Truth be told ...

Where am I, and what am I doing here?

2011-10-07T13:36:00.003-04:00

Another year, another long-overdue blog post. I suppose it's worth noting that quite a bit has changed since my last entry.

After finishing up grad school at NYU in December 2010, I officially left New York City in January 2011. It was a tough decision, but it made sense: I couldn't rationalize staying in the city while I continued my job search. And, truthfully, I think I needed a break.

Fortunately, my life as a nomad wasn't long-lived. I was contacted by the Knoxville News Sentinel in December after applying for a job as an online producer. After three failed attempts at flying out to Knoxville for an interview (snow, snow and more snow), I finally made it out to interview in February. Shortly after, I was offered a position -- and I accepted! I moved to Knoxville, Tenn., in March of this year, and here I've been for seven months.

As an online producer, my job is to shoot and edit video/multimedia packages, keep the website fresh and updated with the latest news -- and everything in between. It's been a great seven months, and I'm proud of the work I've produced here.

This week, in particular, has been a very productive one. I've had some great assignments and produced a good amount of content.

First, I covered Hugh Jackman's visit to Knoxville for his "Real Steel" red-carpet premiere. I was told not to expect to get one-on-one time with him, but sure enough, he was more than accommodating. I produced two videos from that assignment. One overall video about the premiere, and another video about a message Jackman had to UT football fans.

Later in the week, I had the privilege of going to the UT vet school where Smokey, the Vols' bluetick coonhound mascot, was undergoing physical therapy for his partially torn ACL. That was truly a fun assignment. Aside from being absolutely adorable, it was fascinating to hear about his treatment. I produced a video that showed his day of physical therapy, which his vet explained to us in detail.

One series I'm responsible for is our weekly feature of the WDVX Blue Plate Special, a six-day-a-week midday live-music performance at the local Knoxville radio station. I usually attend biweekly and produce three videos for each artist who performs. This week's act was a bit different from the usual honky-tonk kind of performers -- who are usually very talented and entertaining. The videos for this week -- 'Ain't No Sunshine', 'Mercy Now' and 'I Ain't Goin' Nowhere' -- were a nice change in pace from the usual music.

And then today, a feature I've been working on for almost two months, finally came to fruition. I recently was assigned to pick up a series we used to do called Meet the Chef, which is a look at some of the area's most talented chefs. For this, I've decided to expand the feature from a video series to an entire package -- video, article and photos. I kicked it off with Amber Lloyd, executive chef at The Orangery Restaurant here in Knoxville.

It's been a long journey this past year -- and it feels as if it could have been at least two years -- but alas, here I am. And, in case you weren't sure, I'm happy to be here and excited for what lies ahead.

Recent projects

2010-11-06T00:18:00.000-04:00

I realize I'm long past due for updating my blog, but I figured now is as good a time as ever — especially considering what's currently going on in my life.

October was one of the busiest months I've ever experienced. Aside from finishing up my master's at NYU — and juggling all the work that goes along with that — I spent almost half of the month traveling.

My first adventure led me to the Eddie Adams Workshop. The workshop brings together 100 fiercely talented students, incredible photographers and photojournalists, and a host of other photo experts for an amazing four-day experience.

This is how it works: The 100 chosen students are divided into 10 teams of 10, and each student is given a topic on which to base his or her photo project. Additionally, one student from each of the 10 teams is selected to work with a multimedia producer to create a multimedia project instead of a traditional photo essay. My role at the workshop was to work as one of the 10 multimedia producers — an amazing opportunity I still can't believe I was offered.

The student I was fortunate enough to work with was the incredibly talented Alice Keeney. Working with Alice was such a great experience — she is an awesome photographer and a great journalist.

The final pieces each team produced sincerely blew my mind. I was so inspired by each of my colleagues and learned a lot from them. The piece Alice and I produced, "Sunup to Sundown," is something both she and I are very proud of.

The experience as a whole was life-changing for me. The people I met and got to collaborate with are some of the most talented people in the industry. One of the executive producers of our multimedia pieces — founder and CEO of MediaStorm, and the man so many look to for multimedia guidance and inspiration — is Brian Storm. Being able to work with Brian and learn from him was — at the risk of sounding like a total fangirl — a dream come true. Hearing firsthand his philosophies about multimedia and working alongside him taught me so much, challenged me and reaffirmed my love for storytelling and multimedia production.

My second great adventure was a trip to the Arizona-Mexico border with 16 of my classmates, a couple of professors and a handful of freelancers. Our trip, tentatively called "Beyond the Border," was sponsored by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Led by our amazing professor and program director Yvonne Latty, and with help from some students and professors from the University of Arizona, we flew out to the Southwest to report on immigration. I spent most of my time there in Mexico, assigned to examine and photograph the fence itself.

I returned with more than 1,000 photos and many stories to tell. I would have loved to produce several multimedia pieces, but I was faced with the challenge of the language barrier while in Mexico. I was able to collect a ton of audio, but in the end, I came out with just one cohesive story, "The Thin Line," which looked at the changing landscape of the border fence and how it has affected the lives of two Mexicans over the past few years.

The work produced by the rest of my classmates is absolutely phenomenal. With only two days of reporting — and a deadline that came as soon as our plan landed back in New York — my peers turned out some unbelievable stories.

The last of my travels came at the end of the month, as I traveled to the 2010 ONA conference in D.C. It was great to meet up with some old friends and meet some new ones — and putting human faces to my many Twitter contacts was an added bonus.

The conference was at the same time as the Rally to Restore Sanity, and D.C. was PACKED. I slipped away to check out the commotion and ridiculous signs. It was complete chaos, but I enjoyed being able to see some of it firsthand.

Now, I'm back in New York and working nonstop to finish my degree in December. I'm working on several exciting projects, in addition to job searching, which is beginning to seem like an impossible task. Regardless, I'll keep at it, hoping to soon find the perfect job somewhere out there... If you hear of anything you think I'd be well suited for, please let me know!

