Hollye Anne Brinkley, Camille Kennerly, Connor Ledbetter, Seth Kremer, Corinn Tucker
Junior Journalists
Ethan Weihl
ECHO guide
Webster-Kirkwood Times editor-in-chief Don Corrigan visited the Junior Journalists on July 13, at the high school. Corrigan talked about his passion for environmental issues and his new book about Forest Park.
Corrigan first talked about the history of the zoo, which was created after the 1904 World’s Fair by the St. Louis Zoological society. They wanted a zoo that was free to all, unlike the zoos of Europe. To this day, the St. Louis Zoo is still one of the only free zoos in the country. Corrigan also mentioned how the zoo has attempted to save many animals from going extinct.
Corrigan next talked about the history of the St. Louis Science Center. The Science Center was originally housed in a brick building in Clayton and later relocated to where the planetarium is now. They eventually built the current home of the science center and connected it to the planetarium with the iconic catwalk still visible today.
Corrigan later discussed his journalistic career. He has interviewed many famous people, from senator Claire McCaskill to many of the recent Missouri governors. However, Corrigan said that his favorite people to interview are “regular people who do irregular things.” He recently interviewed a 71-year-old woman who regularly kayaks and is even going to kayak off of the coast of Australia for her next birthday.
Corrigan also mentioned his passion for environmental issues, from climate change and global warming to the lack of bees pollinating our food. He told the class about his coverage of the Three Mile Island disaster in which he followed radioactive waste from Pennsylvania through Webster Groves and finally to its burial in Idaho. Corrigan said that it was interesting to cover, but the radioactive waste was intimidating.
He wrapped up his presentation by giving the students signed copies of his newest book, Images of America: Forest Park, which he co-wrote with Holly Shanks, one of his students at Webster University.
“I thought it was interesting,” junior journalist Camille Kennerly said.
“I learned new things,” Corinn Tucker said.
Hollye Anne Brinkley talked about how much she enjoyed his passion for environmental issues. Overall, Corrigan’s presentation was full of learning and excitement.
“I loved getting his autograph,” Seth Kremer said.
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