Following a new farm family

Agriculture and farm culture are rarely presented in national media, partly because those media are based so far away from farm country. Part of what I'm keeping my eye out for is compelling journalism about agricultural America.

This on-going project from the Omaha World-Herald follows Brian and Kelly Smith, a "quirky, earth-conscious 30-something couple" transitioning from backyard gardening to all-out farming.

they’ve moved their family — three boys 9 or younger, a dog and two cats — from a house in Benson to a rented farm on the metro area’s northwestern edge.
They call it Black Sheep Farms — a nod to the alternative path they have chosen and the chemical-free produce they’re trying to grow with help from investors who will share the work and the harvest in what’s known as a CSA (community supported agriculture) venture.

The paper will track the family's progress, even as the family does on its own CSA blog.

It's a great idea for a newspaper story, with obvious on-line tie-ins like a great slideshow. I'm curious to see what elements of this family's major transition the writers highlight over the life of the project. Starting a successful CSA business is hard work. So is home schooling 3 kids. Weather, economics, climate, community and family will all become part of this story.

Bats!

"The world's largest urban bat population" lives under a bridge in downtown Austin, Texas. They've become a big tourist attraction and the Austin American Statesman newspaper has a slick, simple Flash presentation on its Web site explaining the phenomenon.

The "bat viewing times" phone number up in the cornor is a nice idea that makes it possible for viewers to take the next step. It's sponsored by a "bat boat tour" company, but eventually tells you just when to stop by the bridge to see the little guys take flight.

Great audio slideshow: Hot Coffee, Mississippi

My wife and I traveled to Mississippi earlier this month.  It was only after we got back that we thought to use Google Earth* to find stories and photos about the places we were visiting.  While we didn't go through the town of Hot Coffee, Mississippi, this National Geographic audio slideshow made us feel like we'd been there.

I love the use of voice in this simple presentation.  The journalists here could have poked fun at a city with a funny name (it is indeed ironic that there's no good coffee to be found in Hot Coffee), but instead they found that there's so much else that makes this place special and surprising.

*Note: when I say "use Google Earth", I mean turning on the layers for the New York Times and National Geographic content.  Stories show up based on where in the world they originated.  Find more information on CNET and Google's official blog.

The idea

Major U.S. media outlets cover New York, Washington and Los Angeles with extravagance and gusto.  But the rest of the nation is a mystery to them. I'm convinced that in journalism, place matters. But media doesn't often reflect the places most of us live. 

I want to collect examples of great journalism about the places between the coasts.  That's all.