Works in Progress N.Y.C.

2010-05-05T00:56:00.002-04:00

Works in Progress N.Y.C. from Rachel Wise on Vimeo.

Story about this great organization TK. Stay posted!

Part four in the great surveillance debate

2010-05-02T17:21:00.000-04:00

Apparently this is becoming a recurring them in my blog: the advantages and disadvantages of surveillance cameras. I've argued they encroach on our privacy; I've argued they help solve crimes. I've questioned the changing expectations of privacy in our world today, and I've advocated being smart under these circumstances.

Now I can't help being a champion for surveillance cameras in light of last night's events: Times Square was evacuated after a suspected car bomb was found.

I sat watching the events unfold on CNN after 1 a.m., and the first thing I thought: Good thing there are tons of cameras in Times Square. And sure enough, after my initial thought, that's what I heard everyone else saying. The reporter, the cops, the government officials. They all pointed to the dozens of area cameras that could help them find a suspect.

Obviously, the story and evidence is still unfolding. But the latest information released at a press conference this afternoon is that police suspect a white male in his 40s is connected to the incident after they reviewed surveillance footage.

It's hard to argue against these cameras when something like this happens.

Tenant president stands up for residents

2010-04-30T16:12:00.002-04:00

This is a story I just finished about a 67-year-old woman who is president of the tenant association at a public housing development in the East Village. It's also posted on Pavement Pieces here, with some really colorful, entertaining audio. Take a look!

By RACHEL WISE

One morning in early April, an elderly woman awoke to find her stove was no longer working. The woman, who lives in Jacob Riis public housing in the East Village, contacted the maintenance call center to report the problem.

The operator told her the earliest they could fix her stove was May 29. And when she continued to follow up on the request, the operator told her to stop calling. That’s when Odell Tamias, president of the Jacob Riis Tenant Association, stepped in.

“That is unacceptable! You know how Spanish people like their coffee,” Tamias said with a chuckle, before a stern expression swept over her face. “Seriously, though. I don’t play. I really don’t.”

Tenant president stands up for residents
Audio, Features — By Rachel Wise on April 30, 2010 at 7:56 pm | Edit
Odell2

Odell Tamias, president of the Jacob Riis Tenant Association. Photo by Rachel Wise

One morning in early April, an elderly woman awoke to find her stove was no longer working. The woman, who lives in Jacob Riis public housing in the East Village, contacted the maintenance call center to report the problem.

The operator told her the earliest they could fix her stove was May 29. And when she continued to follow up on the request, the operator told her to stop calling. That’s when Odell Tamias, president of the Jacob Riis Tenant Association, stepped in.

“That is unacceptable! You know how Spanish people like their coffee,” Tamias said with a chuckle, before a stern expression swept over her face. “Seriously, though. I don’t play. I really don’t.”

Odell Tamias explains her outrage over the operator’s response.

Odell Tamias, 67, has lived at Jacob Riis Houses for 43 years, but for the past five years, she’s served as president of the tenant association. Her job is to help tenants with any housing-related issues, on a volunteer basis.

“Basically, I’m the medium between housing and tenants. Someone has to stand up for them,” she said.

Jacob Riis is a public housing development comprising 19 buildings and 1,764 apartments. Its borders are East Sixth and East 13th streets, and Avenue D and F.D.R. Drive. And it is home to 4,305 residents.

Tamias was born and raised in Columbus, Alabama, but moved to New York City when she was only 17. She worked odd jobs at factories in Long Island and Manhattan in the 1960s, and moved from place to place, usually staying with friends or family members.

“I didn’t become a prostitute or drug addict, thank God. I’m surprised. But you can’t change a person, especially from South,” Tamias said. “I was doing OK. I was never, like, homeless or anything like that.”

Tenant president stands up for residents
Audio, Features — By Rachel Wise on April 30, 2010 at 7:56 pm | Edit
Odell2

Odell Tamias, president of the Jacob Riis Tenant Association. Photo by Rachel Wise

One morning in early April, an elderly woman awoke to find her stove was no longer working. The woman, who lives in Jacob Riis public housing in the East Village, contacted the maintenance call center to report the problem.

The operator told her the earliest they could fix her stove was May 29. And when she continued to follow up on the request, the operator told her to stop calling. That’s when Odell Tamias, president of the Jacob Riis Tenant Association, stepped in.

“That is unacceptable! You know how Spanish people like their coffee,” Tamias said with a chuckle, before a stern expression swept over her face. “Seriously, though. I don’t play. I really don’t.”

Odell Tamias explains her outrage over the operator’s response.

Odell Tamias, 67, has lived at Jacob Riis Houses for 43 years, but for the past five years, she’s served as president of the tenant association. Her job is to help tenants with any housing-related issues, on a volunteer basis.

“Basically, I’m the medium between housing and tenants. Someone has to stand up for them,” she said.

Jacob Riis is a public housing development comprising 19 buildings and 1,764 apartments. Its borders are East Sixth and East 13th streets, and Avenue D and F.D.R. Drive. And it is home to 4,305 residents.

Tamias was born and raised in Columbus, Alabama, but moved to New York City when she was only 17. She worked odd jobs at factories in Long Island and Manhattan in the 1960s, and moved from place to place, usually staying with friends or family members.

“I didn’t become a prostitute or drug addict, thank God. I’m surprised. But you can’t change a person, especially from South,” Tamias said. “I was doing OK. I was never, like, homeless or anything like that.”

Odell Tamias explains her experience avoiding alcohol and drug use.

Then in 1967, Tamias got married and had a son. When her son was only 8 months old, she applied for housing and was accepted. She moved into Jacob Riis Houses — when rent was only $68 per month. Although she got divorced in 1972, she and her son continued living at Jacob Riis. And it didn’t take long before she became involved in the community.

