Meet Michael Ramsburg, NewsBreak's Contributor of the Week!

Michael Ramsburg writes about West Virginia news and culture.Photo byMichael Ramsburg

Michael Ramsburg has been a reader of NewsBreak for years, but in April he decided to take the plunge and join the app as a contributor. Since then, the West-Virginia-based writer has published an array of local news and entertainment stories in in the Kanawha Valley and beyond. He most enjoys writing features and profiles that shed light both on Charleston, West Virginia's capital, and the rural areas and old coal mining towns that he says are "often less reflected in existing (and declining) local media."

Recently, Michael wrote about the West Virginia Waterfall Trail, which was created to encourage state residents and visitors to enjoy West Virginia's many waterfalls. After increased visitation, the trail program was expanded from 29 to 38 cascades. He also highlighted a recently launched news series for Spanish-speaking West Virginians. 

West Virginia Waterfall TrailPhoto byMichael Ramsburg

Michael's favorite story to cover as of late was one about a dog therapy program at a local school in the state's southern coalfields region. According to Michael, the area of the state where the school is located "has been hit particularly hard financially, with the closing of many local businesses and the continued decline of traditionally well-paying industries like coal and timber." 

The purpose of the dog program is to help students who've been disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, and other difficult issues. 

"I am interested in highlighting programs that empathetically address the very real problems we face in the state, without the stigma and stereotypes often seen in reporting by so-called 'parachute journalists' who drop in and leave," Michael told NewsBreak. 

Certified therapy dog Oakley, an apricot and white Labradoodle, is introduced at Oakvale Elementary School on Friday, April 21.Photo byMichael Ramsburg

By writing this story, Michael says he learned that "using therapy dogs within school settings — especially in those schools with more at-risk students — students benefit not only on a social and emotional level, but also in terms of academics (i.e., children reading to the dog to practice both reading and language skills, etc.)." 

His biggest piece of advice for fellow contributors is to use NewsBreak as an opportunity to tell stories that are overlooked by traditional media in their area. 

"NewsBreak's contributor program offers a great outlet for storytelling through words, visuals, videography and other multimedia," Michael said. "Speak and get to know your community's citizens, ask them what's most important in their lives and fill any information voids that may exist in respect to your town, county/parish or other geographic region."