When we re-launched Columbus Underground on January 1st nearly three months ago, I decided to be a bit more pro-active about reaching out into different parts of the community and looking for new voices to help make people more aware about what’s going on in our fair city. I can stand on my own soapbox and preach all day long about the things I care about, but ultimately it’s going to be more powerful to hear a variety of voices and learn about an even wider scope of topics, opinions, and other interesting things.
There’s always been an open call for people to submit content to Columbus Underground, and it will always remain that way. And as for me, I’ve been trying my hand at conducting some interviews to get some of those voices up and out and in front of the growing audience on Columbus Underground.
Since I’m a fan of lists (sometimes) I decided to compile a quick list of everyone I’ve interviewed (some in person, some over the phone, some via email) in the past three months. I think there’s been a fairly solid lineup so far, and hopefully looking at this list all in one spot will give me an idea of what topics I’ve been overlooking and need to focus on for the next three months. I’m always open to suggestions too.
The interviews include:
- Bill Lhota – CEO of COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority)
- Guy Worley – CEO of Capitol South and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
- Rajesh Lhoti - Short North Residential Developer with Arms Properties (The Dakota, Ibiza, etc)
- Kevin Blackwell, CEO of Kahala Corp. (Parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, and Tim Hortons Inc.)
- Chef Paul Yow - Executive Chef at Barcelona
- Jill Moorhead - Marketing Director at The Hills Market
- Roger Beck – Teacher who helped construct the first LEED Platinum home in the state of Ohio.
- Kelly Stevelt-Kaser - Deputy Director of the OSU Urban Arts Space
- Matthew Arnold - Executive Director of the Columbus Gay Mens Chorus
- Laura Alexander – Local Artist and creator of “Spark!” hang-it-yourself art show
- Charity Martin-Via – Owner of Urban Spirit Coffee Shop on Long Street
- Matt Slaybaugh - Artistic Director of Available Light Theatre
- Olivera Bratich – Owner of Wholly Craft in Clintonville
- Jennie Scheinbach - Owner of Pattycake Bakery
- Kareem Jackson – Co-Owner of Milk Bar in the Short North
- Jim Ellison – local food blogger who runs CMH Gourmand
- Lad Dilgard – Owner of Columbus Sandwich Company
- Eric Brembeck & Rita Volpi – Co-owners of Studio 35 in Clintonville
- Chef Matt Prokopchak - Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Trattoria Roma
- Cristin Austin - Co-Owner of Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine
- Amy, April and Sarah – Three of the Ohio Roller Girls
- Mark Lundine with the Urban Development Division with the State of Ohio
- Jeffrey Zettler - Vice-President of Zettler Hardware
- Tawd Bell - Owner of Rad Dog
- Jim Sweeney and Reza Reyazi with the Franklinton Development Association
- David Meleca – President of Meleca Archetecture and designer of the 670 Cap project
- Kyle Ezell – City Planner, Author, Teacher, and Urban Enthusiast
- Eric Kohl – Owner of Grandview location of Dewey’s Pizza
- David Hunegnaw and Tina Goodman – Owners of the Sandbox coworking space in the Short North
- Yusuf Sadiq – Owner of Y Sadiq Diamond downtown
- Paul DaSilva – blogger and photographer working on Columbus Neon project
I’m sure I’m forgetting a few others, but not a bad first three months, eh?
Does anyone have any other interesting Columbus locals they’d like to see interviewed?
I suggest Doreen Uhas Sauer, chair of the education committee for Columbus Landmarks Foundation. She has put together an incredible series of walking tours running May though October — this year’s theme is It Takes A Village and each walking tour will be of certain “villages” within Columbus. I believe there are 25 – 27 of the walking tours, each led by a knowledgeable person who will point out styles of architecture and give some history on the neighborhood/village. There will be some written material to supplement the tour as well. Columbus Landmarks is going to announce the tour series next week (on April 2 at the annual meeting) so I’m giving you some advance notice in case you’re interested. I am personally very excited about the tours. Doreen is a fountain of information on Columbus history and a delightfully witty person. Full disclosure: I am a member of the board of trustees of Columbus Landmarks Foundation. If you’re interested in talking to Doreen, I’ll be happy to facilitate setting it up.
arty isaac
someone who does something cool at battelle.
Lindsay teeter
jaquie mahan
tyler steele – greenovate
nick decker – osu theater / wild goose
the people that own the indonesian place next to skreened.
a cop that works a beat in an interesting neighborhood like KLD or short north.
someone working on the grandview yard project
renne vogel – life / business coach.
