milesfrommaybe

Essay on documentary filmmaking by Peter Thompson of Chicago Media Works.

“If a story is in you, it has got to come out.”
- William Faulkner

Investigative Reporter: Journalism Is Dying

“A high profile investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune is resigning. Maurice Possley is one of the reporters whose work led to Illinois’ death penalty moratorium. Now, Possley says the paper is dismantling itself in ways that hurt its ability to do good, meaningful journalism. He talks with Alex Chadwick about his decision and his concern for the state of American journalism.”

‘Marketplace’ Report: Trouble In Journalism

“The New York Times Co says ad revenues fell 12-percent last quarter. That means lower profits than analysts had expected. The paper has done several rounds of buyouts recently to trim staff. The news comes at a time when other papers such as the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and Los Angeles are also trimming staff. Alex Chadwick speaks with John Dimsdale about financial trouble in the news business.”

Next week MediaStorm will launch my latest project, a collaboration with photographer Scott Strazzante.

On July 2, 2002, Jean and Harlow Cagwin watched as their home – the last remnant of their 118-acre cattle farm in Lockport, Illinois – was torn down clearing the way for a new housing development. Several years later, Ed and Amanda Grabenhofer and their four children moved into the new Willow Walk subdivision, their house just yards from where the Cagwin’s home once stood.

Common Ground introduces us to the lives touched by this land, as photographer Scott Strazzante takes us on a visual journey exploring the differences and similarities of these two families while simultaneously asking us to look at what is common among us all.