Story Ideas

Original Topic- With the recent sales of the mineral right leases on the Roan Plateau and the history of problems associated with water quality near mines, what plans do the companies who purchased leases and plan/hope to drill for natural gas have to monitor water quality?

Story Angles
1. Consult and interview ordinary people living near the Roan Plateau in order to create a human interest story with authenticity that resonates readers. In doing so you will set the overall tone of the piece as, ordinary people concerned for themselves and their family’s safety.


2. Research and locate a family who had a child’s health affected by the drilling of natural gas in another location; discuss these families’ recollections, opinions and emotions in order to validate them. Try then to directly link it to the Roan Plateau and the number of families with children living near the Plateau.


3. Interview the spokes people for the companies who purchased the leases on the Roan Plateau. Giving these companies a chance to answer “unanswered” questions and also allow them an opportunity to show and discuss facts regarding water quality, near and around areas of natural gas drilling.


4. Track down an expert on the drilling of natural gas, maybe a professor, a scientist, or author. Allowing them to offer an opinion based on fact and knowledge about the safety concerns of residents and the overall quality of water near mines.


5. Look for official records, like statistics, reports, court records, etc, that are in direct connection with natural gas drilling. Creating a piece that establishes accuracy through authority and objectivity, in order to depict the timeliness of such a compelling concern.