Are you interested in what is going on around the Central Valley?  Would you like to help CVAAS investigate science, secular and religious topics, and how they affect everyone who lives in the Valley?

Have you always wanted to be a “cub reporter”?

Now is your chance!

CVAAS is looking for people in the South Valley to report on local happenings from a skeptical and / or secular viewpoint.  Reports should be within the geographic boundaries of the South Valley; from as far North as Stockton to the Tejon Pass to the South, and from the Western coastal mountains to the Sierra Nevadas to the East.

Reports can be in written form, or photo essays, or in audio format.  If you wish, we can even interview you for your report.  Written reports should be between 300 and 700 words.  However a longer report can be broken into several pieces and serialized.

So, what kinds of subjects should you report about?

1. Science topics
   • Local professors on campus are always interesting.  Ask them what they find fascinating.
   • What sort of scientific research is happening in the South Valley?
   • Are there interesting intersections of science and ethics?
2. Skeptical topics
   • Ever notice how many palm readers and psychics are advertised around Fresno?  Who are these people, and how’s business?
   • Astrology, Homeopathy, Reiki, healing touch, “Law of Attraction”, and others practice in the Central Valley.
     
   • What sort of pseudoscience and junk science is being sold in mainstream stores?  For example, the “Fuel Master Gas Saver” is a special magnet being sold as “science” at Harbor Freight.  Homeopathy is sold at all of the local drugstores and at Wal-Mart.
   • The Central Valley has both UFO and Bigfoot hunters.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what they think?
     
3. Secular topics
   • There are several organizations in the South Valley that hold discussions on the intersection of science and religion.  All of these are from a religious viewpoint.  What are they saying, and how will it impact California?
     
   • Church and state issues are always interesting.  Mayor Alan Autry spoke about the religous sanctity of marriage on the steps of the Fresno City Hall.  Are other mayors in the South Valley blurring the line between church and state?
     
   • Are churches in the South Valley politicking from the pulpit?  There are several churches that preach against evolution – what are they saying about it?
     

These are just general guidelines.  However, if you want actual “assignments” then send an email to info@cvaas.org and ask for a reporting assignment.  You’ll receive a list of possible topics that you can investigate.

Written reports and photo essays will appear in our monthly newsletter, and audio reports and interviews will appear in the “Rational Horizon” podcast.

Have fun, and be safe out there!