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Courtesy photo / Humanizing and explaining government stories is done exceptionally by journalist Derek Catron as demonstrated a story on tax values. Here is the link: By HENRY FREDERICK Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- One of the best stories on the complicated and often boring topic of home values and tax assessments was written and published Thursday in the Daytona Beach News-Journal by metro reporter and projects editor Derek Catron.
Right from the opening paragraph in the story, "Tax value changes vary dramatically among municipalities," Catron used Port Orange Mayor Allen Green as his lead-in to humanize what is essentially a numbers story.
In these tough economic times, the media often cites specific sets of numbers detailing shrinking property values, but the figures aren't translated all the way through to give a full picture of the impact on a municipality or even scores of local communities. This story does that and more.
In these tough economic times, the media often cites specific sets of numbers detailing shrinking property values, but the figures aren't translated all the way through to give a full picture of the impact on a municipality or even scores of local communities. This story does that and more.
Catron is a veteran reporter and projects editor with a strong pulse on local and county government. He's won numerous journalism industry awards, ranging from a profile on former State Attorney John Tanner as a "Man of God" to his recent Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting for his series "Feeling the Heat," which examined the pros and cons of consolidating emergency services in Volusia County.
Catron also won first place for a collection of local government reporting in the 2011 Florida Sunshine Awards. He has been reporting on news in Volusia County for more than two decades, first with the Orlando Sentinel and then for the News-Journal.