Break-Thru Network-BTN/BTR

Bee Keepers - Be the Media

At our core, our mission and values are to invest and reinvest in the communities we serve. This means an investment of our schedule, our skills and our stewardship. Communication through journalism, advertising and music is key to our articles and reports, publishing, broadcasts and creative production — sharing that work with readers, listeners and viewers. These are the essential elements in our toolbox for communicating through media and the arts. As President and CEO of community organizat

about 2 hours ago

Good Work and Measurement

The story goes that the economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning. The "surprise," according to economic specialists, is that they had predicted employers would add 83,000 jobs in July. Locally in Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, tourism and sales tax figures showed that tax revenue was also down. Some blamed the wildfires and the way the media reported on them. Tourism officials are looking to launch an advertising campaign to counter media reports.

3 days ago

Asking the Right Questions Produces Results

At Break-Thru we train writers to be journalists by not asking open-ended questions that produce anxious responses, but thoughtful questions that produce problem-solving answers from an interview. There is a perception that journalists have to be jaded and cynical and yet the truth is what the work calls for. In practicing the creative-science of Sound Journalism, we have formed a studio lab where we can ask questions of our readers and our CORE Respondents. Instead of surveys we feel that invit

14 days ago

The Heart and Soul of Journalism

The cycle of retaliation has clouded the pursuit of pure journalism for most of my career as a media professional. Some of that has come from corporate politics, editorials, endorsing candidates, or being influenced by advertisers. New forms of journalism have added entertainment to the occupation. George Plimpton, as the "participatory journalist," talk radio, personality-driven journalism, and reality shows have tainted our field. Investigative reporting from Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein se

17 days ago

Epicenter of A Firestorm in Southern Colorado

For the last few weeks, the streets of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff have been busy with tourists and locals enjoying activities like the Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival and the Stampede and Custer County Fair. The economic season is in full swing, with added visitors — including firefighters and evacuees. For most of July, the Aspen Acres Fire has had its command center in Custer County. A cloud of smoke hung over the big mountain valley through picking and riding events, until a mid-summer

18 days ago

CREATE: The Art of What Matters — Because the World Needs Great Songs

No artificial ingredients have been added to this column. Since 1972, I have created music and lyrics. I was motivated to write since I was learning to use two organic instruments — the six-string acoustic guitar and a new voice that I was given through the aging process. On Broadway, at a sheet music store, I picked up a portfolio of Don McLean's American Pie, with songs like "Winterwood," "Vincent," "Empty Chairs," and "American Pie." Complete with music, lyrics, and chord diagrams, I started

18 days ago

Folk Heroes- Mike Seeger at The Denver Folklore Center Circa 1974

BreakThru

19 days ago

CREATE CAMP!

You asked, and we agreed! BreakThru Network and Sound Century Radio are teaming up to bring you a Creative Audio Musical Publishing Festival that brings recording arts, broadcasting and publishing to an organic hybrid! Writers, authors, song poets, producers and engineers are invited to submit their work. CAMP is the newest media genre that combines the ancient arts of storytelling, songwriting, art, photography, history and community building with analog and digital recording, script and scene

24 days ago

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