“I have been living here for 43 years. … I was always involved when something happened,” she said. “When there was another president … I would volunteer my service. I could not be doing nothing — I’m not like that. I have to be doing something.”

Before she became president, Tamias served as tenant patrol supervisor — a part-time job for which she received a small stipend. For 12 years, she was responsible for the safety of tenants at Jacob Riis. Every night, she patrolled the grounds and checked on tenants. After that, she became vice president of the TA.

During her time as president, Tamias said she has done “what’s expected” of her but doesn’t think she’s done anything “special.” But history, and tenants, tells a different story.

“I think she’s great. Always friendly and happy to help,” said Maria, a 12-year resident of Jacob Riis who declined to give her full name. “I know when I’ve had a problem, she really helps to work it out. And she’s got a great spirit about her, too.”

One thing Maria pointed to is Tamias’ ability to build a sense of community among residents, specifically citing her organization of Family Day.

Every summer, Tamias is responsible for putting together a Family Day celebration.

“Politicians give us money, and housing gives us money. And we buy franks and burgers and ice cream. … And we have a DJ and clowns, and sometimes (a bounce house),” Tamias said.

But Tamias takes it a step further: She also provides gifts for all the children who come to Family Day, sometimes using her own money if funds run out.

“I buy book bags for the boys and girls for when they go back to school in September. I put everything in there: the pencils, the pens, the eraser — all kinds of little stuff for them,” Tamias said. As she continued to describe the day’s events, her excitement grew and her eyes lit up. “I love to just help, you know, just buy stuff for the kids.”

In addition to community building, Tamias also has made great strides to improve the security at Jacob Riis. When she became aware of safety issues in the development — such as break-ins and robberies — she immediately took action.

“I did the petition to get surveillance cameras for every building,” she said. “I got over 600 people — 700 people (to sign). It’s supposed to keep out the undesirables.”

The “undesirables,” according to Tamias, are the “drug dealers” who invade the premises and stay with friends in several of the buildings.

“I have a whole apartment of drug dealers in my building — in my building,” she said. “I told the police, I told everybody. … There ain’t nothing much else I can do.”

Sibyl Colon, manager of Jacob Riis Houses, agrees with Tamias that drug addicts and dealers are a big issue in the community.

“(Tamias is) very proactive in trying to get rid of the drugs,” Colon said. “We have constant meetings with the police … and relay the information on.”

And while these drug problems are a source of frustration for Tamias, they’re not the only thing.

“The hardest part of my job is when (maintenance) stuff does not get done fast. … That is what is bothering me. It’s the same thing, week after week,” Tamias said.

She said the problem stems from a lack of funding to hire the proper staff who knows how to fix the issues that plague Jacob Riis — “leaky walls, broken this, broken that,” according to Tamias.

“There’s a lot of work shortage here … because of the budget,” Tamias said. “They got the people that clean the grounds (working on) infrastructure problems. They need a contractor to come in and fix the leaks inside the wall because these people don’t know how to do that.”

But all of this wouldn’t be as hard to handle, she said, if it weren’t for the issues tenants have when they contact the maintenance call center.

Tamias said she has seen dozens of apartments with various problems, but no matter what the problem is, she always hears the same response.

“They’ll tell you a month from now. I swear … it doesn’t matter what you call for, they’ll tell you a month from now,” she said.

Sometimes, Tamias admits, the issues she faces seem overwhelming.

“When I first came here it was beautiful. You know, nice, quiet. But now … it’s gone to the dogs, I think,” Tamias said. “It was like the nicest development in the whole Lower East Side … but now it changed. It has changed, trust me, over the years.”

Despite the problems, Tamias is determined to help Jacob Riis become the development she knew 43 years ago.

“She cares about her community. It’s a volunteer position, so you have to really care to do it,” said Sibyl Colon, manager of Jacob Riis. “She has definite leadership qualities, and the residents respond well to her.”

For more than 20 years, Tamias has served her community. But in only one month, Tamias’ reign could be up. The election for TA leaders is set for May, and the winners will be sworn in in June.

“At first, she wasn’t going to run again,” said Epifania “Fanny” Rodriguez, 62. Rodriguez is TA vice president and Tamias’ longtime friend. “But I told her she had to. She’s done a good job — she really has.”

When tenants and friends urged Tamias to run again, she gave in. She said she’d be happy to be president again, but for a shorter term.

“Two years — I think I can deal with that, right? I don’t think I’ll drop dead in that time,” she said, erupting in laughter. “That’s all I can say. And if they still want me, they vote for me.”

Some good news for print journalism?

2010-04-27T00:08:00.000-04:00

If you're talking about "the state of print journalism," or in any way critiquing traditional media, I can almost guarantee what you're going to say: It's bad news. Numbers are bad; readers are dwindling. It's bad, bad, bad.

But what if it's not all bad?

I had begun to give up hope that I'd ever hear any positive news about print media. In fact, sometimes I'd begun to give up hope about media in general. Everyone is so negative, and I feel like it's all we ever talk about.

But then I saw this report: Naples Daily News reports a 22% increase in circulation. That is, print circulation. You know ... newspapers. You remember those, right? (Juuuust kidding. Sort of.)

I was particularly pleased about this report, not because I think it's changing the game or even a trend that will have any significant impact, but because I used to work at the Daily News. And I still have a lot of friends and former colleagues there. And not only that, but I think Naples Daily News is an incredibly strong publication with some really, really talented journalists on staff. Their photo staff is one of the best in the country. Their Web and multimedia teams are amazing. And their reporters, editors and copy editors are just really great people.

But, mostly, it's just nice to hear some good news once in a while.

Pavement Pieces

2010-04-26T23:49:00.001-04:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this before — but it's time I do. Have you checked out Pavement Pieces lately?

