Howard Weaver, vice president of news at The McClatchy Co., which owns The Bee, blogged not long ago that the gatekeeper role of editors has been diminished by the accessibility and speed of so much news and commentary elsewhere. Rather than rue this change, Weaver suggested that editors and reporters seize the opportunity to connect with readers – even to the extent of enlisting them to help decide what stories to do, and how to proceed.
Sounds fun to me. I have five story ideas I'd like to pursue. Let me know which of the five most interests you. Feel free to tweak the idea and add questions you'd like to have answered:
• Blended wines are traditional in many of the world's wine regions, but have been relatively obscure in the United States – until recently. So, do you want to know more about the motives to make these blends – some with fanciful names like "The Prisoner" or the simple "Red"?
• In some cases, winery tasting rooms have become the modern equivalent of old roadhouses. Partying groups arrive by limo or bus, virtually take over the joint, and disrupt the leisurely and somber appreciation of wine. Is this a real or imagined issue? How should wineries respond to these rowdy visits?
• Absinthe, an exotic and controversial liquor once banned in the United States, looks to be making a comeback, with at least one California distiller now producing it. It's an essential component of the sazerac, reputedly the country's original cocktail and the official cocktail of New Orleans. The article would look into what absinthe is all about, how it got banned and what might be different about it now to make it acceptable.
• As winter nears, we take a look at port, both from Portugal and the United States, where production is on the rise. We examine its history, talk with key producers here and abroad, find several in the local market to recommend. We'll also outline how it's best enjoyed.
• More than 500 olive oils from around the world competed for honors at the Los Angeles County Fair in June. The three American olive oils to win the highest awards all were from orchards in the Sacramento Valley. As the year-end entertaining season nears, we tell readers how to stage a home olive-oil tasting.
Please vote and add your comments in an e-mail to me at mdunne@sacbee.com. I'll update the progress of this little exercise on the appetizers blog: www.sacbee.com/blogs.
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