Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis

I didn't realize you were from MN. This is incredible. It feels, to me, that the entire metro area feels the immpact of this bridge collapse. Thank you for covering this.
Nickie's Nook
and Nickie's Nook the Book

I've been watching the coverage on CNN since last night. Wow. Just too unreal.

First, I am glad that you and yours are safe, Elana. I pray that the toll does not worsen as the recovery operation gets underway.

In the coming days, we will hear talk about our nation's crumbling infrastructure, just as with the recent steam pipe explosion in New York City. There may even be a Congressional hearing or two. This morning on MSNBC, I heard that the cost or repairing the nation's bridges, roads, tunnels and pipes roughly equals what we are spending in Iraq.

The job ahead for bloggers and citizen journalists is to follow up on these issues, both locally and nationally. At our BlogHer seminar on political coverage, Amy Gahran made the excellent point that this kind of follow-up is exactly the kind of thing that the daily press does not do well, for many reasons. But bloggers can, and by directing public attention to these issues on an ongoing basis, there is an opportunity, perhaps, to prevent future tragedies.

Here are some places to start:

1. Poynter Institute has a tip sheet with links to information about bridges in your area, expert sources, and more.
2. The Society of Investigative Reporters and Editors offers tip sheets and databases on the nation's bridges, flooding, and a host of related issues. Some are free and others are for purchase.

I'll pass along other good information sources as I find them.

Kim Pearson

BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|