News Post #11

A few days ago, I watched a newscast that really intrigued me. Like the rest of the state, I was happy to hear that the Birmingham Airport is going to be remodeled and improved for travelers.

Being an international airport, our airport has been some what sub par compared to other states'. While there are other smaller airports scattered amongst Alabama, the Birmingham International Airport is the most used and convenient for connecting flights. Countless times I have heard people complaining about the airport's quality. Not only is it outdated, but it does not offer common amenities for the travelers like every other airport.

According to Chris Pollone, Terminal A is being demolished in order to create a new Concourse A. Concourse B and C will also be renovated to make the airport more "modern and passenger friendly."
I was frustrated that the woman interviewed at the airport was not introduced or given a title. While she gave very informative statements regarding the airport, I had no idea who she was or how she was affiliated with the company.

She explained that customers usually have to stop in Dallas or Atlanta to clear customs to fly oversees, but with the expansion of the airport, travelers will be able to clear customs right out of Birmingham. I was very pleased with this fact, because I have traveled to Mexico and Europe quite a few times, and it is very frustrating to go through customs at the larger airports that are also completely off course of my destination.

"We want the entire passenger experience to be a pleasant one. From the parking deck to checking-in to the check point and onto the aircraft," said the mysterious interviewee. Regardless of who she was, I was very pleased with this announcement, and I am very glad that our state is about to reap some great traveling benefits.

News Post #10

This morning, a story about downtown Birmingham caught my attention. Just having recently visited the new Railroad Park, I was excited to hear the news regarding possible renovations being done in the area.

I actually had the opportunity to practice my photography on my sister and one of my best friends in the area just a week before. While the park itself is surprisingly nice and gives Birmingham almost a "Central Park" kind of feel, the area around it is deteriorating and resembles some what of a ghost town.

City leaders are now planning to renovate the old Nabisco building, which is located directly across from the park. The project will cost the Shannon Developing Company $3.8 million, and it will convert two buildings into retail, office, and loft space. Hillary Golston reported the story.

"Some people say that the park is creating a bridge between different groups of people, " she stated. And I can't help but to agree with this statement.  From first hand experience, I have seen many different people groups gathered at the park, which I find fascinating considering Alabama's history of racial discrimination.

Goldston explained that the project will consist of two phases. Phase one will be to move the developer's office to the bottom of the building. Phase two will be building rooms for the retail and office spaces. 

Goldston also interviewed a UAB student, who is studying downtown redevelopment. Danielle Rand stated, "Maybe if we had a more vibrant downtown, even people who didn't live downtown could be drawn towards it and support it. That could just be kind of a gateway into a better Birmingham."

I agree that the city has the potential to be a "better Birmingham." Birmingham already has so much to offer, but this addition will really be a step in the right direction. I am also glad to know that the city is so supportive of this endeavor and is loaning Shannon $1 million to cover expenses.

News Post #9

Recently, the city officials of Pelham have considered replacing one of the infamous skating rinks at the civic complex with a fire fighter museum. These plans have been debated due to the $2 million that has been lost over the past two years. Chris Pollone reported the story.

Pelham's mayor Don Murphy has been flooded with letters and emails petitioning to keep the rink, which is  why he is fighting to save it. Tracey Kerbler, a local hockey coach, was interviewed to express some of the community's emotion on the matter. She explained that losing the rink would also result in a loss of income for the city. Kerbler added that the ice skating sports, such as hockey, provide opportunities to bring in revenue for the city through tournaments and other gatherings.

In the footage, Mayor Don Murphy stated, "I will work with you. I want to work with you. Everything is on the table. I will sit down and listen. . .and do what we need to do as a community." The whole story really illustrated a sense of "community." I was really impressed with the mayor and how he handled this tough situation. He is willing to keep both parties happy by fighting to keep the skating rinks but also trying to find an alternate location for the museum. Murphy seemed to be very diplomatic.

NBC13 did a great job showing images of strikes, interviewing citizens, and attaining footage of the mayor, but I wish they had gone the extra mile of finding one of the city officials to interview. The story would have been less biased by showing representatives of both sides. Other than that, I found this story very interesting, and I definitely plan to follow up on the plans for civic center.