Unraveling the Local News Together

Yarn Crafting & Community Discussion

Bring your current yarn project or learn a new skill. Free knit and crochet supplies and instruction provided. Plus, discuss recent sports coverage in the local news.

Yarn Crafting guidelines

Our icebreaker activity before and during our discussion is to get started practicing knit or crochet - beginners welcome! 

For participants who want to begin or improve their knit or crochet skills, we will use the Each One Teach Two model.

Learn to knit and learn to crochet supplies will also be available for use during the discussion, or you can bring your own yarn project and supplies. 

Unraveling the Local News Together discussion guidelines

Read, reflect, listen and learn together in a facilitated discussion about topics in the news with a focus on Kansas or Topeka perspectives.

For this session, we will focus on recent sports coverage from local news sources including cjonline.com, wibw.com, ksnt.com, and Kansas Reflector. 

As you skim or read local news, pay attention to how topics of sports, student athletes, college sports, sports tournaments, stadiums and facilities, sports gambling, sports tourism, team sports, and related issues are covered and how these issues impact us locally in Topeka and Kansas. Some common questions discussions around sports may include:

• When you read about sports in the local media, are the articles focused on culture, economy, or entertainment?
• What can you learn about the local sport landscape from the local media? What else would you like to know about local sports?
• To what extent do you think sports sets or shapes the public agenda in American society? Is this good or bad?
• What values or ideas are associated with sports, and who is advantaged or disadvantaged by them?
• How are the educational missions of local universities impacted by the presence of varsity sports?
• What messages do sports scholarships or paying athletes send to non-athletes? Why are only some athletes paid to play?
• Are professional athletes good role models? How are athletes portrayed in local media?
• How have technological advancements changed or improved sports?
• Who benefits when athletes have to face the media after matches and events?
• Is it fair to expect athletes to sacrifice everything for success? What pressures on athletes are reported in local media?
• What economic, social or other benefits do sports bring to our community?
  
  

We will focus on being curious, listening to understand, raising questions, and identifying things we each want to learn more about.

The discussion will strive to remain nonpartisan, meaning the group does not expressly support one political party or candidate over another.

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