Taylor Bedford

Craig Wilson, a newswriter for CBS News, shares his journey from being a small-town Albertan reporter to becoming a writer for the largest news broadcaster in America. He speaks to my class of communications students, hoping for some insight into the career path of a journalist. Although his skill, drive, and persistence are obvious sources of Wilson’s success, he attributes accomplishments to luck, failure and simply acting on opportunity. “It’s the little moments that can change your life.” He is grateful in a way that is both touching and inspiring. He shares stories of his 30-year journey in the industry, including his first journalism experience working under the renowned broadcast professional, Andrew Bryce, whom ultimately fired him for his then, poor reporting ability. However, to him, these are the underlying moments that got him to where he is today.    “I had something to learn…and I learned,” says Wilson. “I didn’t fully appreciate that moment...

According to a Pew survey, 80% of people wouldn’t eat meat grown in a lab. However, it’s time to consider a cruelty-free, sustainable alternative. Lab-grown, in-vitro, cultured, or test tube meat—call it what you will—would involve growing muscle tissue from animal stem cells so that it can be prepared just like conventional meat. Not only is this a potential solution to the harmful impact on our environment, it may also be better for us. Although it may appear that veganism/vegetarianism is becoming more popular, there are few signs that meat production is decreasing. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, meat demand will increase by an estimated 73% by 2050. Sustaining this demand requires mass amounts of resources, such as grain and water to feed livestock. The Water Footprint Network found that producing one pound of beef requires 1799 gallons of water, while one pound of pork requires 576 gallons. On top of that, livestock needs to live somewhe...

Information: Two grade 12 students at Central High were involved in an accident when their car skidded into a tree along a deserted road. The accident occurred at 2:00 am today. Both students, John Raake and Fred Hohe, were admitted to Victoria General Hospital. You do not know the extent of their injuries, but paramedics indicated they are not life threatening. Your Tweet: Two Central High students are in hospital after crashing into a tree at 2 am this morning. The accident took place on a deserted road – cause of collision is unknown. Both are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Mid-afternoon Information: You have just learned that the police are charging both students with underage drinking and the driver (Raake) with driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, the passenger (Hohe) is being charged with possession of a controlled substance for a small bag of cocaine that was found in his possess...

As a city with a small downtown center and reasonable weather all year round, Victoria makes cycling an accessible and economical option for many. In a report done by Statistics Canada, Victoria was shown that 5.9% of Victorians bike to work, five times the average from any other city in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2011). With cycling as such a popular form of commuting, it only makes sense to ensure safety for our local cyclists by installing bike lanes. Cyclists are in a vulnerable position when driving in close proximity to cars. With the separation of vehicle lanes, raised medians and separate traffic lights, bikers and cars will not endure the risk of collisions. Cycling saves money, keeps people active, lowers traffic and parking congestion in the downtown core, while also lessening the harmful environmental impact from car pollution. Victoria has caught on to these benefits and with the specialized lanes, the city hopes that this will encourage more cycling. As a result...

A quick internet search shows you a list of all the countries that offer free tuition at their post-secondary, public institutions. At first, free tuition sounds ideal, but dive deeper and it’s possible that the cost of tuition is more necessary, and less challenging to students, than it initially seems. Our society doesn’t seem to value education without a price attached—maybe we take it for granted because we went to grade school at no cost. With financial interest at hand, there may come a higher incentive to attend college or university. In a culture that places such high value on money, one could argue that we need to pay tuition in order to motivate students, helping them to feel that they are getting their ‘money’s worth.’ With the financial sacrifice that tuition requires, it’s possible that classes draw in only the truly committed. Bozeman argues that in a competitive job market, completing your post-secondary education can be what sets you apart. Free tuition however, c...

NATIONAL WIDGET COMPANY NEWS RELEASE FOR RELEASE: April 15, 12:00 pm NWC RE-HIRES AFTER LAST YEAR LAY-OFFS The National Widget Company announces the re-hiring of 200 lay-offs after new markets in China have created promising opportunities. Home of NWC’s headquarters, Victoria will see 50 re-hires over the next few weeks. “We have sent recall notices to all employees who were laid off in June,” says President Andy Bryce. “As a family-owned company, it was heartbreaking to lay off so many loyal people so we are thrilled to be offering employment to people we consider part of the family.” The widget industry is progressing towards an entire new market where widgets will be used in residential construction, stepping beyond its traditional market in the oil business. As well, China will be constructing every building in the country with widgets. The agreement that the NWC made with the Chinese has enabled the company to run at full capacity once again within six weeks. “The incre...