Profile Proposals

Person: Dave Skinner, the president of the Palouse Prairie Foundation
Why: The Palouse Prairie Foundation submitted paperwork to get the Palouse Earthworm declared an endangered creature. The claim was just turned out, but the group has said that they will try again to get this request granted.
Who else: I could also talk to the other members of the foundation, and people at the Department of Fish and Wildlife that helped with the proposal, or those who worked with Skinner during the fight.
Where: If I center the story around the earthworm, I feel that I could reach a broader audience, and go into a local paper, like the Evergreen. However, just the foundation profile would be for an agricultural magazine.

Who: Xianming Chen, a plant pathologist here in Pullman
Why: Chen was on a team of scientists who recently discovered a gene that will help create wheat that is resistant to stripe rust, which causes a large amount of crop loss in this area.
Who else: Other members of Chen's team, as well as members of the WSU faculty who may want to comment on this international discovery and the recognition that will come because of it.
Where: This story would be best in a newspaper that was geared toward academics. Agricultural based audiences may also enjoy it.

Who: Kenna Eaton, general manager of the Moscow Food Co-op
Why: This is a trend story. People are more and more interested in local and organic food. The co-op carries food that is produced locally. So in doing a 'day in the life' of Eaton may provide a better look into what this means to the consumer. Local and organic is more than just a sticker, what does it mean to local economies and to health?
Who else: The other members of the staff at the co-op as well as customers
Where: This would run in a local newspaper. Larger papers might pick it up, however, as it is a huge trend right now.