For those of you who haven't, I urge you to. Pavement Pieces is an online publication that features the work of NYU graduate journalism students, mostly those in the Reporting New York and Reporting the Nation programs. And for the past nine months, I have been editor of this publication, taking it from a basic, slightly messy version through an elaborate redesign in September to its current incarnation.

We officially relaunched the new Pavement in October, showcasing our coverage of Navajo Nation.

In fact, just last week we learned that we — by way of our Navajo package — are a finalist for the Harry Chapin WHY award — up against the New York Times and Denver Post. Needless to say, we were thrilled and very honored to hear about this!

And if you need further incentive to visit Pavement Pieces, I point to the latest stories we've posted. There have been some incredibly powerful stories — and very compelling multimedia — generated by my talented colleagues.

Darren Tobia recently reported on a transgender woman and Jersey tabloid who are at odds over a recent report about the prostitution arrest of Coy Gordon of West New York. His audio slideshow is creative and interesting and a joy to watch.

Liz Wagner produced a phenomenal story about a Muslim woman who has been a victim of domestic abuse and who struggles to find the resources to help her in New York. The audio segments she included are chilling and very moving.

Alex DiPalma wrote about a fun, lesser-known sport: hard-court bike polo in the Lower East Side. Her details of the sport and characters she interviewed made for a really fun read.

And Amanda VanAllen covered a story about "soul-food diseases" and their negative impact on the health of the black community. She also produced a slideshow featuring some of these delicious "soul-food" dishes. It was so funny and creative.

Obviously, the pieces we feature are diverse, dynamic and truly innovative — there's something for everyone.

I hope you take a look at the site, and don't forget to follow Pavement Pieces on Twitter and 'like' Pavement on Facebook!

'People are gray'

2010-04-25T17:31:00.001-04:00

When the Pulitzer Prize winners were announced recently, it was particularly exciting for my Reporting New York class (at NYU) and me. We learned that Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman won for investigative reporting for their work at the Philadelphia Daily News. My professor and program director, Yvonne Latty, worked at the Daily News for several years and considers Barbara Laker one of her mentors — and a dear friend.

So last week, we had a conference call with Barbara Laker to talk about the series that won her the Pulitzer. The series — "Tainted Justice" — "exposed a rogue police narcotics squad, resulting in an FBI probe and the review of hundreds of criminal cases tainted by the scandal," the announcement reads.

Talking to Barbara was a joy because it was so clear how invested she is in the series. Her dedication and excitement was infectious, and it was really great to hear about how she and Wendy "hit the streets of Philadelphia" day after day and month after month. I think it was, in a big way, paying homage to the traditional idea of journalism that has become a rarity in the modern newsroom.

But what I took away from our conversation with Barbara was an understanding of the importance in being so invested — so immersed — in the story. Barbara talked a lot about how she envisions herself in the shoes of the people she interviews. She tries to understand what it feels like from their perspective to better convey the little details.

One of my favorite things she said was in reference to a video that was part of the series. The Daily News obtained surveillance footage from one of the raids led by the narcotics unit in a bodega. She talked about how closely she watched that video to glean the particulars.

In the video, one of the police officers, who was at the center of this entire controversy, was seen talking to a young person and allowing him to leave as the other officers searched the place, questioned the owner and cut wires to disable the video camera — seemingly for no reason. Barbara said how easy it is to assume people are all good or all bad, but that she saw a different side of this officer based on his interaction with the young man.

"People are gray," she said.

I couldn't agree more. And the series, which was reported so fairly and with such detail, was an inspiring, thought-provoking read. I highly recommend taking a couple hours and looking through the articles.

After cuts, rat problems in E. Village could worsen

2010-04-17T22:33:00.004-04:00

A sign in the Creative Little Garden on East Sixth Street warns
visitors to clean up trash to prevent rat infestations. Photo by Rachel Wise

Faruk Mohammed recalled dozens of mornings when he’d show up to work and find signs of intruders. Packages seemed to be torn open, and their contents covered the floor.

Mohammed, who works at Akter Grocery at 106 Avenue B, set traps, hoping to catch the offender. When he returned to work the next morning, he was shocked to find not just one but five intruders — five fat, gray rats stuck in traps.

“We’re losing business because of rats,” said Mohammed, 32. “We had to move all the shelves around because they bite everything.”

Mohammed is one of many East Village residents affected by rat infestations. And unfortunately for them, things could potentially get worse in the coming months.

On March 30, amNewYork reported the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene plans to reduce the number of pest control aides by almost 70 percent — cutting 57 of 84 full-time positions.

Pest control aides are workers who respond to complaints called into 311 and from community boards about rats; they conduct inspections and work to rid troubled areas of rodent infestations when owners fail to act.

According to officials from DC37, a union for public employees in New York City, four of six workers in Manhattan and one of two supervisors will be cut.

Amy Geung, who lives on E. 10th Street across from Tompkins Square Park, worries about how these cuts will affect the neighborhood.

“I’ve lived here seven years, and each year (the rat problems) have gotten better,” said Geung, 41. “If they cut those positions, what will happen? Probably, it will set us back.”

Geung says her apartment building doesn’t seem to have problems with rats but plenty of other places nearby do.

“You see the rats in some areas a lot — like near trash or dirty vacant lots. In those areas, (you see) one rat trap after another,” she said.

Mohammed said rat traps are necessary in his store because of the amount of trash that accumulates.

“The basement is all garbage. But where I live (on First Avenue), there are no signs of rats,” he said. “I think garbage is the key.”

Michael Rivera, co-owner of Beyond Pest Control at 80 First Avenue, agrees. Rivera said there are some parts of the East Village that are hit hard.

“St. Marks is one place that’s heavily, heavily hit. All the street shops there, and the transit system,” Rivera said. “People are generally not clean, and that attracts rats. There’s no real cure for it.”

