Showing posts with label my work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my work. Show all posts
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
In pursuit of a crime. . .
Nev pointed out to me that my last post might be somewhat premature. And I guess he's right, given that I only met the guy for three minutes as I was rushing out the door, and given that I might never hear from him. But, oh well.
On a different note, I finally managed to retrieve some of my clips (for those who don't know my portfolio saga, I lost my portfolio with all my clips in London - I think it was a ploy by my former employers to engage me in bonded labour for the rest of my life, because I left it at work, and it disappeared). But anyway, thanks to the wonders of technology, I have managed to download most of them again. So now, I can prove that I really did work for a daily newspaper, because I've got stories with my byline on them on Lexis Nexis to prove it.
And on a third note, sometimes I get really fed up with people in New York, especially the ones that answer the phones in most places I call for stories, because most of them are unbelievably rude and go out of their way to be unhelpful. But I've been shown that there are some good people in this city that I'm not too fond of.
I've been working, or trying to work, on a story on crime and its consequences. I even came up with a great story. A young guy was killed in a hit and run 20 years ago, and the guy who ran him over was just arrested last week. I saw this story in the New York Times and it quoted three people. I wanted to find these three people, and possibly others through them, to do extended interviews with them about how they were impacted by the crime, about the guy who did it not being arrested for 20 years, and how they feel now that he has been arrested. I looked high and low for them, called a bunch of people with the same names as them (none of which turned out to be the right people), called the DA's office, police precincts, the information department for the police and NYC, and came up with nothing.
In desperation, I emailed our dean of students, who is also a computer whiz to see if he knew how I could locate the right people. He put me in touch with another student here, who works at a newspaper, I think. And that guy, Dom, BLESS HIM, has managed to track down the numbers of all of them. He informed me that type of Lexis Nexis this oh-so-prestigious institution provides for us is not sufficient for finding people, and found the information for me from the version that his company uses. Which had me a little peeved, because the two entire days I spent trying to track these people down were a complete waste of time, since, if I were a real journalist, all I'd have had to do was perform a Lexis search. And I'm pretty sure Columbia has enough money to subscribe to the correct form of Lexis Nexis.
But anyway. At least, I've got their numbers,. Now, the problem is actually getting them to talk to me! Here we go!
On a different note, I finally managed to retrieve some of my clips (for those who don't know my portfolio saga, I lost my portfolio with all my clips in London - I think it was a ploy by my former employers to engage me in bonded labour for the rest of my life, because I left it at work, and it disappeared). But anyway, thanks to the wonders of technology, I have managed to download most of them again. So now, I can prove that I really did work for a daily newspaper, because I've got stories with my byline on them on Lexis Nexis to prove it.
And on a third note, sometimes I get really fed up with people in New York, especially the ones that answer the phones in most places I call for stories, because most of them are unbelievably rude and go out of their way to be unhelpful. But I've been shown that there are some good people in this city that I'm not too fond of.
I've been working, or trying to work, on a story on crime and its consequences. I even came up with a great story. A young guy was killed in a hit and run 20 years ago, and the guy who ran him over was just arrested last week. I saw this story in the New York Times and it quoted three people. I wanted to find these three people, and possibly others through them, to do extended interviews with them about how they were impacted by the crime, about the guy who did it not being arrested for 20 years, and how they feel now that he has been arrested. I looked high and low for them, called a bunch of people with the same names as them (none of which turned out to be the right people), called the DA's office, police precincts, the information department for the police and NYC, and came up with nothing.
In desperation, I emailed our dean of students, who is also a computer whiz to see if he knew how I could locate the right people. He put me in touch with another student here, who works at a newspaper, I think. And that guy, Dom, BLESS HIM, has managed to track down the numbers of all of them. He informed me that type of Lexis Nexis this oh-so-prestigious institution provides for us is not sufficient for finding people, and found the information for me from the version that his company uses. Which had me a little peeved, because the two entire days I spent trying to track these people down were a complete waste of time, since, if I were a real journalist, all I'd have had to do was perform a Lexis search. And I'm pretty sure Columbia has enough money to subscribe to the correct form of Lexis Nexis.
But anyway. At least, I've got their numbers,. Now, the problem is actually getting them to talk to me! Here we go!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
V-day!
Today is Nov. 8, Election Day, and a very biz bizy one for us aspiring journos. Well, for normal ones as well. I got up at the unholy hour of 5:15 a.m., and betook myself to the Bronx to stand at polling stations and intrude on people's privacy by asking them whom they voted for. That and a few other questions, but essentially that.
