Cute up-and-coming, college-age journalists at the Northwest Institute for Social Change stopped by our office last week to ask Patrick and I lots of questions about reporting and media and whether I happened to attend a Harry and the Potters show in summer 2008 (yes). They’ve spent all summer making little documentaries about “things Portland is doing right” and debuted the videos at city council this Wednesday. They’re short, fun little pieces about our city—check ’em out! The one below is about Voodoo Donuts’ youth employment program and the two below the cut are about an art program for kids in hospitals and Mayor Sam Adams’ chickens.
Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books. More by Sarah Shay Mirk
It’s a great program and all, and kudos to the Mercury for giving the students some exposure to real journalists and some space on the blog, but any reason you didn’t mention in the blurb that the whole program is the brainchild of former Mercury editor Phil Busse?
I could have ambrown, but I wanted the post to be about the kids’ work and videos, not the guy who’s running the program (which, yes! is former Mercury news editor Phil Busse, if you’re wondering what he’s up to these days).
Thanks, Sarah! I hadn’t had any lawn signs ripped off out of my yard recently so I really was wondering what Phil Busse was up to lately.