Rat traps, like this one on East Fifth Street, can be seen throughout
the East Village, usually near trashcans outside apartment buildings.
Photo by Rachel Wise

The health department couldn’t say how often pest control aides are sent out, and Community Board 3 didn’t respond when asked how often complaints are reported in the East Village. But Rivera said he gets calls daily about rat problems in Manhattan. As for the East Village specifically, Rivera said, “it’s hard to say.”

But Steve Rose, who works as a superintendent on East Sixth Street, around the corner from Akter Grocery, and manages the Creative Little Garden also on East Sixth Street, tells an entirely different story.

“I live on the ground floor. … I’ve been there thirty-five years, and I’ve seen all of five rats. People tell me they see them in the garden, but I’ve never seen them,” said Rose, 59. “It doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

Rose admits he keeps his properties very clean, which might make all the difference. In his apartment building, he keeps trashcans sealed and indoors. In the garden, rat traps are set and trash is kept to a minimum.

In a statement, the health department maintains “proposed cuts focus on the services that would have the least adverse impact.” Officials said the pest-control program will “continue to answer complaints about rats, conduct inspections, exterminate, issue violations for rats and garbage … (and) proceed with the indexing initiative which was recently expanded to Manhattan.”

The indexing program is detailed in the Rat Information Portal, an extension of the NYC.gov Web site, which provides specific data “to proactively identify the presence of rats in neighborhoods, and to compare the severity of infestations among blocks and neighborhoods.” Using the RIP complaint tracker, users can zoom into specific places in the city to determine whether an area shows signs of rats, problem conditions or has passed inspection.

Additionally, the RIP provides a 10-page guide on how to prevent and control rat problems. The health department reminds residents to store garbage in rat-resistant, sealed containers; to trim shrubs and keep landscaped areas free of tall weeds; and to check for and repair cracks or holes in buildings and sidewalks.

The pest-control aide cuts represent just 35 percent of staff cuts the health department plans to make, which could save the city as estimated $1.5 million. Almost every city agency has been asked to reduce spending by at least 15 percent to help New York City close its $2-billion deficit.

While it’s uncertain when these proposed cuts would go into effect, it would likely be at the start of the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Visit the Rat Information Portal and see your neighborhood statistics at https://gis.nyc.gov/doh/rip/.

Grammar geeks unite!

2010-04-17T01:24:00.057-04:00

On April 16, during a session at the annual American Copy Editors Society, the folks in charge of AP Style announced a significant change. Immediately after that announcement, @APStylebook Tweeted: "Responding to reader input, we are changing Web site to website."

As soon as I saw that, I retweeted it. After all, I've not always been called the "Walking AP Stylebook" for nothing. I'm grammar-obsessed. I love all things to do with copy editing, grammar and style. And, of course, I expected my fellow grammar geeks to Tweet about the change, which they did.

But what I didn't expect to see were so many people buzzing about it — many of whom don't usually take an interest in these kinds of things. But for some reason, this change was a particularly hot topic.

Stemming from the Twitter buzz, I came across two really awesome links. The first was a sort of reaction piece from The Poynter Institute — Some Cheer, Jeer AP Change from 'Web site' to 'website.'

The second link I came across has less to do with the AP Style change and more to do with grammar in general. It's a list of the 50 best blogs for grammar geeks, many I've seen before, but plenty I haven't. These blogs are great resources for answering grammar-related questions or just having a place to go to discuss nerdy things with like-minded geeks.

And, in case you're not like me and don't share my bizarre love for grammar and style, here's something you can enjoy. Yes, it is about grammar, but it's light-hearted and very funny.

Even more in the surveillance-camera debate

2010-04-16T16:47:00.000-04:00

Last night, I decided to try my hand in Stumbling — or browsing the Web using StumbleUpon. For the most part, I wasn't impressed. I came across some mildly funny quotations and pictures, some cool nature photos and some less-than-impressive tech blogs.

I was about to call it quits when I StumbledUpon this page: a wiki entry entitled "How to Watch Security Camera Streams on the Internet."

The entry insists if you enter one of the dozens of codes they provide into a search engine, you will find yourself watching a random surveillance camera monitoring a random place somewhere in the world. Skeptical at first, I plugged in a few of the codes and, indeed, found myself watching over parking lots, street corners, city views, highways and even inside some businesses.

Inside of some pet-grooming shop.

A highway ... somewhere in the world?

I'm uncertain whether these are live streaming or pre-recorded. I think both. On one video, it was several hours ahead, across the globe, and another claimed it was footage from October 2005.

Nevertheless, this certainly complicates my argument on surveillance cameras. In my first entry, I argued these cameras were seriously breaching our day-to-day privacy. In my second, I said there was a great deal of good cameras potentially could do. Now, I'm somewhere in the middle.

Certainly, they can be advantageous — no doubt. But with systems designed to be open-ended like some of these, or easily hacked (The entry does say, "If you have to break through an existing login system, it's most likely illegal." Good to know. ...), is that really in anyone's best interest? Some of these monitor public places, but others have the capacity to tilt and zoom the camera, making it easy to become less of a surveillance tool and more of a stalking mechanism. Creepy.

But, then again, technology is heading quickly toward a state of omnipresence, so shouldn't we almost expect we're always being watched? Is this actually all that surprising?

What's the big ****ing deal?!

2010-04-15T13:16:00.000-04:00

Since I can remember, I've been fascinated with language — history of language; origins of language; how certain words came to be. And I've dedicated some time to answering a lot of these curiosities. But one thing I've never really been able to answer is the mystery of cuss words.

I've always wondered why the word "fuck" is wildly inappropriate compared to the word "puck" or "duck." Who came up with it? Why do humans use it? And, really, why is it so offensive?

Why do we snicker at Ben Stiller's name — Gaylord Focker — in the movie "Meet the Parents"? Do we think it's clever? Do we feel as if we're getting away with something naughty?