Apparently, everyone in the Bronx is voting for "Freddy" Ferrer for mayor, because he's Hispanic, and for no reason other than that. This bothers me slightly, because, apparently, from what I've heard, the guy is a bit of a wet mop personality-wise. But then a few of the more informed individuals I spoke with told me that he did a lot for the Bronx when he was Borough president. So, maybe there is a bit more to him than that. But, he certainly doesn't have the commanding presence - or the money - that Bloomberg has, so despite all the votes he amasses in the Bronx, he's not likely to win. And even those who voted for him conceded as much.
But it was an interesting experience, and certainly tougher than the work on the primary storyI did in Jamaica, Queens, mostly because everyone in Jamaica speaks English, and not many in the Bronx do. The area in Jamaica I covered for the primary was also mostly Guyanese, and since South Asians and Guyanese look somewhat similar, people felt some sort of kinship with me (the same kind that makes people in the Bronx vote for Freddy, I guess).
It was cold and exhausting, and not particularly fulfilling, but I guess it's part of the donkey work that makes up the J-school experience. The most disappointing part was that no one had a passionate hatred for Bloomberg, which might have made life a bit more exciting. Oh well. . .
But this was one of those one-person-does-the-reporting-and-someone-else-does-the-writing assignments, so I didn't have to bother with writing up a story from my skimpy notes, so I was grateful for that.
And by the way, our student work web site is functional as of today, and I've added a link to the left (Columbia Journalist), so check it out! I don't know if anything of my work will make it, but one can hope. . . But there's some pretty decent stuff on there, local of course.
Apparently, everyone in the Bronx is voting for "Freddy" Ferrer for mayor, because he's Hispanic, and for no reason other than that. This bothers me slightly, because, apparently, from what I've heard, the guy is a bit of a wet mop personality-wise. But then a few of the more informed individuals I spoke with told me that he did a lot for the Bronx when he was Borough president. So, maybe there is a bit more to him than that. But, he certainly doesn't have the commanding presence - or the money - that Bloomberg has, so despite all the votes he amasses in the Bronx, he's not likely to win. And even those who voted for him conceded as much.
But it was an interesting experience, and certainly tougher than the work on the primary storyI did in Jamaica, Queens, mostly because everyone in Jamaica speaks English, and not many in the Bronx do. The area in Jamaica I covered for the primary was also mostly Guyanese, and since South Asians and Guyanese look somewhat similar, people felt some sort of kinship with me (the same kind that makes people in the Bronx vote for Freddy, I guess).
It was cold and exhausting, and not particularly fulfilling, but I guess it's part of the donkey work that makes up the J-school experience. The most disappointing part was that no one had a passionate hatred for Bloomberg, which might have made life a bit more exciting. Oh well. . .
But this was one of those one-person-does-the-reporting-and-someone-else-does-the-writing assignments, so I didn't have to bother with writing up a story from my skimpy notes, so I was grateful for that.
And by the way, our student work web site is functional as of today, and I've added a link to the left (Columbia Journalist), so check it out! I don't know if anything of my work will make it, but one can hope. . . But there's some pretty decent stuff on there, local of course.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Primary story
Here is the fruit of today's toils:
Getachew Kinfe went to PS 55, his polling station today, determined to do his part to ensure that Albert Baldeo, a candidate for the District 28 City Council seat, did not get elected.
“I am not interested in voting for anyone,” Kinfe, a native Ethiopian in his mid-50s, who lives in Richmond Hill, said. “I have no confidence in politicians. But I came here to vote against Baldeo. He’s one of the crude third world politicians that I wanted to leave back home.”
“You need a real interest in serving people,” Kinfe explained. “Baldeo makes his money in private business, and then he wants to fold in more power, more money, more everything through this.”
Kinfe, who was turned away without voting, because he had not declared a party affiliation while registering to vote, had settled on voting for Baldeo’s arch rival, pediatrician Robert Mahadeo.
Kinfe’s lack of confidence is mirrored this year by several voters in City Council District 28. Despite having one of the more colorful council races this year, many who bothered to turn up to vote in the primary lamented the lack of choice – between Baldeo and Mahadeo, who have both been to jail for threatening each other; the incumbent, Allan Jennings, who has been accused of sexual harassment, fined and stripped of committee responsibilities; Thomas White, Jr., a former District 28 Councilman who allegedly used taxpayers’ money meant for drug treatment programs for personal expenses, and who earned himself the title of the “Invisible Man” for not showing up at meetings; and Dhanpaul Narine, a little-known school teacher.
Gloria Ruiz, in her mid-40s, chose to go with Narine. “He said he’d be there for seniors,” she said. “I like that.” Ruiz, who, like Narine, Baldeo and Mahadeo, is from Guyana, said she was also more inclined towards Narine because he is from her neighborhood, and he is Guyanese.
“I’ve seen the news about Baldeo and Mahadeo,” she said. “I don’t think I trust them.” Jennings hasn’t fulfilled the promises he made during the last election, Ruiz said, and, not having lived in Queens during White’s term, didn’t know enough about him.
