Posted on https://www.thewordisbond.com/b-eveready-ushers-in-the-crab-season-ep/

B.Eveready ushers in 'The Crab Season EP'

#Listeningfromhome @NOMOREorg & @ndvh call WTH neighbours to help stop domestic violence during the #COVID19 crisis and beyond. ads made at #MRM @Noddynoonah @JonathanAaron @jthorley @Global_MRM

NO MORE and National Domestic Violence Hotlineare running an advertising campaign aimed at people who have recently started working from home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Listening from home campaign, designed to be co-branded with other organisations, raises awareness of the increased danger being experienced by victims who are caught at home with their abusers. Like Covid-19, signs…

Jon Wells, reporter at The Hamilton Spectator

Social media interview by babyjournalist

INTERVIEW:

00:16 “How and why did you first start using social media?”

I needed to get an account, so I could use it as a tool. That’s how I saw it. I wanted to find people on it, but we were encouraged, as reporters, to start posting our articles on Facebook, to expand our audience and get people involved. So, I have a personal Facebook account that I created, to help find people and that sort of thing. And I also have one that is called ‘Jon Wells Spec Author’ where I link my articles.

13:16 “So you find it fairly beneficial then, to use social media?”

I do. I’ve done a fair bit of true crime stories for the spec over the years, you know a big long series, so I’ve got lots of time to dig. This kind of thing that I’m doing with that (referring to Jeanette Smith story) I’ve done it many times. Let’s say there’s a victim, and you want to find friends that knew the family, or you want to find people that knew the killer. So, what you’re looking for is to turn up little stones, to see if you can contact people. It’s just kind of the layers you’re going through. People post so much stuff that you can squeeze a lot out of that social media sponge.

14:14 “Do you find that people are usually pretty open to speaking to you through social media?”

It does seem like that. Maybe because I’m old school I always kind of think people are so private, maybe they don’t want to speak to a reporter who’s getting in touch with them out of the blue. But of course, I forget that people post because they want to put themselves out there. It’s a sign that they are often willing to talk.

14:49 “Do you think they would speak more easily through that social media context than they would with a phone call?”

I think so. I’ll use Canada 411 to find a phone number and use what used to be called a phone book. I’ve done that hundreds of times, making what is called a ‘cold call’. I call like ten numbers trying to find somebody, and when you find them, it can be jarring getting a voice on the phone. It’s more personal, it’s more direct. And sometimes you don’t have a lot of time once you say you’re a reporter, sometimes they hang up on you. But, when you can write someone a message, and couch the message and massage the words, it gives them a chance to look at it and sit back. And, for better or worse, people send stuff, they write stuff back, even if it’s not in their best interest. So social media can open up these doors where people are more willing to crack something off back to you and open up about stuff.

16: 57 “Do you have guidelines to follow, from the paper, for how to use your social media?”

I know when it come to posting things on Facebook or Twitter, you have to make sure you’re using a personal account if you’re giving certain opinions. You have to declare that your views are your own, not The Spectator’s. The rest of it is more a matter of ethics in terms of dealing with other people. You know, if you write someone you have to represent who you are and what you are doing. It’s certainly not illegal to tell someone you are a friend when you are a reporter, but it is unethical.

21:24 “Do you find it a little risky live tweeting as a journalist?”

I think in the case of the type of live stuff that I’ve done, there’s no concern, because that stuff was about me. If I was in court, tweeting or something like that, I’d be more cautious.

The Red Bull Stratos capsule is back home at Sage Cheshire Aerospace in California after much traveling. Now the fabrication crew will dust off the capsule and keep it for prosperity.

The capsule has seen many changes over the years to reach perfection. Capsule Crew Chief Jon Wells estimates his time on the Red Bull Stratos project has been four years and 11 months, and he doesn't regret a minute of it. Before Sage Cheshire Aerospace tapped Jon to begin fabrication of the capsule he was married with no kids. Now he has three: a 2 1/2 year old girl, a 3 1/2 year old girl, and a capsule. As Technical Project Director Art Thompson would say, each member of the team tends to feel like an "expectant father" when mission tests are in progress.

Here are the accomplishments in review (some figures subject to change):

Altitude at which Felix Baumgartner stepped off the capsule:

39,045 meters / 128,100 feet

Fastest speed achieved during freefall:

1,342.8 km/h / 833.9 mph (Mach 1.24) Speed of sound broken!

Time elapse before reaching speed of sound during freefall:

33 seconds

Vertical distance of freefall:

36,529 meters / 119,846 feet

Total time spent in freefall:

4 minutes 22 seconds

Chute pulled:

5,300 feet / 1615.44 meters above the ground

Total time from the moment he jumped to landing:

9 minutes 9 seconds

Distance between launch and landing positions:

70.5km / 43.8miles

Records achieved (awaiting certification):

- First human to break the speed of sound in freefall without mechanical intervention

- Freefall from the highest altitude

- Longest vertical distance in freefall