And why — whyyyyy — did everyone make such a big deal when VP Joe Biden uttered, "This is a big fucking deal," to Obama during the signing of the health-care bill?

What is the fascination with — the big deal about — these words?

I recently read an article that provided some interesting opinions on the subject. In light of Biden's recent "slip," some New York Times editors wrote about why educated people use bad words.

Journalists, for the most part, are intelligent people, but if you've spent any time in a newsroom, you know how often cuss words fly. It's traditionally viewed as part of newsroom culture, but I tend to think it's what naturally happens when you have a large group of people working together under the weight of stress and strict deadlines.

At any rate, the article provides several opinions from different language "experts," and I found it to be a fascinating read.

The future of gaming and technology

2010-04-14T16:48:00.002-04:00

This video is an excerpt from a presentation by Jesse Schell at the DICE 2010 Summit. Schell discusses his views on how gaming and technology will eventually be present in every facet of our lives. He hypothesizes that in the near future, there will be sensors and cameras that will monitor our every action, turning our day-to-day lives into games to be played with a massive point system to determine rewards.

Overall, it’s pretty terrifying thought, but it's also quite far-reaching. I’m doubtful most of this will actually materialize, but it’s certainly food for thought.

(In case the embedding doesn't work properly, it's on YouTube here.)

Ashley Gilbertson: a truly inspiring photojurnalist

2010-04-08T17:41:00.000-04:00

I'm often asked to name a photographer or photojournalist who I find particularly inspiring, talented or otherwise noteworthy. I guess some people think that because I'm a photojournalist, I look to certain other photojournalists to help guide my work. But the truth is, until recently, that hasn't been the case. That's not to say I'm not inspired by other people's work — I find myself browsing through galleries and becoming inspired by the photos themselves, and less often the photographers.

But this week in my photojournalism class, Ashley Gilbertson, a war photographer, came in to speak with us. Not only did his work speak to me, but his words and philosophies reached out and grabbed onto me.

Gilbertson photographed the Iraq War from 2002-2008, so much of his work is focused on wartime or post-war issues and PTSD. But his most current project — something I had seen and really admired before knowing anything about him — is really simple yet incredibly powerful. It's a project featuring the bedrooms of young veterans who were killed in the Iraq War.

His reason for doing this project, he said, was because he had seen too many obituaries that were so generic, and he wanted to personalize these deaths. Gilbertson felt it was hugely important to find a way people could relate to these soldiers and this war.

"A lot of Iraq pics are largely a failure because people can’t look at them and connect with the people and situations. I thought, 'How can I reach out to readers and help them understand?' " he said.

He is in the process of taking more photos and eventually plans to compile them into a book.

Gilbertson attributes his success to his being "horribly ambitious and incredibly driven." He began his career by photographing skateboarders in Australia, and eventually he found himself as one of the only war photographers in Iraq in the early 2000s.

What is really special about him, I found, were his philosophies and views on photojournalism. One thing he said that really stuck out to me was to be passionate about the things you photograph. Without that drive and conceptualization, the path to success will be much harder to navigate.

Blogging gems from NYTimes' Brian Stelter

2010-04-06T01:12:00.001-04:00

Last week, I visited The New York Times. Since the announcement that NYU and NYTimes.com will be partnering on the East Village Local project, my Reporting New York class has been talking a lot about plans for the collaboration and working on generating some content. So we figured it was time to take a trip to the Times for somewhat of a meet-and-greet.

While we were there, we had a handful of Times employees come speak with us. Among those people was Brian Stelter, who covers television and digital media for The New York Times. Previously, Stelter edited the popular blog TVNewser. Stelter discussed reporting and blogging, and a few things he said really stuck out.

But really what I took away from Stelter was one quotation he mentioned that I found particularly insightful: "Our jobs (as reporters) are to put stuff on the Internet that isn't already there." He stressed the importance of original reporting.

I have to agree with him. While I do find some value in aggregating and analyzing preexisting content, I think it's much more valuable to provide something that is new and fresh.

For instance, I recently learned about Guy Kawasaki from the many speakers who've visited my Entrepreneurial Journalism class. I started following him on Twitter and found the links he posted to be really interesting — usually random, quirky topics. Most times, the links lead me to his blog, and what I'll find is a short summary with a link to the original post on some other Web site. More often than not, that link leads me to another Web site that also summarized the post, which also includes a link. Eventually, I find my way to the original site, but at that point, I've lost interest.

What I really enjoy is clicking on a link that takes me directly to where I want to go — a colorful post full of new information or a different perspective, preferably with some kind of visual, perhaps a photo or graphic. Is that too much to ask?

My altercation with N.Y.P.D. blogged, reblogged

2010-04-03T13:48:00.000-04:00

The other day, I blogged about a run-in I had with N.Y.P.D. officers wherein they tried preventing me from photographing a protest on a public sidewalk. I was merely venting about how blatantly wrong their actions were after I found several of their "dirty looks" in photos during the editing process.

So I blogged and Tweeted, and before I knew it, I was receiving e-mails and comments about the incident from people I didn't know. As it turns out, my entry and photos were picked up by several blogs.

This first post I caught wind of is a blog called "Photography is Not a Crime" by Carlos Miller. Miller is a multimedia journalist who was arrested for taking photos of Miami police officers against their will in 2007. He documents the events surrounding his arrest and trial but also brings light to other First Amendment violations.

The second blog I heard I was mentioned in is a blog called NYC Photo Rights. The blogger's goal is to highlight issues of photographer harassment.

The last blog I've seen that mentions my altercation is a blog called NY 13, which documents the 2010 race for New York's 13th Congressional District. (The congressman, Michael McMahon, who was the center of the protest I was photographing, currently represents that district.)