A voter at PS 55, who gave his name as John Smith, said he had cast his vote for Jennings. His reason? “You’ve got to vote for somebody. And I spoke to him when he came to Allan church. I haven’t spoken to any of the others.”
The result of this lack of confidence in the candidates is the low turnout at the polls this year, according to Sheryl Bishop and Joe Vidal, election coordinators at PS 50 and PS 55 respectively.
Voters trickled in to both polling stations, about two every 10 minutes, vastly outnumbered by bored poll workers, who numbered over 20 at each station.
“Turnout so far has been pretty close to mediocre,” Vidal pronounced about half way through the voting day. Having worked at various polls for 20 years, Vidal pointed out that people of Indian origin generally come out early in the morning, usually before 9 a.m. to cast their votes. He expressed surprise that the Guyanese, many of whom are of Indian origin, have not done so in District 28.
Bishop’s explanation: the turnout depends on who is running. “If it’s someone everyone likes, they’ll come out. Otherwise, they don’t show.”
Getachew Kinfe went to PS 55, his polling station today, determined to do his part to ensure that Albert Baldeo, a candidate for the District 28 City Council seat, did not get elected.
“I am not interested in voting for anyone,” Kinfe, a native Ethiopian in his mid-50s, who lives in Richmond Hill, said. “I have no confidence in politicians. But I came here to vote against Baldeo. He’s one of the crude third world politicians that I wanted to leave back home.”
“You need a real interest in serving people,” Kinfe explained. “Baldeo makes his money in private business, and then he wants to fold in more power, more money, more everything through this.”
Kinfe, who was turned away without voting, because he had not declared a party affiliation while registering to vote, had settled on voting for Baldeo’s arch rival, pediatrician Robert Mahadeo.
Kinfe’s lack of confidence is mirrored this year by several voters in City Council District 28. Despite having one of the more colorful council races this year, many who bothered to turn up to vote in the primary lamented the lack of choice – between Baldeo and Mahadeo, who have both been to jail for threatening each other; the incumbent, Allan Jennings, who has been accused of sexual harassment, fined and stripped of committee responsibilities; Thomas White, Jr., a former District 28 Councilman who allegedly used taxpayers’ money meant for drug treatment programs for personal expenses, and who earned himself the title of the “Invisible Man” for not showing up at meetings; and Dhanpaul Narine, a little-known school teacher.
Gloria Ruiz, in her mid-40s, chose to go with Narine. “He said he’d be there for seniors,” she said. “I like that.” Ruiz, who, like Narine, Baldeo and Mahadeo, is from Guyana, said she was also more inclined towards Narine because he is from her neighborhood, and he is Guyanese.
“I’ve seen the news about Baldeo and Mahadeo,” she said. “I don’t think I trust them.” Jennings hasn’t fulfilled the promises he made during the last election, Ruiz said, and, not having lived in Queens during White’s term, didn’t know enough about him.
A voter at PS 55, who gave his name as John Smith, said he had cast his vote for Jennings. His reason? “You’ve got to vote for somebody. And I spoke to him when he came to Allan church. I haven’t spoken to any of the others.”
The result of this lack of confidence in the candidates is the low turnout at the polls this year, according to Sheryl Bishop and Joe Vidal, election coordinators at PS 50 and PS 55 respectively.
Voters trickled in to both polling stations, about two every 10 minutes, vastly outnumbered by bored poll workers, who numbered over 20 at each station.
“Turnout so far has been pretty close to mediocre,” Vidal pronounced about half way through the voting day. Having worked at various polls for 20 years, Vidal pointed out that people of Indian origin generally come out early in the morning, usually before 9 a.m. to cast their votes. He expressed surprise that the Guyanese, many of whom are of Indian origin, have not done so in District 28.
Bishop’s explanation: the turnout depends on who is running. “If it’s someone everyone likes, they’ll come out. Otherwise, they don’t show.”
Friday, September 09, 2005
First writing sample!!
This is the first of my many writing assignments that you will have the privilege(???) of reading! I've often been told that I'm a better reporter than writer (that might just be a nice way of saying that I'm a worse writer than a reporter!). But either way, I think it's true.
For this assignment, we were told to go out to our beats (the areas we're covering) and talk to people on the streets about how they have been impacted by Sept. 11 and by the attacks in London, and write a story about it. This is mine. . .
As a flight attendant, Sandy Jack, is well aware of terrorism. She and other crew members she works with at an international charter airline are told to be extra vigilant when traveling in foreign countries.
Yet, Jack, an Ozone Park resident in her early 30s, insists she doesn’t let it affect her daily life or the way she brings up her son. “You can’t dwell on it,” she says, biting into a kebab she has purchased from a street vendor in Jamaica, Queens, while her son dozed in his stroller. “What is going to happen is going to happen.”
