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Feb. 25th, 2006 08:51 pmSo for Prof. Brown's 310 class (Feature Writing, aka Writing, Reporting, and Ethics III), I have to write a news-feature story of approximately 1500 words. He shot down many of my original ideas, because they didn't offer enough "happening events" or "change." I can understand that. I don't know how I stumbled upon it, but I ended up with the idea for an embryo adoption story-- why are more people choosing to adopt embryos, or give up embryos for adoption, rather than go the "traditional" way and:
(a) adopt already-born kids
(b) use in vitro-fertilization (IVF) to have their own kids
(c) donate the embryos for stem-cell research, especially considering the eggs would be destroyed otherwise, either by the clinic or over long-term cryo-storage
In CA, this can be a controversial topic, since our state DOES support stem-cell research, and many of the research facilities are out here. But then there are organizations like Snowflake Adoption Agency, which is a sub-group of the Nightlight Christian Agency. And there are IVF clinics that give prospective parents the option to adopt another couple's frozen eggs, or give IVF parents the opportunity to donate their unused embryos. Some of those prospective parents DO opt for that route, and then they have what are called "Snowflake Babies."
Anyway, we have to have at least ONE interview done by Monday. I've already contacted 3 biology/ethics professors at CSUN; 2 aren't available because 1 doesn't work for CSUN anymore, and 1 doesn't think he knows enough about embryo adoption. I've contacted 3 clinics; 1 bounced back the email, and the other 2 didn't respond (unless the emails went into my bulk folder, but I haven't seen anything in my bulk folders).
I've got phone numbers for all of them, plus for some Kaiser media representatives in SoCal. Understand that I can't really do too many phone calls, as long-distance is something I worry about-- I have horrible cell phone reception despite a Nationwide plan with Sprint, and I can't rack up too many minutes on my grandparent's phone, as they're already paying for DSL.
In-person is impossible. I have a hard enough time going to the hospital when I need to, let alone for something that's not a medical emergency (i.e. journalism).
My professor said I need to get ahold of an expert source or two, an official from the Snowflake Agency (emailed earlier today), perhaps 2 parents that either donated their embryos or adopted embryos, and at least one person from an IVF clinic.
Now, I talked to Mamono, fellow journalist, and she's essentially told me I need to get over myself and phone these people. ;_; And she's right, of course. I hate talking to people on the phone, and I'm terrified I won't know what to say. I don't want to sound like a recording, but I think I need some guidelines on what to say, what to ask, who to ask FOR! Help!
(a) adopt already-born kids
(b) use in vitro-fertilization (IVF) to have their own kids
(c) donate the embryos for stem-cell research, especially considering the eggs would be destroyed otherwise, either by the clinic or over long-term cryo-storage
In CA, this can be a controversial topic, since our state DOES support stem-cell research, and many of the research facilities are out here. But then there are organizations like Snowflake Adoption Agency, which is a sub-group of the Nightlight Christian Agency. And there are IVF clinics that give prospective parents the option to adopt another couple's frozen eggs, or give IVF parents the opportunity to donate their unused embryos. Some of those prospective parents DO opt for that route, and then they have what are called "Snowflake Babies."
Anyway, we have to have at least ONE interview done by Monday. I've already contacted 3 biology/ethics professors at CSUN; 2 aren't available because 1 doesn't work for CSUN anymore, and 1 doesn't think he knows enough about embryo adoption. I've contacted 3 clinics; 1 bounced back the email, and the other 2 didn't respond (unless the emails went into my bulk folder, but I haven't seen anything in my bulk folders).
I've got phone numbers for all of them, plus for some Kaiser media representatives in SoCal. Understand that I can't really do too many phone calls, as long-distance is something I worry about-- I have horrible cell phone reception despite a Nationwide plan with Sprint, and I can't rack up too many minutes on my grandparent's phone, as they're already paying for DSL.
In-person is impossible. I have a hard enough time going to the hospital when I need to, let alone for something that's not a medical emergency (i.e. journalism).
My professor said I need to get ahold of an expert source or two, an official from the Snowflake Agency (emailed earlier today), perhaps 2 parents that either donated their embryos or adopted embryos, and at least one person from an IVF clinic.
Now, I talked to Mamono, fellow journalist, and she's essentially told me I need to get over myself and phone these people. ;_; And she's right, of course. I hate talking to people on the phone, and I'm terrified I won't know what to say. I don't want to sound like a recording, but I think I need some guidelines on what to say, what to ask, who to ask FOR! Help!