I want to thank everyone who Tweeted, e-mailed or blogged about my entry. I think this is a really serious issue, and I wish more people knew their rights. It's not acceptable for any police, especially the N.Y.P.D., to try to intimidate photographers or prevent them from taking pictures in public places. I really appreciate the incredible support I've received. Let's keep spreading the word about these kinds of incidents!

Nate Hill going national?

2010-04-01T00:58:00.004-04:00

I just saw an article on Gawker that performance artist Nate Hill, who's known for his "Free Bouncy Rides" and "Candy Crack Delivery Service" in his Club Animals group, was approached about turning his work into a TV show.

In December, I produced an audio slideshow and article on Nate Hill and Club Animals, which, according to its Web site, is no longer.

In tribute to the news about Hill's potential show and the demise of his group Club Animals, I'd like to suggest you take a look at the slideshow and article I posted in December here.

Here's a quick taste of the night I spent following Hill and his counterpart, Blizzard.

Stuck in a MediaStorm

2010-03-31T14:39:00.000-04:00

While perusing some of MediaStorm's multimedia workshop projects a while ago, I heard an insightful quote from MediaStorm founder Brian Storm that stuck with me: "In journalism, we may not get rich, but we live a rich life," Storm said.

So true.

Journalism has been my life for as long as I can remember. I've always been working to represent my community in some form or another. Most recently, I've found a great passion in multimedia and visual storytelling. I think words are incredibly powerful, but when I traveled to the Navajo Reservation last October, and produced three audio slideshows as a result, I learned firsthand how compelling audio and visual aids can be. (The three audio slideshows: Living with uranium; No longer a home; and The Forgotten People.)

And while I've found an incredible outlet in multimedia storytelling and production, I'm always itching to improve and to study other journalists' work I find inspiring. And the place that never disappoints is MediaStorm.

If you haven't seen their work before, I highly recommend taking an afternoon and browsing through their slideshows. In fact, just recently they posted the work of their latest workshop in New York City. Really cool stuff.

Their team of producers and journalists is so talented, from the proficiency on the production end, to the tight, compelling story lines crafted by curiosity and poignant reporting. I hope to one day produce work as inspiring as theirs. Until then, I'll no doubt remain an avid viewer.

Fortunately, I know my First Amendment rights

2010-03-28T23:19:00.004-04:00

Most people would agree that police officers know right from wrong. I mean, after all, their jobs are to enforce the laws, so they must know them, too, right? Well, yesterday I learned that's not necessarily the case. At least not for some members of the N.Y.P.D.

The background

Yesterday I attended a protest at the corner of Second Avenue and East 46th Street. Members of the Armenian-American and Greek-American communities, along with representatives from the Cyprus Action Network of America, Armenian International Committee and Federation of Hellenic Societies, were picketing outside of Ali Baba Terrace, a Turkish restaurant.

Essentially, the protesters were speaking out against Rep. Michael McMahon (D-N.Y.), who represents the 13th Congressional District. McMahon recently voted against a House resolution that would recognize the Armenian Genocide nationwide. (It is already officially recognized by 42 other states, including New York, and 20 other nations.)

On Saturday, McMahon was attending a fundraiser — allegedly to receive honors and campaign contributions — which was organized by some members of the Turkish community. In Turkey, it is a crime to even discuss the Armenian Genocide, and many Turks deny it ever happened.

Because of this, the Armenian-Americans and Greek-Americans felt McMahon was accepting "blood money." They chose to stand outside the restaurant and surrounding area to spread the word to passersby and to ensure the congressman and the fundraiser attendees heard their point of view.

The issue

So I show up just after 11 a.m. Armed with my camera, I'm prepared to take some photos and get the back story for my photojournalism class. At first, there's no issue. I'm speaking with the protesters, reading their flyers and snapping some basic shots.

Then things start to heat up a bit. Outside of the restaurant are a couple of police officers and a security guard standing around. The protesters nearest the restaurant begin to shout their views, and the police and security confront them. I'm standing several feet away, taking photos of their exchanges, when a police officer approaches me and asks whether I'm a member of the press.

As the only other photographer present (there was another reporter, but she was across the street and never came to the corner by the restaurant), I thought this was strange. I said yes, and he asked to see my press pass. Because I wasn't representing any particular publication during this assignment, I show him my business card. He tells me that isn't a press pass and that I can't be standing there, but that I can relocate to across the street (a.k.a. where I won't hear what they're saying).

At first, I'm stunned. I almost concede and walk across the street until I realize he is completely out of line. The protesters are standing on a public sidewalk, where hundreds of people are walking by. The last time I checked, public spaces are just that — public. I know my rights as a journalist and as a citizen, and I know it's perfectly legal for me to be photographing and standing exactly where I am.

I manage to maintain my cool and ask the officers to justify their reasoning. They tell me I can't be there because there is an event going on inside of the restaurant, and that's why they're there in the first place. I see right through this excuse, and so I tell the officers that I won't be relocating because I'm standing on a public sidewalk and not trying to gain access to the private fundraiser inside.

After a little more back and forth, and the police officers trying to intimidate and confuse me, I stand my ground and continue taking photos. Eventually, they back off — though they did continue to shoot me dirty looks.

I only wish I had a copy of an internal N.Y.P.D. memo that reminded New York City officers they aren't allowed to harass or prevent anyone from photographing in public places. Since this incident, I have printed out a copy and put it in my camera bag. Next time, I'll have an easier time defending my First Amendment rights, which I can't believe I had to do in the first place.

To learn more about the story behind the protest, visit http://www.anca.org/endthegagrule.

The dirty looks

When I got home and began editing my photos, I saw I inadvertently captured some of these "dirty" and "intimidating" looks. So I cropped the faces and thought it'd be fun to post them here.

But, be warned: They're not the greatest quality because they weren't intentional shots. Simply really awesome afterthoughts.

