I’ve been running a bit behind on ideas these days, working on other projects. Apologies, genuflecting, and more. Here are some broadcast story ideas for you to kick around this week or whenever, guaranteed to be 100% Michael-Jackson-Sarah-Palin-free! Enjoy.

1.  Blog Talk Radio. Podcasting is taking off more and more, especially since it costs about $15 bucks at radio shack and an internet connection to get started. Find a local blogger in your area who’s taking his or her skills and knowledge to the web. Here’s a short interview with the CEO of blog talk radio on Fox:

2. Hacking a Computer. We’re hearing lots of stories lately about the sophisticated cyber-attacks on the government by a third-world country that can’t keep its own lights on. How difficult is it to hack into a computer? Find a cyber-security specialist and see if he can hack into your email account, without giving away TOO specific information. Find tips on how the viewers can keep their own computers & email accounts safe.

3. Gold & Silver. With the economy worsening on a daily basis, and all the pundits failing to realize or admit that we’re in a global depression, talk to a local gold & silver merchant to see how business is doing. In spite of gold price stabilization by government action, are ordinary people preparing for the inevitable? Are any economists in your area predicting that things are going to get very interesting (read: BAD) by this fall?

4. Try Not to Get Fired Reporting This One. As it turns out, the climate data being collected by the National Weather Service is completely corrupted. Extra credit if you bring it up in the morning meeting:

“We found stations located next to the exhaust fans of air conditioning units, surrounded by asphalt parking lots and roads, on blistering-hot rooftops, and near sidewalks and buildings that absorb and radiate heat. We found 68 stations located at wastewater treatment plants, where the process of waste digestion causes temperatures to be higher than in surrounding areas.”

“In fact, we found that 89 percent of the stations - nearly 9 of every 10 - fail to meet the National Weather Service’s own siting requirements that stations must be 30 meters (about 100 feet) or more away from an artificial heating or radiating/reflecting heat source.”

“In other words, 9 of every 10 stations are likely reporting higher or rising temperatures because they are badly sited.”

Technorati Tags: blog talk radio, Broadcast story ideas, computer hacking, Feature Stories, global warming, gold & silver, Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin

Tags: blog talk radio, Broadcast story ideas, computer hacking, Feature Stories, global warming, gold & silver, Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at 11:01 pm and is filed under Story Ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.