Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Family Issues Beat

Family Issues Beat Issues
Subjects to be covered by this beat
  1. Youth Sports
  2. Private Schools vs. Public Schools
  3. Divorce
  4. Health Issues
Story ideas for Youth Sports -

  1. Has participation in youth sports increased or decreased in recent years?
  2. What effect does youth sports play on the obesity rate of children?
  3. Are children over programed? Are too many activities, making it impossible for kids to just be kids?
  4. Models of good sportsmanship - who's responsibility is it, coach or parent?
  5. What makes a Michael Phelps (or other Olympic Athlete)?

Private Schools vs. Public Schools -

  1. Why choose a private school?
  2. What effect do the number of private schools in the area have on local public schools?
  3. How do you start a good charter school?
  4. The family tradition of attending a school - are some children "legacy students" in elementary school?
  5. Why do most local K-12 schools start in mid-August?



Divorce

  1. What is the current divorce rate? Has it increased or decreased?
  2. Is there a stigma for children of divorce, or has it become part of the norm?
  3. Are some couples more friendly after a divorce?
  4. What are some unique ways to spend holidays or special occasions when both parents want to be with the kids?
  5. How does a divorce effect a child's life at school? What new legal responsibilities does a school take on during a divorce?
Health

  1. Are flu shots a good idea?
  2. Who stays home from work today? How do families balance work and a sick child?
  3. Should immunizations be required for school attendance? Are the current requirements all still necessary?
  4. What is the effect of allergies or asthma on school attendance?
  5. When is it time to go to the emergency room? Do parents go too often or not enough?

1 comment:

Elizabeth said...

Hi Michele,

It looks like your subjects will give you some good, broad coverage of family issues. Below are some additional ideas for stories.

Best,
Elizabeth

Youth sports
- Organizations like the YMCA have been developing a lot of kid-centered programs. Is there a correlation between increased attendance at these programs and diminished quality in school sports and physical education programs as a result of cuts in school funding?
- Is there a higher success rate for programs designed to help children lose weight and get in shape when the program includes the participation of the entire family?

Public vs. Private Schools
- How do home-schoolers fit into the public vs. private school sector? Do home schooled children really show signs of being poorly socialized? Does it put a strain on public schools when those children participate in activities at school or use school resources, like the library?

Divorce
- What makes a marriage work? Talk to people who have been married for 40+ years and ask what kept them together over the years?
- With more children of divorced parents coming into an age when they might be getting married, is there a higher divorce rate for those children as opposed to children of families that stayed together?

Health
The idea for a story on when to go to the emergency room could be really interesting and helpful. You might also explore how programs like the telephone hotline "Ask a Nurse" affect frequency of emergency room visits.