Combined pitch email - September 18

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

Author

Lily Polenchuk
September 18, 2023

Hi everybody,

A reminder that our first pitch meeting is tomorrow, September 19, from 4:00-5:00 p.m.! Our office is located on the third floor of the Students’ Union Building, Suite 3-04. Pitch meetings will then continue every Tuesday from 4:00-5:00 p.m.. We hope to see you there!

And as always, here are some fun pitches from our line editors.

Have a good week!

Lily Polenchuk

News Pitches

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

Invasive earthworms are changing the makeup of soil in Canada’s boreal forests, new University of Alberta research shows. The study is one of the first to highlight how non-native earthworms are directly altering the soil microbial community in the country’s boreal forests.

Metabolites produced by gut bacteria during digestion can be used to trigger an immune response against colorectal cancer cells, according to new University of Alberta research that points toward a potential treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

A University of Alberta-led interdisciplinary team is launching a research project with the goal to store 32.5 metric tonnes of carbon in the ground through grazing management techniques and genomic tools.

Learning basic reasoning skills can help young students get a better grasp on math in the early grades — and sets them up for success all the way into their future careers, according to education researchers at the University of Alberta.

Interview one of these professors about receiving the award, their research at the U of A, and what they plan to use the funds they have received from the award for.

  • Fatima Mraiche, an associate professor in the faculty of medicine and dentistry, has received the Vargo Teaching Chair

  • Greg Goss, a professor in the faculty of science, received the University of Alberta Distinguished Professor award.

  • David Olson, a professor in the faculty of science, received the University of Alberta Distinguished professor award.

Opinion Pitches

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

Valley Line LRT set to open: On September 7, TransEd announced that the Valley Line LRT is finally set to open later this fall. However, Edmontonians are weary as the Valley Line was set to open in 2020, but has been postponed many times over the last 3 years. With housing becoming less and less affordable around campus and students being forced to move further away, the lack of an east-west LRT line makes commuting to campus significantly more difficult. Is the LRT actually going to open this time? What would it mean to Edmontonians and students if it gets postponed again? If Phase 1 took three years longer to complete than planned, how does this bode for Phase 2? Write a piece on how you feel about the new LRT.

RCMP-Themed Corn Maze: This year the Edmonton Corn Maze is RCMP-themed in honour of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary. However, there has been backlash from the community. The owners have issued an apology, but the corn maze is still set to remain open until late October. Is this year’s theme out of touch and insensitive? Or should we be honouring the RCMP like this? Do the owners really mean their apology if the corn maze is still open? Are there any implications for the families visiting the maze? Give us your take!

Parks Canada taking preventative measures to protect wildlife: Parks Canada has reported an increase in wildlife fatalities in Elk Island National Park due to motorist incidents since 2020, and recently have begun installing more speed bumps to encourage motorists to be more conscientious of wildlife while driving through the parks. This is following a statement made by Parks Canada asking motorists to be more careful. Is this a good way to spend taxpayers’ money? Should more action be taken? What else can be done to protect animals within our national parks? Share your thoughts!

Top 5: #pickapark: Edmonton’s city councillors have been sharing their favourite city parks on social media with the tag #pickapark. Do your own #pickapark post with this Top 5 ranking of your favourite Edmonton parks!

A&C Pitches

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

October 14-15, CKUA Performance Space: 9804 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0C5 Canada

Harvest Book Fair is a market, organized by Hungry Zine, that spotlights small and independent bookshops, magazines, zines, presses and publishers. The goal of the market is to support and amplify community, art, literary, and industry connections in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Write about the event and the literary community that Edmonton offers!

Profile: BC singer-songwriter/producer, Jordan Klassen

Jordan is gearing up to release his new album, Marginalia, on October 20th, and he’s going to be on tour across western Canada ahead of the release.

Marginalia is the follow up and companion piece to Jordan’s 2022 release, Glossolalia (which saw the single, Niko, chart in CBC Music’s Top 20). Still rooted in Jordan’s poetic folkiness, the album is more melodic and less stripped down than what he’s produced before. It’s filled with atmospheric orchestral arrangements, plucky piano and guitar stylings, and highlights Jordan’s top-notch storytelling songwriting style.

Performance Review: Are We Good

Festival Place, Sherwood Park, November 19

“Eight years in the making, Are We Good is an album dedicated to relationships, and the deep personal entanglements that help define our sense of selves.” Indie-folk rock artist Hayden released Are We Good in April, and has announced Canadian tour dates for the new album. Along with his band, he’ll be stopping at Festival Place in Sherwood Park on November 19. Tickets for the performance range from $36-42.

Deadline: October 1

Aphrose honours her late grandmother with brand new R&B single, "Roses." "Roses" is also the title of Aphrose's brand new album set for release on October 12, and this song is sneak peek at what's to come!

Talk to Aphrose about “Roses,” her upcoming album, and who she is as an artist!

FAB Gallery, 1-1 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta, August 29 to September 23

This FAB art gallery show is curated by Chris Reyns-Chikuma, and it includes the works of Bettina Egger, Bharat Murthy, and Adrien Veczan. It displays three "comics"— a graphic narrative book, comic strip, and comic “book” magazines, placed on the ceiling, floor, and walls.

FAB Gallery, 1-1 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta, August 29 – September 23

Abassi’s work explores his ideas of self and home and how those are in combination with landscape and transformation.

A&C Columns

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

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

Eating Edmonton: Tiger Sugar

10075 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0J7

Everyone has been raving about this new bubble tea place, and if you are ever in the mood for trying out some items on their menu with some friends! They have a whole range of flavours and options to choose from!

Gateway to Gastronomy: Know any fun and easy to follow recipes? Share it in this recurring segment.

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!

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!