Introduction
The topic for my multimedia project is the local food and beverage scene in Kamloops. This topic will include locally owned and operated restaurants to visit, the farmers market, breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Firstly there will be an informative text discussing how Covid has affected the food and beverage industry. Next will be an opinion piece with multiple audio interviews including one with a local chef in the industry. Next, we will move on to an editorial slideshow on why it is important to support our locally owned and operated restaurants. Finally, we will finish with an investigative video on the challenges of growing your own food in a location with harsh climates.
This website will also include blog posts on various topics related to the food and beverage scene in Kamloops.
What this topic will not cover is any chain restaurants or any restaurants not in the Kamloops area.
Rationale:
This is an important topic because food connects people from all over the world. The University brings in many people from other cities and countries, so it would be interesting to have a website highlighting where people can go in Kamloops. Students, tourists, and locals in Kamloops can all use the website for information on food and beverage in Kamloops
Relevant Questions:
- Why is it important to support our locally owned and operated restaurants?
- What are Kamloop’s top restaurants to visit?
- What is the ultimate Brew tour in Kamloops?
- What are some of the challenges with growing your own food in such harsh climates (heat waves/cold winters)?
- Is Kamloops ready for more innovative/high-end restaurants?
- What are the challenges of having a seasonal restaurant?
- How are restaurants grappling with the effects of Covid?
- Has the restaurant industry been treated fairly during Covid?
Possible story angles:
- Top locally owned and operated restaurants to visit in Kamloops
- The importance of supporting local
- Top international restaurants to visit
- Interview a local chef in the industry and discuss local challenges or opinion piece
- How hard hit the industry has been due to COVID-19
- Sunpeaks/Ski mountain restaurants
- Discuss the challenges of having a seasonal/remote restaurant
- Farmers market
- Interview local farmer
- Challenges of growing in Kamloops
- Explore the beverage scene in Kamloops
- Go to one of each – Brewery, Winery, Distillery and Cidery
- Brew tour
- Could highlight doing a brew tour of all the different breweries in Kamloops
Media Outline:
Informative Text story w/photos
This informative text with photos will show how Covid has affected the food and beverage industry. It will highlight the positives, like how restaurants are adapting and pivoting with the ever-changing environment. The photos will highlight local Kamloops restaurants that are adapting to all the Covid protocols.
This story suits the media because it will be an informative piece that educates the reader on how Covid has affected these local businesses. This is related to my topic because it is so prevalent in the industry and can’t be ignored. The pictures will be used to connect the readers to the topic. Since they will be showing local businesses, the reader should be able to draw personal connections with their favorite restaurants.
Audio Interviews
The Audio interview part of the website will be an opinion piece. Multiple audio interviews will come together to gather opinions about whether Kamloops is ready for more innovative/high-end restaurants. The interviews will include a local Kamloops chef and Kamloops locals who are “foodies.”
This story suits the media because it will include narration, multiple different interviews, and audio sounds (chef cooking in the kitchen). Since using audio and hearing opinions, it will be a more compelling way to answer the question. It will draw on the first-hand experience of a local chef to gather information on the opinion.
Editorial Slideshow
This editorial slideshow will also be an opinion piece. The opinion will be “It is important to support our locally owned and operated restaurants and farmers.” It will explore why it benefits both the consumer and the business, including health, economic, and community benefits.
This story suits the media because, with a compelling audio narrative and the appropriate photos used, it should be an excellent way to persuade the reader why it is important to support local. The use of graphs in the slideshow will also be a solid persuasive technique if they show the economic benefits of buying into the local industry.
Investigative Video
The investigative video will explore the challenges of growing your own food in such harsh climates. For example, what are the challenges of extreme heat waves, forest fire smoke, and freezing winters? The video will interview a local farmer who sells produce at the farmer’s market. It will discuss the solutions to these challenging climates. It will also explore the benefits of growing your own food and sourcing locally.
This story fits the media because it will use multiple different skills learned throughout this semester. Examples include videos of the farms/ different seasons, audio interviews of farmers, audio narratives, and before and after images. With the use of diverse multimedia, this story will highlight the challenges that local growers must endure.
Blog ideas:
- Brew tour of all the craft breweries in Kamloops
- Recipe blog post: making a meal using all ingredients purchased at the market
- Top international restaurants to visit in Kamloops
- Challenges of operating a restaurant at Sunpeaks Resort (Seasonal/remote restaurant)