Jack is not the only one with this laissez-faire attitude. Shoppers stream into and out of shops on Jamaica Avenue, more intent on bargains than bombs, the thought of terrorism apparently far from their minds. The only reminder of the threat of terrorism on the busy street is a T-shirt that proclaims, “United we Stand,” worn by Samuel Wright, a bearded black man in his mid-50s, handing out fliers promoting a dental clinic.
Asked how he views the threat of terrorism, he proclaims, “They’re not going to terrorize me. The Man Above has your number. If it’s your time, it’s your time. Leave it up to the Lord.”
While his T-shirt might be seen as a sign of his patriotism, he says that his love for his country is by no means unequivocal. Both he and Jack say that the US invited trouble by going to war with Iraq in the first place. “I love this country, but not everything about it, and certainly not its president,” Wright says. “I did not vote for Bush, I knew he was lying the first time.”
For others, like Sadia Mohmamed, from Queens Village, Queens, the threat of terrorism has been an opportunity to see the good nature of New Yorkers. Mohammed, in her mid-20s, wears a hijab – as Islamic headscarf – wrapped around her head and shoulders. But, she says, she has not had a hard time either after Sept. 11, or after the more recent London bombings. “If anything, I’ve felt like people have tried harder to show their support,” she says. “They’ve tried to show women like me, who show that they are Muslim, that it’s ok to be yourself. They don’t want us to feel like we are part of (the terrorism that) has been going on.”
It is not just civilians who are relatively unaffected. Sgt. Everton L. Johnson, station commander at the US Army Recruiting Station on Jamaica Avenue, says not much has changed on the US Army’s recruitment front either. If anything, he has seen interest in the US Army increase in the past few months.
Despite negative coverage by the press, Johnson views the fact that the war has increased the public’s awareness of the army in a positive light.
And, while Jack and Wright see the United States’ involvement in Iraq as meddling, Johnson has a different view. “Everyone has an opinion and thinks their opinion is right,” he says. “I’m not here to say that anyone is wrong. But, I believe we have a duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves.”
For this assignment, we were told to go out to our beats (the areas we're covering) and talk to people on the streets about how they have been impacted by Sept. 11 and by the attacks in London, and write a story about it. This is mine. . .
As a flight attendant, Sandy Jack, is well aware of terrorism. She and other crew members she works with at an international charter airline are told to be extra vigilant when traveling in foreign countries.
Yet, Jack, an Ozone Park resident in her early 30s, insists she doesn’t let it affect her daily life or the way she brings up her son. “You can’t dwell on it,” she says, biting into a kebab she has purchased from a street vendor in Jamaica, Queens, while her son dozed in his stroller. “What is going to happen is going to happen.”
Jack is not the only one with this laissez-faire attitude. Shoppers stream into and out of shops on Jamaica Avenue, more intent on bargains than bombs, the thought of terrorism apparently far from their minds. The only reminder of the threat of terrorism on the busy street is a T-shirt that proclaims, “United we Stand,” worn by Samuel Wright, a bearded black man in his mid-50s, handing out fliers promoting a dental clinic.
Asked how he views the threat of terrorism, he proclaims, “They’re not going to terrorize me. The Man Above has your number. If it’s your time, it’s your time. Leave it up to the Lord.”
While his T-shirt might be seen as a sign of his patriotism, he says that his love for his country is by no means unequivocal. Both he and Jack say that the US invited trouble by going to war with Iraq in the first place. “I love this country, but not everything about it, and certainly not its president,” Wright says. “I did not vote for Bush, I knew he was lying the first time.”
For others, like Sadia Mohmamed, from Queens Village, Queens, the threat of terrorism has been an opportunity to see the good nature of New Yorkers. Mohammed, in her mid-20s, wears a hijab – as Islamic headscarf – wrapped around her head and shoulders. But, she says, she has not had a hard time either after Sept. 11, or after the more recent London bombings. “If anything, I’ve felt like people have tried harder to show their support,” she says. “They’ve tried to show women like me, who show that they are Muslim, that it’s ok to be yourself. They don’t want us to feel like we are part of (the terrorism that) has been going on.”
It is not just civilians who are relatively unaffected. Sgt. Everton L. Johnson, station commander at the US Army Recruiting Station on Jamaica Avenue, says not much has changed on the US Army’s recruitment front either. If anything, he has seen interest in the US Army increase in the past few months.
Despite negative coverage by the press, Johnson views the fact that the war has increased the public’s awareness of the army in a positive light.
And, while Jack and Wright see the United States’ involvement in Iraq as meddling, Johnson has a different view. “Everyone has an opinion and thinks their opinion is right,” he says. “I’m not here to say that anyone is wrong. But, I believe we have a duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves.”
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