I got carpal tunnel since I did that much speak-truth-to-power journalism

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Alysha Scarlett

I had to wear a brace because I got carpal tunnel, as the doctor said, in an effort to do speak-truth-to-power journalism (samples below).

Also, I did that work mostly for free.

Then, I had to leave my apartment early.

I am not asking even for a livable wage, but just a stipend (link: https://www.gofundme.com/keep-on-with-truth-to-power-stipend).

Hopefully, this is a reasonable request because I am not simply asking for money, but for even recompense for hundreds of hours of research, interviews, writing and past-midnight (and overnight) labor.

Thank you,

Alysha

Stories that won awards for last year:
“What do town halls in the wake of Trump say about Utah politicians?”: I attended many functions throughout Utah that were held shortly after the election, besides researching for the most-appropriate links.
“Heard of a ‘dry Mormon?’ Turns out, there are quite a few dry Mormon … transhumanists“: I held a conference call with the board of the organization and traveled to attend their meetings.

—
The Inquisitr profile: Includes stories on the rise of Democratic candidates in Utah, a breaking report of the Mormon church ending its home teaching program and aggregates of Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump.
portfolio: Includes descriptions and links to nine stories that got awards from the Society of Professional Journalists or Religion Newswriters Association.
Daily Herald profile: Includes a report of the county attorney’s decision on rape by a Mormon leader and another about a case about a filmed assisted suicide which hearing was covered by CBS.

‘Gov. Herbert has created his own rock and hard place’ (in USA TODAY)

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Alysha Scarlett

I wrote the following op-ed and it was picked up by USA TODAY:

USA TODAY

Gov. Gary Herbert used the term “let us reason together” when suggesting that the outdoor retailer shows were in the wrong in leaving over Herbert and Utah politicians’ land grab efforts.

One must wonder if he realized that Utahns might find it reasonable for the shows to leave given that the land grab efforts, in one case, would have cost $14 million (a lawsuit); in another, was not considerate enough of tribal concerns (the Public Lands Initiative); and in a third, were trying to undo something that had already been done (a resolution to President Trump — from a different level of government — to rescind former President Obama’s Bears Ears designation) when that act of undoing (reversing national monument designations) has never even been done before.

Or at the least, Herbert realized that Utahns would frown on a major economic driver leaving town, one that brought 40,000 visitors and $45 million to the state each year.

The cards against him, Herbert did what tyrants have done: Deploy religious rhetoric to manipulate deep convictions for political gain. “Let us reason together” comes from Isaiah 1 of the Judeo-Christian world and a form of that phrase is found in Mormon scripture (D&C 50). Surely, he must have known that even if Utahns generally weren’t going to absolutely hammer him, the highest-profile and most influential of business leaders would.

This must certainly include Scott Anderson, the Zions Bank CEO, so powerful in Utah that he may as well be another powerful politician. But Anderson is also a devout Latter-day Saint — those close to him have said that he will leave his Zions post only after he is assigned as an LDS mission president. Anderson runs a bank that has had church association.

Gary Herbert trying to manipulate the Scott Andersons. Boy. I’d say that’s sad for Herbert, except in his policy approach and communications on this affair, he created his own rock and hard place.

Rhett Wilkinson lives in Centerville. He was a staffer on Herbert’s 2012 re-election campaign and interned in the governor’s communications office.

I heard them on NPR. Then I realized: I’d interviewed all of them myself.

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Alysha Scarlett

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeKFELjWwAEByzK.jpg

This guy, a top business executive in America, joined a U.S. senator and former CIA director as stakeholders I have interviewed in the past and now have enjoyed attention on National Public Radio or an affiliate. (Traeger Grills)

A whole lot has been written about Jeremy Andrus since the turn of the calendar year, what with his success leading Traeger Grills after building Skullcandy. (Read: for example, he was named the Utah Business CEO of the Year after being featured in Forbes.)

I’ll humbly say that I was one of the first to report on his leadership of the innovative grill company, when its global headquarters were established in one of the cities that I covered as a reporter for a Salt Lake City-based newspaper.

That was just the beginning in terms of folks I have interviewed who have recently rode the biggest airwaves.

Andrus was referenced last week in a story by the National Public Radio affiliate of Salt Lake. I also enjoyed hearing on NPR last week from Leon Panetta and Steve Daines. Panetta is the former is a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Daines is a U.S. senator. It was awesome for me to realize that I had interviewed all three just more than a year apart in my journalism career.

I would share the Panetta and Daines stories, but they are archived only in print. But here’s the digital Andrus story:

Company led by former Skullcandy CEO moves global headquarters to Sugar House

By Rhett Wilkinson

Traeger Pellet Grills is about creativity. So is Sugar House.

But the commonality is merely one reason why the counter-culture city is a “great place” for the innovative grill company to relocate its global headquarters, a Treager executive said.

“Traeger is an outdoor cooking brand, and outdoor cooking, by nature, is about creativity and in particular, the outdoors,” Vice President of Marketing Sean Laughlin said. “We felt that Sugar House is a great place for us to be located based upon the diversity, the creativity, and the value placed in outdoor spaces that this neighborhood provides.”

The company made the move from Portland this week into a 28,000-square foot location in the 1215 Wilmington Building, where more than 100 employees will be based, according to a press release.

The decision-maker was Jeremy Andrus, Traeger CEO and former top man at Skullcandy.

“We’re thrilled to be relocating our company’s global headquarters from Oregon to the great state of Utah,” Andrus said. “We’re looking forward to building another great brand right here at home and to being a contributing member of the community. We’ve been hard at work building a new, unique office in Sugar House that will reflect the DNA of our brand and inspire our team and our customers alike. The design concept connects people to our product with elements of reclaimed wood from both of our homes – Oregon and now Utah – fire, steel, and sophisticated electronics.”

Pontifications at Utah’s independent newspaper

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Alysha Scarlett

city-weekly

I’m admittedly proud to have been featured in the Staff Box for City Weekly, Utah’s independent newspaper, for seven straight weeks. Staff Box usually features commentary on contemporary issues!

Links to other staff comments and companion articles are below:

“What are your plans for January 20?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/trumps-words/Content?oid=3583149

“If you got invited to sing at Trump’s inauguration, which song would you perform?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/singin-in-the-rain/Content?oid=3579930

“What’s the worst thing that could happen if Utah legalized marijuana?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/gone-to-pot/Content?oid=3572461

“What is your New Year’s wish for our country?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/voting-in-the-past-election/Content?oid=3566787

“Let’s flip the switch. What would you gift Santa Claus?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/odds-and-ends/Content?oid=3561173

“Who would you award a Nobel Prize to and for what?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/ignoble/Content?oid=3553987

“What would you give President-elect Donald Trump for Christmas?” http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/im-dreaming-of-a-white-supremacist-christmas/Content?oid=3548801

Alysha V. Scarlett

13 awards over five years of applying for them

Tag Archives: journalism