The vast expanse freshwater in the Great Lakes have always defined this region and allowed it to prosper. But the lakes were also an easy dumping ground for toxic industrial, manufacturing and human waste.  Now many here are looking at the lakes to play a critical role in rebuilding and transforming the region as it looks to the future.

Some call it a “freshwater economy,” others label it a “blue” economy.  We want to look critically at whether these efforts to re-work and re-define the region around clean freshwater are viable, sustainable and do-able and plan a series to air regionally in June of 2011.

We’re looking for pitches from station reporters and independent journalists throughout the region for radio stories, slide shows, photo essays, documentaries and other multiplatform components that can help us understand how important the Great Lakes are to our future, how new industries are being born right now that are framed around our access to freshwater, and how ongoing efforts to clean up, restore and revitalize the Great Lakes face enormous challenges.  Some ideas of the kinds of stories we’re looking for include:

• Experts say that if the 20th century was the century of oil, the 21st will be the century of water.  There is growing scarcity throughout the world, yet this region is like Saudi Arabia. What are the implications of that for development this century?
• The 2008 Great Lakes Compact was an agreement to ban future water diversions – how did it come about and how effective will it be?
• In the “water wars” over access to the Great Lakes water, who are the winners and losers?
• Are there examples in the region of economic growth or change building on freshwater resources?  We’re looking for stories on things like the new high-tech water business; green energy; bottled water; and the economic benefits of shoreline revitalizations.
• There are hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on a healthy Great Lake ecosystem, including sportsfishing and recreational boating.  But in terms of fish, the lakes are almost entirely bioengineeried, with millions of non-native species introduced every year.  How sustainable is that industry?
• How has the 2009 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative helped the effort to restore the lakes?  What has worked and what hasn’t?  What are the prospects for continued funding and if funding is cut, what are the prospects for Great Lakes health?
•  What about the dozens of unmediated toxic hot spots throughout the region – we’re looking for examples of areas that have been cleaned up, and others that remain toxic.
• One of the biggest threats to the Great Lakes is invasive species like the Asian Carp.  In fact an entire bureaucracy has grown up around fighting off the enormous fish, including a newly appointed Asian Carp Czar, and “rapid response” teams designed to go in quickly wherever the fish is found.
• Another ongoing problem is the huge amount of sewage and wastewater that still flows into the lakes.  What’s being done to mitigate that and what more needs to happen?
•  What is the impact or potential impact of climate change on the Great Lakes?
•  What about better efforts to conserve water – how are water using industries in the region working to re-tool to conserve water?
• There’s a debate going on in the US and in Canada over various efforts to close down the “front door” into the lakes – the St. Lawrence Seaway and to shut the “back door” through the engineered Chicago River.  Both are efforts to keep the lakes free of new invasive species, but both are problematic and controversial.
• One of the more challenging aspects of trying to control the water in the Great Lakes and to restore them is the fact that they straddle an international border.  What are those specific binational challenges?
• A major new energy source – tar sands from Alberta Canada – may be refined and distributed through the Great Lakes – what are the implications of that new industry?

From: Emma Jacobs <jacobs.emma.c@gmail.com>

The upstate LJC is hiring a reporter in Albany ASAP. Not so clear from the job description, but: the TV experience is a real must at this station. This is a two-year CPB-funded position, with work on funding beyond the first two years underway. Sort of an unusual gig so happy to field any questions. Please share this listing far and wide.

Best, Emma

Position Guide: Producer/Reporter
Upstate New York Local Journalism Center (LJC)
WMHT Educational Telecommunications

Position Summary:
The LJC Multimedia Reporter is a producer/reporter focusing on innovation and technology and their impact on the upstate New York economy. The producer/reporter will write, produce and edit balanced and engaging audio, visual, online and new media news and feature story content intended for television and radio broadcast, online, and on-demand audiences. The producer/reporter will create content specific to the LJC community on behalf of his/her partner station and will also contribute to collaborative reporting and engagement activities with other LJC reporters and stations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
-Conduct regular research to understand the issues and terminology associated with the innovation economy;
-Cultivate diverse sources including under-represented segments of the population;

-Produce as assigned multimedia, multiplatform content including, feature reports, enterprise reports, news and public affairs spots, blogs entries and extensive television, radio and on-line content;
-Contribute to roundtable discussions, broadcast and multimedia talk shows, interviews and community engagement discussions of the issue;

-Assist in training/mentoring of interns and other staff.
-Ensures compliance of technical specifications and standards.
-Maintains familiarity with professional standards and current trends in field.
-Maintains working knowledge of tools and equipment specific to job.

General Responsibilities
-Coordinates activities with other staff in order to achieve the highest quality finished product.
-Assists in station-wide projects and corporate fund-raising efforts.
-Carries out special assignments as required.

Qualifications and Education Required:
-Two to five years on-air broadcast news experience.
-Knowledge of new media production techniques, as well as television and radio production.
-Authoritative, conversational on-air delivery.

-Solid news judgment and ability to perform without supervision.
-Experience in reporting/producing technology/science based stories highly desirable.
-Bachelor degree in broadcasting, radio/TV communications, or related field, or equivalent training in production. Electronic media Journalism degree preferred.

-Strong communication and interpersonal skills: ability to organize and present ideas clearly and persuasively.
-Ability to work under extreme deadline pressure.
-Must be familiar with the Final Cut Pro SD/HD
-Familiarity with video uses and formats for social media networks. I.E. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc.

-Familiarity with video and audio digital monitoring for quality assurance.
-Must be a team player that can also work independently.
-Strong PC computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook. (Windows 7)

-Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 lbs, carry out frequent reaching, stretching, twisting and bending. Standing for up to two hour at one time, and sitting for extended periods. Excellent sight, hearing and manual dexterity are also required to operate equipment.

-A valid New York State driver’s license and good driving record is required for all WMHT positions.
-Commitment to the mission and goals of public broadcasting.
-Strong commitment to excellence in the finished product; ability to work successfully either independently or as a team member.

-Demonstrated technical skill in professional field.
-Ability to maintain a flexible schedule.

WMHT Educational Telecommunication
4 Global View
Troy, NY 12180
Email resume and cover letter to Valerie Flouton at vflouton@wmht.org

WMHT Educational Telecommunications is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F. Qualified veterans, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.