I’ve really enjoyed the more pro-active approach. I think you’re generating some really interesting news stories and probably starting to scare the more traditional competing local media.
This is a great list! Thanks for your reporting.
More ideas:
farmers represented at local farmer’s markets
Alissa DeRouchie, owner of SproutSoup
community gardening folks, maybe through Local Matters
Heidi Kambitsch, artist at openheartcreatures.com
i feel like we’re supposed to feel hostility toward each other, but i can’t help it: you’re gawddamn adorable with this list.
i have been one of those who bitch about CU needing original content, so i heartily praise the efforts!
do you sympathize with reporters now? at least the part about working/learning in a fish bowl? do you enjoy interviewing people? what’s it like to not have an editor? and to have a reading audience that adores you and doesn’t, generally, want to rip your throat out?
i have so many questions.
i’m trying to get used to the idea that THIS is the way that journalism will take shape in the future, and i guess the biggest advantage of this kind of info-sharing is having the masses submit questions beforehand. many heads are better than one.
and the process is way more transparent than traditional journalism. i mean, it’s the interview. right there.
i think you should nail some politicos next. like the mayor or something. it’s gettin’ to be tax time, and it’s the first increase in 30 years. the five people who still bring home a paycheck in this city will be watching this closely.
also, why not write some stories with multiple sources and offer the transcription of the interviews as a side piece and not the main show. this would require much more time, but would be more reader-friendly with larger, multiple-source stories.
how do you feel about taking parts of several interviews an forming them into a story with a lede? is that something you will get your hands in?
i really do LOVE reading these interviews. i’m not being sassy or a jerk or something. journalism degrees are sort of a waste of time. it’s all just trial and error, really. i guess maybe there were three classes that were valuable.
I have really enjoyed the interviews & podcasts. It is actually refreshing that these are NOT to “nail” the interviewees and put them “in a hot seat.”
I doubt you consider yourself (or aspire to be) a journalist/reporter. You happen to have genuine curiosity with certain people, projects, developments, issues, etc., and you go meet and chat with the people who share it. And I think that’s great. That’s the benefit of your position (as a non-journalist) who doesn’t have to present a “story.” “Hard-hitting journalism” (whatever that means) is not for you, so don’t pay attention to those who expect you to do so (see above). In some ways, when I listen to these podcasts, I enjoy the fact that you and your interviewees are having fun talking about the city and its future as much as the actual “info” provided by your interviewees.
As for potential interviewees, I would like to hear your chat with those in educational institutions, such as Franklin, CCAD, CSCC, Capital, etc. Not necessarily presidents but those who can talk about their relationships to the city. Also, performing arts (artists themselves or those from theaters, livehouses, orchestras) to chat about the performing art scenes in the city.
Carol: Great suggestion. I just sent you an email about helping to set something up.
Daniel: I just sent out a few emails for several of your suggestions. Thanks!
Rachel: Thanks! Just contacted a few of your suggestions as well!
TK: Thanks for the comments, and you pretty much hit the nail on the head. While what I’m doing may be a form of journalism, half of the time I’m asking questions to satisfy my own curiosity. A lot of these interviews and podcasts aren’t coming out of investigative reports… they’re coming from people who I was meeting with for coffee already, and I decided that it might be interesting to just turn on a microphone or take notes and share what they have to say with everyone else as well.
Good call on the educational institutions. I think several of them would be interested in contributing. I’ll send out a few emails to them right now as well.
lyndsey: I don’t know why you feel hostility towards me? I guess it’s something you probably need to work through though.
I was looking for suggestions more than I was your personal critique on the process, but thanks for replying anyway.
I just wanted to point out that when you asked “what’s it like to not have an editor?”, a more appropriate question would be “What’s it like to be your own editor?” to which I guess I could respond with “Its nice”. Its probably not a whole lot different from any other traditional journalism editor who writes editorial pieces from time to time. And of course its nice to be able to pick and choose the topics you want to cover. Being your own boss is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
And I don’t see what I’m doing on CU as any kind of substitute for traditional journalism. I think it can be a nice compliment sometimes, but it doesn’t mean that I would anticipate that people would forgo reading newspapers or watching tv news to get 100% of their information through blogs and websites. In general I think most people want MORE information than what the traditional media is providing them, and I think that’s where specific/niche websites can help out.
As for “nailing” politicians… I don’t know if I really want to do that. I read a couple of political blogs that seem to cover that just fine. It’s not really my thing. We’ll definitely be posting up more details about the potential tax increase though.
I do think there’s room for some multi-sourced stories though. As you said though, it’s all a matter of time, and I’ve currently got my hands full with 20 other things. My job is not as simple as you think.
