AG & Water Desk editors share their summer travel experiences exploring the stunning Alps, the beautiful Adriatic, the Great Lakes, and the UK.
Dear The Narrative Matters,
We at the Desk love to travel during the summer. The past few weeks have given us a chance to visit the Alps and the Adriatic, the Great Lakes and the UK on vacation.
Summer is also a great time for reporters to travel farther afield, to do stories that don’t necessarily have a “news hook” but tell us something essential about the basin.
A few weeks ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Madeline Heim visited the Great River Road, the winding network that snakes 3,000 miles along the banks of the Mississippi River. It’s a popular day trip for folks throughout the basin.
I asked her why she wanted to do a story about it. Here’s what she said:
I drive a lot on the Great River Road, for work and for fun, and I often wondered: What’s the secret that makes these small communities thrive? The answer, of course, is different for each one, and many of them are still working through challenges that often hit rural places. But one strength that remains the same is the river itself — it brings people to visit and makes them want to stay.
| You can read Madeline’s piece on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website (available without a subscription). She stopped in several towns in Minnesota and Wisconsin and found that many of these communities are thriving in a post-industrial economy. The reasons vary. Some have remade themselves as tourist havens. Others are leaning into their small-town feel to attract people thirsty for community. It is a great read, complemented by beautiful photos by the Journal Sentinel’s Mark Hoffman. Whether you’re on the road yourself this summer or kicking back at home, set aside a few minutes to enjoy her story. You’ll come away with a better understanding of what makes basin communities so wonderful — as well as a tip on where to find a great sour cream raisin pie. |
| Sincerely, Chas Sisk Editorial Director, Ag & Water Desk  |
The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. Click here for a map of the basin and our partner newsrooms.
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Senior Editor, Digital Manager, Blogger, has been nominated for awards several times as Publisher and Author over the years. Has been with company for almost three years and is a current native St. Louisan.
