Neil Stonechild?s murder next August."
JUST THE FACTS: Please ensure that your contributions are factual, can be verified by at least 2 sources and that material being presented is in no way libelous or slanderous.
STREET LEGAL: No person's voice should be used on your piece unless the person speaking was aware they were being recorded for possible broadcast. Identify your sources on the air, unless the source has asked not to be identified, in which case say that this is so. Synthesizing information you get from various sources is a normal part of journalism, but plagiarism is not acceptable. If you use information from other media outlets, give them credit: "The Associated Press reports...", etc.
MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS: Include at least 2 contrasting viewpoints in your submissions to Groundwire.
OUR PROCESS: Production of Groundwire rotates among stations with the interest and resources to take on the editing process. Producing stations will choose content among the material available on the Groundwire website and will provide the rationale for their selections in an Editorial Report posted to the site with the program. Groundwire cannot currently remunerate content providers financially, however reporters will be thanked during the program and the program provides an opportunity for nation-wide broadcast of journalistic pieces.
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Technical
HEADLINES: Headlines are 30- to 90- second scripted stories with or without actualities (sound clips).
STATION REPORTS: The Canadian campus and/or community station report is a 3-minute feature exploring developments at at Canadian campus and/or community radio station. These reports should include at least 2 voices and the station?s contact information.
FEATURES: Features may be submitted in 2-minute, 5-minute or 10-minute lengths. There is some flexibility in these time guidelines; however features that run overtime (2:30, 5:15) or of radically different lengths (7 minutes, 15 minutes) will not be considered for inclusion in the program. Features must include more than one voice and at least 2 contrasting viewpoints or opinions on the issue being discussed. In addition to the pre-produced audio feature, a 10-30 second lead and extro should be submitted as text, including the story?s highlights, the name of the feature developer, and the location(s) of the story.
NATIONAL LISTINGS: Listings should be 10-15 second scripts highlighting upcoming events of national significance (anniversaries, mobilizations, grassroots projects) submitted as text in the body of an email to: groundwire@groundwire.ca.
Submit each listing individually and do not submitt .jpegs, .pdfs or other files with listings.
FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS: For headlines, Station Reports and Features, a text file including the links to actualites and/or features, the producer?s name and contact, and information as to why the story is important and what current news/political events make it important to air now must be included for the piece to be considered for inclusion in a Groundwire program. This information may be included in the same document as your headline, or your lead/extro.
FORMATS: Groundwire currently accepts content in digital formats only. Headlines, intros and extros, and text files should be submitted as text (.txt), word documents (.doc) or rich text format (.rtf) files, uploaded to our website at http://secure.groundwire.ca or emailed to
groundwire@groundwire.ca. Audio should be submitted in mono, as .mp3 or .wav at a sampling rate of 44.1khz, 16-bit and a bit-rate of 128 or higher.
SOUND QUALITY: Always ensure that you can hear what you are recording in your headphones when gathering sound.
Ensure that connections on all recording devices are solid and that there is no buzzing or humming in the background of your recordings.
Whenever possible, record interviews in person instead of on the phone. Ensure the you and your guests use proper microphone technique: keep the microphone about a handspan away from people?s mouths. Avoid excessive microphone popping or hissing during talk and narration segments by talking over or across the mic instead of directly into it.
Do not record with a microphone directly into a computer: either record onto a separate recorder and transfer to a computer, or plug your microphone into a recorder, connect the line-out/speaker-out/headphone-out? of the recorder to the ?line-in? of your computer and have the recorder on ?record pause? or ?monitor input? mode. This way you are using the preamp built into your recorder instead of the one in the computer.
Adjust the sound levels of the elements in your submission so that the entire piece rests between -12 and -6db.
EDITING: It is easiest to edit your pieces on a computer, using an audio editing program such as Audacity, SoundForge or Audition. There are lots of resources on-line for downloading free .wav and .mp3 recording/editing software, and for learning how to use it. Your local campus-community radio station may also be able to provide you with technical training, resources and assistance.
Make sure that the edits in your piece are clean. Do not cut breaths in half, paste two breaths back to back, leave extra bits of words or cut off the end or beginning of a word. Use fade-outs and cross-fades instead of abrupt cuts when layering sounds. Be sure that the start and the end of your piece are silent (-Inf db)
Digitial editing makes it possible for you to build soundbites using several different comments that may have been spoken minutes apart. You can really make people say anything you want them to say. This is of course immoral, inaccurate, and probably illegal. A good rule of thumb when cutting and pasting various statements into a soundbite is to ask yourself, "Would this
person approve of the edits I have made? Does it accurately express what they were trying to say?" If the answer is no, then don't use it.
Don?t be afraid to include lots of ambience! If you are recording people outside on the street, let your mic run for a minute or two without anyone talking, until you get something interesting. A car honk, a group of kids walking by, whatever! If you are at the docks, record the foghorn, or a bell, or a ship coming in. If you are in an office, get the sound of the phone ringing and the receptionist answering.
