Combined pitch email - December 4

Check out these pitches from News, Opinion, and Arts & Culture!

Author

Lily Polenchuk
December 04, 2023

Hi everyone!

Happy last week of classes! I hope y’all are taking care of yourself during your study sessions for any upcoming finals you have.

A reminder that tomorrow we have our pitch meeting at 4 p.m. in the Gateway office, as per usual.

On Thursday we’ll be having our holiday volunteer social! Come join us at 4 p.m. in the office for popcorn, hot cocoa, and Christmas movies! We hope to see you there 🙂 

If we don’t get a chance to see you this week, I hope you have a last good week of classes and good luck with your finals!

Anna

News Pitches

You can reach Dylana at [email protected] or over Slack!

A University of Alberta engineering researcher has developed a wireless light switch that could reduce the cost of wiring a house by as much as 50 per cent.

A research study is revealing how perinatal health and early life events are related to how able children are to control their asthma.

A review of various scientific literature looked at the effects of climate change on the cropland of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1901 to 2021, showing a consistent trend of higher air temperatures in winter and spring, less snowfall and more disruptive weather, such as frequent and intense rainfalls.

Researchers at the U of A are attempting to find out how diet and excercise could impact or halt the progression of type 2 diabetes.

Opinion Pitches

You can reach Anna at [email protected] or over Slack!

ETS Electric Buses: In 2020 ETS rolled out electric buses to Edmonton’s transit system  for a greener solution. However the electric buses seem to be failing, and constantly needing repairs. Additionally the company the buses come from has filed for bankruptcy. These buses are now “not roadworthy.” How does this reflect ETS priorities for greener transit? What can be done instead to promote environmentally conscious options for ETS? 

Academic Success Centre: As we get closer to the end of the semester, students are increasingly aware of what their grades are like. If you’re struggling, now might be the time you’re reaching out to the U of A for support. The university offers services through their Academic Success Centre, but is it enough? Are there enough diverse supports being offered, and are they easily accessible enough for students to benefit? Or should the U of A be doing more to support students, especially during exam season?

Post-pandemic campus culture: Campus culture before March 2020 was drastically different than it was during the rest of 2020, 2021 and 2022. This year, most COVID policies have been phased out, but not everything has gone back to normal. Hybrid learning, for example, is way more prominent now than it was 4 years ago. Profs are more lenient about absences due to illness, and campus pharmacies and healthcare centres still offer testing and vaccinations. But how has student life in general changed since the pandemic?  Has student life on campus really returned to pre-2020 ways? Will things ever really go back to normal entirely? Or are the changes we’ve seen because of COVID for the best? Write a piece on campus culture now vs. 2019/2020 and share your take!

Point/Counterpoint - Christmas Trees: When it comes to decorating the Christmas tree, and having it in your home, is it better to have a real tree, or a fake tree? Do you think real trees are messy and sticky, and it’s better to have a fake one? Or are real trees essential to the holiday spirit with their smell and texture? Pick up one side of this point/counterpoint article and convince us why we should or should not have real trees this Christmas.

A&C Pitches

You can reach Lily at [email protected] or over Slack!

Interview: Local artists receive $15,000 to celebrate 25th anniversary of arts award. Choose one to speak to!

Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐘᐣ (she/her) is a Nehiyaw Isko visual artist, originally from Bigstone Cree Nation. Her work often explores history, knowledge and traditional practices. Through the use of her body and language, she speaks to the past, present and future.

Daniel Foreman (he/him) is a Métis writer, director, producer and musician who creates independent film and video. He is also one of the founders of the Edmonton Short Film Festival which has screened over 250 Alberta films and helped many Edmonton filmmakers transition to the next level in their professional development.

Kathryn Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon (she/her) is a poet and editor. She is the co-creator of Hungry Zine, an award-winning, food-focused publication that centers voices missing in mainstream food media. As an artist, she is passionate about building more inclusive, beautiful, and connected communities, through storytelling and placemaking.

Nuela Charles (she/her) is a three-time JUNO Award nominated alternative/pop singer-songwriter with a soulful edge. Born in Kenya, raised in Switzerland, Canada and the Bahamas before settling back in Canada, Charles’ music is infused with her multicultural upbringing.

Shawn Tse (he/him) is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and organizer that practices primarily in film/video, theatre, and public art. Placekeeping in Chinatown is a prominent theme in his artistic practice and he is a co-founder of aiya哎呀 collective and Chinatown Greetings.

Book Review or Author Interview: No Killers

“When University of Alberta alumnus Ken Budd set out in a Volkswagen van to explore the west coast of Vancouver Island in the early 1970s, he had no idea that he was embarking on a creative journey that would take over 50 years to complete. Since that first trip to what was then the sleepy fishing village of Tofino, BC, the narrative for his newest book release, NO KILLERS, has morphed and expanded almost beyond recognition. A few key elements, however, have remained constant: a world in turmoil, a nascent Canadian war strategy, a young protagonist at a crossroads, a chilling reality of the treatment of Japanese-Canadians and local First Nations, and the rugged beauty of Canada’s Pacific coastline.”

Speak with Ken or review his book!

Byron Martin, the founder of Grindstone Theatre, made the 2023 Edify Top 40 under 40 list! He made the list because he “creates stages for emerging local performers to shine.” Talk to Martin about the founding of Grindstone and his work now!

This exhibition is by Lisa Mayes, an intermedia graduate student at the U of A. The authoethnographic exhibition represents Mayes “as a black body with the intersectionality of Acadian, African American, Muscogee Creek, Irish, and Scottish heritage.” The exhibit explores “a conceptual construction of identity” while following “the colonial and postcolonial diasporic displacement trajectory within North American narratives.”

Photostory: Glow

December 1 - January 1 at the Expo Centre, $28.21 CAD for General Admission Ticket

A&C Columns

Hobby Hole: Do you have a favourite hobby that you like to do? Guide us through it! Here’s a fun example.

Playlist: Share your fall music picks in a curated playlist!

Comic Stans: Love comics or graphic novels? This column is for you! Highlight your favourite comics and how they might include representation for women and LGBTQIA2S+ people!

Retro on Retro: Is some classic piece of media on your mind? Reflect on it with the distance of time in this column. Discuss the qualities, staying power, and impact of your favourite old movie, video game, album, book, play, or whatever else!

Gateway to Gastronomy, winter edition: Do you have a fun and easy to follow recipe that you love to make during winter? Share it in this reoccurring segment.

Illustration Pitches

You can reach Lily at [email protected] or over Slack!

We are looking for illustrators to create new graphics for the following A&C columns: Gateway to Gastronomy, Eating Edmonton, Hobby Hole, Top 5, and Retro on Retro. Reach out to Lily if you’re interested in taking one on