Cynthia Barnett from DJD @ USF St. Petersburg on Vimeo.
Award-winning journalist, Cynthia Barnett talks about her interest in the environment and how to create compelling stories about science and nature with student journalists from Neighborhood News Bureau.
Craig Pittman from DJD @ USF St. Petersburg on Vimeo.
By ZENENA MOGUEL
Email: zenenam@mail.usf.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2015) – Award-winning journalist, Craig Pittman, shared his experiences and advice for covering environmental issues to Neighborhood News Bureau (NNB) reporters Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Pittman has reported on environmental issues for the Tampa Bay Times since 1998. Along with working at The Times, Pittman has written multiple books including “Paving Paradise,” “Manatee Insanity,” and “Scent of Scandal.” With his knowledge and experience, Pittman targeted three major areas that fall into an environmental beat.
“The environmental beat is a great intersection of politics, science and the law,” said Pittman.
According to Pittman, the environmental beat is the best part of the paper. As an environmental journalist, you get to cover some of the weird stuff. He mentions telling environmental stories can come in various forms. But, sometimes it’s not all about the cool weird stuff.
“It’s not just fancy nature writing and gee whiz science stories, but stories about human health or taxes,” said Pittman.
But, sometimes these stories can raise challenges including the length of the story and being able to get into the field. However, Pittman talks about his biggest challenge.
“There are too many freaking stories, and, it’s hard to get past all of them,” said Pittman. “Just finding the time to do stories on everything.”
In the end, there are different methods to target and build upon environmental stories. And, it’s finding different ways to approach the story. Pittman lays down some advice including using the Unified Field Theory in journalism. The Unified Field Theory is explaining all the forces at work. In journalism, Pittman advises looking at different events and seeing how they connect.
“The bottom line, look for your unified theory, start with a timeline, always keep your notebook dry,” Pittman said.
View the entire Times Talk with Craig Pittman here.
About Neighborhood News Bureau
Neighborhood News Bureau is a working newsroom, staffed by University of South Florida St. Petersburg undergraduate and graduate students under the guidance of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies faculty members. The newsroom opened in Midtown, St. Petersburg March 2006. Its mission is to serve the Midtown and surrounding communities of St. Petersburg. For more information, visit http://www.nnbnews.com/ or email nnb@usfsp.edu.
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BY SAMANTHA PRITZLAFF
NNB Reporter
Winthrop “Will” Newton is vying for the District 7 City Council seat against Lisa Wheeler-Brown Nov. 3.
Newton is currently the district vice president for Florida Professional Firefighters in Pinellas and Pasco counties. The job takes him to Tallahassee to negotiate with lawmakers on behalf of firefighter unions.
“I’ve committed my life to keeping people safe and solving complex problems for more than two decades,” said Newton.
Public safety is just one of Newton’s priorities. His campaign also focuses on education, new and growing businesses, youth programs and in supporting taxpayers’ interest in the on-going issue regarding stadium lease with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Both Wheeler-Brown and Newton share similar goals. However, they split on the Rays issue, in which Wheeler-Brown favors the team moving outside of St. Petersburg.
City Council voted 5-3 last Thursday (Oct. 22) on a deal that would allow the Rays to potentially end their lease early and seek a stadium elsewhere, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The plan, if accepted by the Rays, could cost the team $33 million if they left before 2020, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
When it comes to moving forward with these priorities, Newton insists on his strong ability and desire to work, “collectively and collaboratively” with other City Council members.
“My goal is to work with those folks that are on council, all of them, and in the end to be able to achieve those goals and priorities I’ve identified,” said Newton.
Wengay Newton, Will Newton’s brother, currently holds the District 7 City Council seat and will step down after serving his two-term limit.
When asked what he can bring new to the table, Newton says his track record and list of endorsements speaks for itself.
“I’m a tough negotiator, but once we reach a point, I know when to extend my hand across the table and shake that person’s hand and say, ‘Hey, we have a deal,’” said Newton.
Newton’s endorsements include former Mayor Rick Baker, current City Council members Bill Dudley, Amy Foster, Steve Kornell and Wengay Newton, along with Councilmember-Elect Ed Montanari. The Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Firefighters Association and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association also endorse Newton’s candidacy.
District 7 hosts many residents living at or below the poverty level in areas of Southern St. Petersburg, such as Midtown and Childs Park. For Newton, this election goes beyond the borders of District 7.
“Any time one of the issues is improved, then we all are improved as a city collectively,” Newton says.
As a native to St. Petersburg, Newton worked as a St. Petersburg fire fighter EMT for 23 years. He is also a former president of the Childs Park Neighborhood Association.
For a complete list of all the candidates and poll locations, visit votepinellas.com.
It is the first time that St. Petersburg, Florida, has a radio station with content specifically directed to its African American community.
According to its founders, this radio will help black people to be able to express their concerns, frustrations and to show their talent. Without a doubt, Black Power 96 is an example of empowerment in Midtown that can be emulated by anyone, everywhere.