UPLOADING: Go to http://secure.groundwire.ca and follow the instructions for uploading via our .php page.
FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: email groundwire@groundwire.ca. We?ll be happy to help you troubleshoot.
GROUNDWIRE Submission Guidelines: Creative
TIPS ON SCRIPTWRITING: Every second counts. Write short sentences with one basic idea in each. Put the subject at the front of each sentence, using the formula: (subject) + (verb) + (object) + (...all other stuff). Sentences should be written in the positive, as opposed to the negative: Avoid using "not", "no", "don't", "doesn't", "won't", etc. Write in the present tense, whenever possible. Be sure to answer the "Five W's": Who, What, Where, Why,
and When.
Start and end your story with a person, a personal story, an illustrative anecdote...something that the listener can understand and relate to immediately.
Remind your listeners of the subject of your story as you go along, and again near the end. If you are having a hard time coming up with a definitive general statement for the conclusion of your story, conclude by telling the listener what they can expect to happen next.
Words to avoid in radio writing, whenever possible:
-All forms of the verb to be (is, am, are, were, will be, have been, being,
etc.)
-Get (use an action verb instead)
-Adverbs, those words that usually end in -LY.
-That and Which
-Cliches and overused phrases
TIPS ON SOUND GATHERING: Let your sources give the examples, and (if possible) draw the conclusions. The reporter should state the general fact/trend/phenomenon, then the source should illustrate with an example.
Take notes when you're recording, whenever possible. When someone says something you might use in your story, make a note of what they said and where it is on your tape. Label your tapes/discs/files diligently, with date, name, and location.
Once you have chosen a clip you want to use, avoid editing it, especially if there is background sound that would be interrupted by your edits.
Whenever possible, primary sources should be used to tell a story. If you're reporting on a judicial nominee accused of torturing small animals, call him and ask if it's true! He's the only one who knows for sure. Don?t relying on pundits and bystanders to tell the story.
If you're having trouble locating opposing viewpoints for your story, ask your sources who their enemies are, and call them.
TIPS ON INTERVIEWING: Before you enter an interview location, press record on your machine and leave it running until after you leave. Even if you're in a quiet office, recording a minute or two of the sound of the location with nobody talking provides "room tone" that comes in handy when you're editing. You can't air coments recorded while a person thought the machine was off, but you will get the sounds of phones ringing, machines grinding, and people introducing themselves. If you don't turn your machine off right after the end of your questions, you won't miss the best part of the interview, which starts at the moment the person thinks it's over. Again, before you use pre- or post-interview tape, you must ask permission, but at least you'll have it, in case they say yes!
Don't be afraid to explain what you're going to do in the interview, before you start asking questions. However, don?t read all your questions to your guest before you begin!
Before you ask questions, have your sources identify themselves on the mic, with their full names and titles. One useful technique in a crowd is to ask for ID and info at the same time: "What's your name and title, what do you think about the tax cut plan, and why?" This way you'll have an actuality and ID all in one: "I'm Ronnie Fong, I'm a pipefitter, and I think the tax cut is terrible idea! Billionaires are rich enough already!"
If you have time, ask a few throwaway questions at the top of the interview, to get your guest comfortable. "When did you start doing this kind of work?" "How did you get into it?" If what you really want on tape is the answer to the question, "Did you embezzle $10,000 from city government?", you might want to start with some softballs which make the source feel good: ?How has the first year of your term been going, Mr.Mayor??
Ask one question at a time. Keep your questions short and direct, while avoiding those with ?yes or no? answers. Asking, "Why did you do it, and what do you think is going to happen next?" gives the guest the option of answering either or neither: if they're good at avoiding questions, by the time they've given an answer, you've forgotten the other question.
Be careful not to say, "Uh huh", "Mmm Hmm" when the person is talking, as we all do naturally in conversation. Just nod your head to show you are listening.
TIPS ON NARRATION: Read your script aloud before you record it. Note those places where you may have to emphasize certain words to make your point. But be careful not to over-emphasize or emote while you?re reading.
Don't look down at the page when you read. Hold the script up to your head level and read upward. It opens up your chest cavity and improves the delivery of your voice. Remember to breathe: it's easy to get through half a page and find yourself running out of air. Also remember to vary your
tone, but keep your volume consistent.
When you make a mistake, start over at the beginning of the paragraph.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Book Review/Author Interview Possibility
ONLY BE AFRAID OF STANDING STILL
Practical Lessons From the Lives of Children
Dr. Ukpeh, author and consulting pediatrician to six hospitals and two hundred physicians in the Kootenay regions of BC, is now releasing his anticipated first novel: Only Be Afraid of Standing Still.
“Childhood is about change. Children go from dependent babies to functional young adults so frequently that we take the process for granted. But this is a willful process that requires effort. Adulthood is also about change. To attain your full potential you must manage all aspects of your life.” Dr Ukpeh applies the lessons of childhood to managing the change of adulthood.
This book will guide you from where you are to where you want to be.
To set up an interview or to request a book for reviewing purposes please contact Sarah Juma at Sarah@jumanagement.com
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