Presentation topics are below. If your group is interested in booking Donna Cole for a speaking engagement, her email can be found at the bottom of this page.
The Killing of Bald Eagles on Maryland’s Eastern Shore – The History of a Dirty Little Secret
At least 35 bald eagles were killed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in ten years, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a long history of these carbofuran poisonings on the Delmarva Peninsula, which have continued to happen long after the Environmental Protection Agency banned the toxic pesticide. Award-winning journalist Donna Cole, who has been reporting about this story for several years, explains the sordid history of these killings, why eagles were targeted, who’s done the killings and what’s being done about it. Â
One hour presentation with Q&A.
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A Life Changed by Birds of Prey – Surviving the Aftermath of Breast Cancer During an Opioid Epidemic
After a diagnosis of breast cancer and a 12+ hour surgery to remove and rebuild left permanent nerve damage, what comes next? Besides pain, anger, isolation and despair, a family of barred owls took over my backyard. Birds of prey helped me to survive. I’ll explain how that happened and what I’ve done to return the favor.
One hour presentation with Q&A.
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One reporter, one story, a lot of years of investigative journalism and a unique beat. How a reporter at a small, AM radio station broke a story seen around the world and what happened next.
The story was initially seen around the world, but it seemed like all other media entities forgot about it. Donna Cole didn’t. That original story never provided answers to the mystery. This was a much bigger issue that had been kept under wraps for years. As much as this is a story about our national symbol, it’s also about a reporter, a life journey and about journalism. It’s about answering who, what, when, why, where and how. And it’s about the intersection of a personal life and a professional one.
One hour presentation with Q&A.