Combined pitch email - July 10

Hey everyone,

Welcome to summer semester! We have compiled some cool pitches for you this week with the most interesting events happening on and off campus. If you want to take any of these pitches, or have a pitch of your own that you would like to write an article on, message the line editor of that section (through email or The Gateway's Slack), and they'll set you up to write the article.

Happy writing!

Katie

News Pitches

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

U of A team to gather evidence from Canadians about their experiences with medical assistance in dying: Data gathered will help Health Canada guide policy about MAID access, quality and cultural appropriateness.

Indigenous men in Alberta get fewer prostate cancer tests, face worse outcomes than non-Indigenous men: Research team plans further studies to determine the causes behind the disparities and develop community-based solutions.

AI researchers harness data to drive health-care innovation: Two recently named Canada CIFAR AI Chairs are honing AI models and systems to benefit everything from delivery of care to patient outcomes and quality of life.

Freshwater ecologist Rolf Vinebrooke shares insights on how to enjoy the lake safely amidst blue-green algae, a yearly concern for Albertans, as the blooms from the algae produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and fatal to pets. He also studies Alberta’s mountain lakes and how the rapid rates of warming at higher elevations impacts the colour and ecology of the water.

Opinion Pitches

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

The Online News Act/Bill C-18: In response to the Online News Act (Bill C-18), Google and Meta will begin blocking Canadian news links from their products. This is bound to have a major impact on how Canadians access the news, and is raising eyebrows across social media. Take this pitch and write about how Bill C-18 will impact journalism in Canada. You could talk about the spread of misinformation, or take a look at the issue from a student lens.

No Russian pavilion at Edmonton Heritage Festival: Due to “safety concerns, threats and objections from the city's Ukrainian community,” the team behind Edmonton’s Heritage Festival has decided that there will not be a Russian pavilion at the festival this year. This decision has, understandably, received some backlash — with some folks questioning if the move aligns with the Heritage Festival at all. Take this pitch and write about what this means for Edmonton, and how it may impact the spirit of the Heritage Festival as a whole.

15 minute communities: The concept of 15 minute communities has popped up in the news again, with a representative from Re/Max Canada finding that Edmontonians are particularly interested in the idea — despite the slew of conspiracy theories surrounding it. A 15 minute community means that citizens would have to commute less than 15 minutes to reach all of the most important amenities, including schools and grocery stores. Take this pitch and write about how students feel about the 15 minute community — and how they may impact where new graduates decide to settle.

NHL Drafts. The 2023 NHL Entry drafts happened recently, giving the hockey community a lot to talk about. Take this pitch, choose a team, and write about their draft picks: did they make the right decision? How could their picks impact the future of their play?

Burlap Sack: The Burlap Sack is a recurring Gateway opinion column for students to express grievances on anything from campus life, to provincial politics, to everyday hot takes. Do you have something you want to rag on? Let’s hear it!

A&C Pitches

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

Event Coverage: Animethon

Edmonton Convention Centre, July 14 to 16 starting at 10:00 a.m.

Attention anime fans, Animethon is around the corner! You will get to see a range of cosplayers, anime merch and gaming events all packed into three days! If you are attending any of the three days or all three, feel free to cover the event for us! The tickets come in different packages starting at $35.

Event Coverage: The Thousand Faces Festival: Myth Country Fair

Alberta Avenue, July 14 to 16

Check out the headline event of The Thousand Faces Festival presented by TD Bank, the Myth Country Fair. This intercultural celebrates the diversity of the city through mythic art and food. There will be multidisciplinary performances including spoken word, plays, and interactive activities that are family friendly. On July 14 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a free feast from food vendors on Alberta Avenue at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre. Admission is by donation and you can RSVP on the Myth Country Fair website.

Interview Opportunity/Performance Review: The Soul Motivators

SOHO, July 22 starting at 8:00 p.m.

The Soul Motivators are a Toronto based funk-soul group that will be in Edmonton at SOHO on July 22 to perform with Purple City Disco. Interview the group about their latest album Do It Together released on March 24. Their front woman Shahi Teruko has been touring with the band for the past two years and provides a powerful punchy drive to lead the funky instrumentation. Tickets for the show are available on eventbrite.

Exhibition Review: ‘Mending Roots’ and ‘Today’s Special’

SNAP Gallery, until July 29

Two exhibitions have opened at SNAP Gallery featuring the print artwork of Edward Fu-Chen Juan in Mending Roots and Yilu Xing in Today’s Special. The first exhibit showcases artwork made using indigenous plants from Taiwan, as the artist expresses his experience as an immigrant to Canada and explores his connections to his homeland. Today’s Special presents images of food that explore how people form connections over meals. Yilu Xing will be hosting a free artist’s talk about Today’s Special on July 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m..

Photostory: The Works Art & Design Festival and Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

Sir Winston Churchill Square, until July 16

This year for the second time, The Works Art & Design Festival will be collaborating with the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival to showcase visual and performance art in the heart of downtown Edmonton. Contact me if you are interested in taking pictures of the festivities, which will also include workshops and food!

Columns

Eating Edmonton: Come Find Me

Courtyard of Take Care Cafe

Let readers at The Gateway know if this trendy new restaurant is worth the hype! Come Find Me serves a variety of fresh dishes with uncooked ingredients and a range of drinks to accompany your meal. 

Double Take: Love spitting fire-hot takes on pop culture? You and a friend (or foe) can team up to write opposing takes on some piece of art/entertainment/media.

Brew Crew/Vino Bitches: As we head into the partying season, write a fun, short review of your favourite (or not-so-favourite) beers, wines, or other alcoholic beverages of choice!0