A look behind the scenes
Happy Wednesday, Mobile Newsroomies!
I'll start with the bad news: Your regular newsletter curator, Sheridan, is off this week and next. I'll be filling in as the Mobile Newsroom's time in Linden starts to wrap up.
This is our last week with Dispatch staffers regularly working out of the Linden Branch library, but it won't be the end of our outreach and coverage of the neighborhood. And it's not too late to say hello. Please drop by and tell reporter Peter Gill what's on your mind and offer any story ideas.
The reporters and photographers who have spent time in Linden have been learning so much — and having a blast while doing it. So far they've taken two walking tours, met with residents and neighborhood leaders, and bonded with the kids who spend time at the library after school.
Here are a few reflections on their experiences so far and a sneak peek at some of the stories that they're working on as part of the Mobile Newsroom:
Ceili Doyle: Reporting out of Linden’s library branch has been such a rich experience. From the first day — when we brought cookies for the kickoff — the community has been so receptive. The library in Linden is a real hub for the neighborhood, especially for the kids who flock to the library after school. I’ve befriended a handful of those kids, who refer to me as the “Cookie Lady.” We talk about school, they ask me about what it means to work for a newspaper and encourage me to join them in their gymnastics routines — we settled on watching Simone Biles’s clips on YouTube as a compromise. The staff at Linden’s branch have their pulse on the community, and it’s been such a joy to get out of the office and learn from them and listen to the stories that make up Linden.
Taijuan Moorman: While spending time in the Linden mobile newsroom, I kept hearing from library staff and patrons how interesting and inspiring the people of Linden are. I recently got to experience that firsthand. Last week a woman came over to tell us about her son with special needs and the children’s book she wrote about him. I’m excited to help tell her story and the other stories to come out of the Mobile Newsroom.
Bailey Johnson: I spent last Wednesday afternoon at Linden-McKinley's football practice as they made their final preparations for a Thursday night game against Mifflin. Spending several hours around the team in an informal, non-structured way helped me make better connections and get a deeper look at the inner workings of the team, without the confines of a traditional interview. Plus, I came out of it with a bunch of story ideas!
Checking in: The Dispatch reviewed four months of Columbus Public Health school environmental health and safety inspection records of Columbus City school buildings from earlier this year and found a host of problems. Inspectors found problems in many of the 112 school buildings across the city, including some in neighborhoods like the Hilltop and South Side, both former Mobile Newsroom stops. Check out this story by Megan Henry and Mark Ferenchik for all the details.
Coming up: As our time in Linden winds down, we'll be looking for suggestions for the Mobile Newsroom's next stop. If you have any suggestions, we'd love to hear them!
What's happening: The Northland Unity Festival will take place Saturday from 3-7 p.m. at the North YMCA, 1640 Sandalwood Place. The event will feature food trucks from local businesses, kid activities, a performance from Columbus band The Deal Breakers and a tamale-eating contest.
As always, thank you for reading! If you aren't already, please consider subscribing to the Dispatch. And if someone sent you this email, make sure you subscribe to this newsletter to never miss and issue!
Ryan E. Smith
Email: rsmith@dispatch.com
Twitter: @readryansmith
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A look behind the scenes
