Sources and source use exercise

Sources and source use exercise

(hypothetical, of course)

Consider the following hypothetical story idea:

Someone tells you there has been E-coli contamination at the WSU Creamery. People may have gotten sick from Cougar Gold Cheese. You want to look into this as a potential story. Brainstorm in your groups who you might talk to as sources for this story.

Some questions to answer:

●     What sources do you need to tell the whole story?

In order to tell the whole story, it is important to have information from people who make the cheese/work at the creamery, various distributors of the cheese to see if the issue could be widespread, WSU Health and Wellness to see if students have gone there to address their illness. Also it is important to contact the FDA and USDA because they are responsible for checking the cheese for contamination and for health purposes. I would also reach out to the Whitman County Department of Public Health to get information on their concerns, or if they have any information regarding the E-coli issue.

●     How would you contact these sources? Find me some names and/or contacts (i.e. phone numbers, email addresses) and write them down.

WSU Creamery: 509-335-6775 cougarcheese.wsu.edu

WSU Health and Wellness: 509-335-3575 hws@wsu.edu

FDA and USDA: 1-888-INFO-FDA and (202) 720-2791\

School of Food and Science WSU: 509-335-3843 food.science@wsu.edu

Whitman County Department of Public Health: (509) 332-6752

●     In what order would you approach the sources? Why?

First I would call the health inspector. Then  I would call the creamery to see if they are available to meet regarding the E-coli contamination, if they did not answer I would leave them a voice-mail and follow-up via email. Then using social media, I would see if anyone I knew had E-coli and talk to them about where they bought the cheese from. After hearing where they got it from, I would reach out to that company, and ask about the batches they got. I would then go into the WSU creamery to see if someone is available for commentary. I would also call the FDA and USDA to have the contamination confirmed, and ask about recalls. I would also go into Health and Wellness to see if there has been a large amount of people coming in regarding E-coli contamination. I would also reach out to the School of Food and Science by calling them to see if they have any comments regarding the outbreak.

●     Think about what kinds of documents and
background materials you would need as sources.

Know information regarding the making of cheese, and see if the decontamination process was followed properly. Also check with the FDA and the USDA to see what batches could have been recalled during what times and confirm that the cheese had been contaminated.