Articles
All of the following articles were published on The Beacon Today, a local newspaper run by Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Journalism department.
Bahamians feeling abandoned by government
The water began to rise and creep under the door. Drywall from the roof cracked and poured around them. The family retreated into a hallway, the only area with a full roof still protecting them from the storm, while Leyland Laing prayed that they would make it out alive.
Hundreds of missing bodies slowly recovered in Grand Bahama
Four weeks after Hurricane Dorian made landfall, a group of volunteers arrived at the island of Grand Bahama with special cargo tucked away in the Grand Celebration cruise ship: dogs.
Bahamian family returns home after Hurricane Dorian*
Bahamas resident Kadisha Wiley slept under her own roof for the first time since Hurricane Dorian. The smell of uncontrollable forest fires…
*This Article won first place in Disaster Reporting with the Sunshine State Awards 2020
Local coffee shop owners provide relief for the Bahamas
Co-owners of Subculture Coffee Roasters Sean Scott and Rodney Mayo went on two cruises to the Bahamas in one week. But on the second trip, Scott and Mayo…
From red to white: Florida’s sun-loving coral reefs loosing color
The nickname “The Sunshine State” is no understatement for Florida. The southeastern state is commonly renowned for its sunshine and clear coastal waters.
Meet South Floridas low-maintenance gateway insect
The small, blue and comparably unremarkable Miami blue butterfly has flitted to the point of near extinction, according to the North American Butterfly Association.
A quiet slip into extinction
Although they are one of Africa’s most beloved animals, giraffes have silently slipped into “critically endangered” status. They were listed by The International Union for Conservation on Nature’s Red List…
‘Glorified carpenter’ develops plan to save Lake Okeechobee
Keith Richardson is an example of the way life can produce inexplicable surprises…
Videography
These videos were made for The Beacon Today, a local newspaper run by Palm Beach Atlantic’s Journalism department.
Holding Joy & Pain: Interview with lung cancer patient and local legend, Donna Bartz
In January 2019, Donna Bartz was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. A teacher at Jupiter Christian School and a mother of two children, Donna and her community were rocked by the grim diagnosis. She and her husband, John, learned to embrace the extreme uncertainty of their new life through their faith in God. Nearly a year later, they’re certain that Donna's suffering hasn’t been for nothing. The couple started a community campaign called "Blessings in The Rain." They use Donna's story to highlight even the small blessings that exist in life's storms.
Local coffee entrepreneurs put a spin on small business
Coffee is a daily necessity for many people. Josh Kormen and Loic Artuet try to feed that need and make their dreams of owning a small business a reality. They opened their own small businesses in downtown West Palm Beach, where they’re battling the competitive coffee shop market. Their restaurants’ uniqueness helps them stand out among neighboring shops.