Read the full article on The Weekly Challenger
BY CARLY ROMANO
NNB Reporter
Residents can get a chance to grill candidates for city council tonight.
The NAACP St. Petersburg Branch City Council Candidate Forum is at 7 p.m. at the Enoch Davis Center.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to submit written questions for the candidates.
All candidates running are expected to attend.
District 1: Charlie Gerdes and Monica Abbott; District 5: Phillip Garrett and Steven “Steve” L. Kornell; and District 7: Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop “Will” Newtown.
If you go:
What: NAACP St. Petersburg Branch City Council Candidate Forum
When: 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave S
Story and photos BY ERIC VAUGHAN
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG –A look around Chago’s Barber Shop and it’s apparent owner Chago Diaz stands firmly behind his mission of acceptance in Midtown.
In a sofa near the entrance, awaiting haircuts, sits a gay couple chatting and laughing with one of the other barbers as if they were all old childhood friends.
“It is a safe place to come and be yourself,” said Andrew Winchell, a regular customer. “Everyone treats you with respect here, and it is good to have a place where they know your name.”
Diaz, 32, said when he first opened he was unsure if Midtown would welcome a Cuban-owned business into what he learned was a historically African-American neighborhood. Diaz soon realized that assumption could not have been further from the truth
“Midtown has embraced both my business and myself,” Diaz said as he wrapped a warm steamy towel around a client’s head.
What separates his salon from others in town?
“We accept everyone in here,” Diaz said. “It doesn’t matter if you are black, white, Hispanic, gay, or straight. Everyone gets an amazing haircut and five-star treatment.”
Acceptance spreading through a Barber shop may seem insignificant, but historically barber shops, specifically minority-owned, have been a place for heterosexual male bonding, where “guys could be guys” discussing topics such as sports, cars, and women. Chago’s Barber Shop offers the same ideology as those with the exception there is no restriction on the term “guys.”
Diaz, a Tampa Bay area native, said he was inspired to invest in Midtown because there were no other similar barber shops.
“We give the community a place to go, hang out, watch some TV, or just plain gossip,” Diaz said.
The barber shop conversations ranged from local politics and sports to the Nicki Minaj/Miley Cyrus beef.
Kevin Rix, 31, a master barber, who towers over seated clients at 6’8, said the central location in Midtown offers a chance to meet and interact with people from all walks of life. Offering discounts to students helps Rix and the other barbers connect with the community.
Before the barber shop opened its doors in late 2013, a marketing and advertising firm, Revital Agency occupied the space.
Diaz said because of how Midtown functions as a community and the dependency of business to business relations, he still uses the firm for marketing and help with signage.
“It is very important to us to use local businesses. Midtown is a special place, the history of businesses that were here before me, is just as important as my shop,” Diaz said. “I don’t just feel like this is my shop. This is the community’s barber shop.”
Chago said that a few business had come and gone since the building has been erected, but he hopes his business will remain in Midtown.
“We have found a home in this community, and it means a lot that Midtown has accepted us.”
By Carly Romano
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG— With a group of like-minded friends, Dr. Carter G. Woodson started work to educate and bring equality to unite residents of Midtown in 1915.
He wrote more than 30 books including The Mis-Education of the Negro in 1933. Woodson developed the idea in 1926 to observe noted accomplishments made by African Americans for a week. His celebration grew to eventually become Black History Month.
A museum to honor and commemorate Woodson opened in 2006 and continues to grow his legacy.
“We celebrate, we remember, we embrace the history of the past, as well as cater to the present,” said Cranston Cumberbatch, Office Manager/Curator/Docent of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.
Inside, there are displays of significant artwork symbolizing highlights of African American culture and history. The display is also a part of Art Walk, a festive monthly tradition, held throughout Midtown and downtown.
In order to maintain the non-profit museum, it accepts donations as well as hosts special events to help bring in money. These special occasions and events are held inside the museum or outside in the nature reserve garden.
The museum was part of the Jordan Park housing project upgrades and financially funded by a multimillion-dollar federal grant in 2005. The space formerly served as the Jordan Park Community Center and Management Office.
In January, there was a protest to keep the museum when concerns came up that the property would be sold back to the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. By March, due to the landmark’s sentimental value, the city of St. Petersburg started negotiations for the space. Ownership by the city is being finalized which will allow the building to remain in the same location.
African Americans played a crucial role in the expansion and development of St. Petersburg since the late 1800s. Exhibits show the hardscrabble lives of early black families and cultural artwork. Their purpose is to uphold the value of diversification, equal rights and social justice.
“We are a progressive museum, we don’t keep static exhibits,” said Cumberbatch. “There are constant changes displaying narratives from the past to the present.”
If you go:
What: Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum
Where: 2240 9th Ave S, St. Petersburg
When: From 12-5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; Saturday, by appointment
Contact: (727) 323-1104
