Steven Russell Davy

Kalamazoo’s Devastating Tornado, 30 Years Later With Blake Naftel and Chris Killian

captainia — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:23:14 +0000

On May 13, 1980, Kalamazoo faced an unprecedented F3 tornado that carved its way through the downtown central business district destroying everything in its path. The devastation resulted in several deaths and millions of dollars in damages to practically every downtown business.

Journalist Blake Naftel has been collecting video and other data on the tornado for more than a decade. The tornado served as the impetus for Naftel’s career aspirations and has resulted in a sprawling documentary project.

Naftel and fellow journalist Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the tragic events that took place 30-years ago on this day.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

See a video web extra with Blake and Chris here

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Ben Lando from Iraq Oil Report Discusses Reporting in Iraq, Complex Energies Market

captainia — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:36:54 +0000

Journalist Ben Lando, the Iraq bureau chief of Iraq Oil Report, stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour recently for a conversation about the challenges of covering the oil energies market in the heart of the Middle East.

Lando, a former general manager at WIDR FM during his studies at Western Michigan University, is also regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal and TIME reporting on events in Iraq including a moving first hand account of the recent Baghdad hotel bombings which he discusses during the interview with NCH host Steven Davy.

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Smart Phone Apps, Open Government and a Technology Revolution For Elections, Transparency

captainia — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:05:31 +0000

My latest piece for PBS MediaShift explores a new movement in technology and how smart phone apps have the potential to change how campaigns are run, how governments can make data accessible and how democratic initiatives can be pursued. Click on the picture to read the article or click here. Let me know what you think in the comments section. I look forward to hearing from you.

USA Curling Nationals Set To Throw Rocks at Houses in Kalamazoo

captainia — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:19:52 +0000

Got your curling fix yet? Don’t worry, shortly after your Olympic fever subsides, Kalamazoo will host the 2010 USA Curling Nationals March 6–13 at Wings Stadium. Jason Hall, Kalamazoo Curling Club VP, stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour recently to discuss the inner workings of curling and the growing popularity of curlers throwing rocks at houses.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share with all of your Facebook pals.

Also check out Jason’s NCH Web Extra.

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Andru Bemis, a Modern Storyteller with Echoes of Folk Legends

captainia — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:38:02 +0000

Musician Andru Bemis is a traveling man. The South Haven, Mich.-based songwriter has experienced the richness of cultures in the far corners of North America and discovered the beauty of living simply. Bemis’ music is a reflection of his journeys and is crafted through the sounds of timeless folk stories.

Bemis spoke to the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday ahead of his show Sunday Jan. 24 at the Strutt for Bluegrass Brunch with Dave Boutette. Click on the media player below to listen to the conversation.

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Bloggers Picking Up Watchdog Slack?

captainia — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:33:59 +0000

In my latest piece for PBS MediaShift, I investigated how citizen journalists are fairing in the new media era. What are the challenges local bloggers face covering city hall or the school board? Are tools like Twitter and Facebook helpful (or even being used) for citizen powered reporting?

Getting Noticed in a Year End List

captainia — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:50:46 +0000

Check out this list compiled by Mark Glaser at PBS MediaShift. Apparently my post on young political candiates watching out for their online footprint has received a number of visits pushing it into Glaser’s year end top post list. It’s a good list and indicative of an interesting year in the new media era.

Simple Blogging Platforms and Government Transparency

captainia — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:27:31 +0000

My latest feature for PBS MediaShift went live today. The piece examines the popular simple blogging platforms Posterous and Tumblr and asks whether these relatively new technologies could foster government transparency.

Mark Duval Writes Without Limits, Explores Music Journey

captainia — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:53:58 +0000

Kalamazoo-based acoutic roots musician Mark Duval emerged onto the Michigan music scene around 2006. While he still considers himself new at the game, his songwriting speaks of thoughfulness, maturity and a sense of adventure.

Duval stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour this week to discuss is latest musicial journey ahead of his show with his five-piece band Two Track Mind Saturday at Bell’s Brewery.

Click on the media player above to listen. (Note: if you are viewing this post from the NCH RSS feed, the media player may not show up. Please click on the link.)

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Running for Office? Watch out for your Online Footprint

captainia — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:45:44 +0000

My latest piece for PBS MediaShift examines a new generation of people in politics who have largely gone through college online. I profile several young political candidates with long tails on social networking sites and how it helped them in other cases and not in others.

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