I’d like to see an interview with an official from Columbus Public Schools–maybe the superintendent, a prinicpal, or even a teacher. There’s a number of directions you could go with this. I feel like schools are a big reason families move away from the city to the suburbs. I wonder whether families staying is necessary to make the schools better, or if the schools can get better first and encourage families to stick around.
Keep up the great work.
dude, you totally nailed me.
you’re a natural.
but, as a warning, traditional media is on its way out the door. and when it’s gone in three months, everyone is going to be looking at you to have the unfriendly conversations.
you shall carry the torch of democracy, young Walker!
and by the way, i feel hostility only because you are taking all our jobs. and by “you” and I mean “the internet.” and by “our” i mean traditional media.
i’ll work through my issues.
it’s refreshing to read from your post that there is absolutely no hostility toward me on your end at all. none whatsoever.
*wink*
@TK: “You happen to have genuine curiosity with certain people, projects, developments, issues, etc., and you go meet and chat with the people who share it.”
fyi, that is pretty much my exact job description.
Jeff: Good idea. The school issue is something I have a growing personal interest in, so I’d love to speak to someone with CPS/CCS.
Lyndsey: Can we get back on topic, please?
Walker: Great list of interviews and local notables. I’ve got a few names that would add nicely to what you’ve already got and represent our fair city:
Dr. Gene Harris, Columbus City Schools
Jane Scott, Columbus Metropolitan Club
Jim Lorimer, co-founder of the Arnold Sports Festival
Sherri Palmer, Keep Columbus Beautiful
Xenia Palus, Experience Columbus
Tom Lianez, Columbus Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Mark Ballard, co-owner of Sugardaddies Sumptuous Sweeties
Scott Steinecker, PromoWest Productions
Doug Kridler, The Columbus Foundation
Joel Diaz, Wexner Center and LinkOut
Rita Wolfe, Columbus Dispatch Charities
Dave Stroupe, Columbus Funny Bone
The cast of Shadowbox at Easton
So many cool people right now doing things. But some that might be interesting.
1. Chester Jourdan on the region’s past growth mistakes, future potential and transportation
2. Dr. Gene Harris of CCS, she is so sharp
3. Pete and Jon who run Cafe Corner on their vision for indie food and staying local
4. Mike Priest of the Blue Jackets on their playoff hopes and vision for the team
5. Jack Hannah, c’mon who doesn’t want to get a sit down with him? He is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, ever, anywhere, including my grandparents, he’s a total charmer with or without animals.
6. Dr. Gee on OSU’s “Master Planning” effort that will change face of OSU over the years to come.
7. Byron Strypling of Jazz Orchestra, living in Cbus performing around world… hot jazz and a cool family man.
8. Bob Weiler, seriously, he brings some hate for trains, he loves sprawling development… what is he up to in there?
9. Jim Sweeney, Franklinton Dev Assn, walking tour of the Franklinton of the future that he sees…
10. Maurice Hines, Artistic Director of Lincoln Theatre
11. Governor Strickland… no not on all the big issues… on why we aren’t playing kickball on the statehouse lawn!… and 10 other unexpected and human questions that your readers want to ask…
Nice interview with CCAD Prez on CU today. Quick response to our suggestion/request! (the interview might have been done before this entry, but hey, take credit when you can!). Reading the interview gave me another suggestion/request for the interview (and/or a group session). I would like to hear from someone at CAM, on which Mr. Griffith touched upon. I believe I read briefly about the museum’s massive expansion plan, but never heard its update.
Another idea coming from reading the interview (and your ‘fantasy’ piece @ CU on developing the Motorist Co’s parking lot) is have a group discussion (like some of your CU podcasts) among those influential in the Discovery district. Mr. Griffith, CCSC person, Motorist community liaison person, Edwards Co. spokesperson, CAM person, a restaurateur at Gay St., etc. Impossible to get all of them together, I know, but it would be a great forum for them (and us readers) to discuss what they envision the district’s future to be. Who knows, you may be able to play a role of catalyst, the role which, by the way, I hope you (and CU) can play, instead of counter-newspaper journalist;-)
Thanks! Yes, you can completely take credit for that one. I contacted Denny after your suggestion.
I’ve also contacted several other people based on the great suggestions here. Keep em comin!
That is a great idea about the Discovery District. It feels like some little pieces and parts are coming together here and there, but not much information is being put out to the public as to how the improvements will complement each other and how the public will benefit from all of it.
I was really excited to hear that the new CCAD dorm building would contain a small convenience store that will be open to the public. As someone who walks back and forth past it on the way in and out of downtown, I will definitely benefit from having something like that there.