Proposed budget cuts will hurt homeless

2010-03-23T20:33:00.001-04:00

By RACHEL WISE

Gov. David Paterson’s (D-N.Y.) proposed state budget recently revealed a plan to cut $65 million in annual funding for adult homeless services. And many elected officials and advocates aren’t taking that lightly.

On Monday, the Department of Homeless Services and the Coalition for the Homeless, along with Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, councilwoman Annabel Palma and a group of advocates held a press conference to voice their fierce opposition to the proposed cuts.

“We have record homelessness in New York City right now. The governor’s cuts would absolutely decimate the adult municipal shelter system,” said Mary Brosnahan, executive director of Coalition for the Homeless. “This is exactly the wrong cuts at the wrong time. We need more help from the state, not less.”

More than 39,000 people in New York City seek shelter, according to the Department of Homeless Services daily census. Officials and advocates claim Paterson’s proposed cuts would drastically reduce aid to adult shelters, homeless-prevention services and safe havens.

“New Yorkers have seen the progress we’ve made in outreach program, drop-in centers, prevention,” said Christy Parque, executive director of Homeless Services United, a coalition of homeless service agencies in New York City. “We’ve made significant milestones in reducing the number of people of the street and reducing the length of stay (at shelters), and we want to continue doing that.”

The officials and advocates who held the press conference at Bowery Residents’ Committee, 317 Bowery, made it clear they were very different from one another. Each was involved in some part of the homeless-services community but admitted they have been known to butt heads often.

“This is a diverse group. Many times, we have gone against each other in terms of policy and what to do,” said Palma, a councilwoman who was homeless only 18 years ago. “But today we are standing here together to send a strong message to the governor and to Albany that these cuts can simply not happen.”

New York City operates under a “right to shelter” mandate, which ensures shelter for homeless men, women, children and families. Because of this, the city would still be required to serve the same number of individuals but with significant less funding.

Some speakers at the press conference held back opinions of what they thought might happen to the homeless-services system if these proposed cuts were passed.

“I’ve really hesitated when I’ve been asked … what would happen as a result of these cuts … because it’s unconscionable. It would set the city back, in the area of homeless services, 20 or 30 years,” said Robert Hess, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services.

Other advocates felt it was important to look to the past to predict what the system might turn into — a grim forecast.

“Twenty or 30 years ago, we never had a capacity crisis in the shelter system because (shelters) were just so horrible. People only went when they had to,” said Muzzy Rosenblatt, executive director of Bowery Residents’ Committee. “They weren’t safe; they weren’t supportive; they weren’t caring; and they didn’t get results. And so when you make a two-thirds cut, you go back to that.”

Adding to this already-complicated issue is the fact that more and more people are becoming homeless as a result of the economic downturn.

“We need to step up and provide the services for the new people coming into the system,” Parque said. “Cutting the safety net for the people who are already hanging by a string is tantamount to condemning them to remain homeless and eliminating any opportunity for them to better their lives and return to a stable housing situation.”

Markus Spokane, a 46-year-old homeless man, has been in and out of shelters for more than four years. Spokane said he wasn’t aware of the proposed cuts but isn’t surprised.

“So many shelters are at capacity as it is. That’s why I’m here, sleeping on the sidewalk,” Spokane said. “The cuts are just going to hinder that even more. I don’t even want to think about how many others like me will be back on the streets — probably for good.”

While the cuts would certainly have a negative impact on the homeless community, advocates say the rest of the city will feel the change, too.

“These cuts aren’t just going to hurt our homeless neighbors; they’re going to hurt all of us because it’s going to decimate the quality of life here in New York City,” Brosnahan said.

These leaders and homeless-services advocates are calling on Paterson and the state Legislature to reverse the proposed cuts and restore funding to what they say is an integral community need.

“Is there going to be a broad abrogation of responsibility, and sort of running away from the problems in our state, or is there going to be some kind of lines in the sand drawn, where there is an understanding … the quality of life in this city could be fundamentally different if Albany fails to act?” de Blasio asked.

On Tuesday, de Blasio and Commissioner Hess will be in Albany, fighting to restore funding for the homeless population.

“We need everyone to call members of the Legislature, and to put all the pressure on possible to call on the governor to do the right thing,” Hess said. “We call upon them today with a coalition that doesn’t often stand together but believes, sincerely, that we cannot set this city back 30 years.”

Surveillance cameras prove immensely helpful

2010-03-12T17:18:00.031-05:00

In an earlier post, I talked about privacy and cameras, specifically pointing to surveys and studies counting the number of cameras on New York City streets. I was shocked to learn that, as of 2005, my particular neighborhood had an estimated 2,227 cameras — up from 142 only seven years earlier.

My first reaction was to consider the privacy violations this could imply. From there, I admitted it's almost ridiculous to assume we have any privacy, other than in our own homes. But what I didn't really explore is how these cameras could be helpful — even pertinent, in some cases.

Today, I read about a prime example of such a case.

Yesterday, I read a Tweet from @DNAinfo about a woman who was brutally beaten in a Midtown bar after refusing a man's advances. I followed the link, read the story and hoped the police would catch her attacker.

Then today, I read more Tweets: This time, they said the man was caught — only because of footage from nearby surveillance cameras.

The New York Daily News reports: "He was seen on a NYPD video as he left the bar, shaking his hand as if in pain. He was later caught on another camera, walking into a bodega, where he grabbed a beer and left without paying. Nearly 600 cameras have been installed throughout the city as part of the NYPD's Operation Argus."

So while there might be some iffy feelings about the NYPD's invasive surveillance, it goes to show there are times when this can really be crucial. DNAinfo, a Manhattan news site, claims the woman, a 29-year-old pediatric nurse, "was beaten so badly her eye socket and nose were broken, requiring surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center."

Q&A with entrepreneur Lena West

2010-03-08T15:17:00.002-05:00

For my third Q&A with an entrepreneur, I spoke with Lena West, founder and CEO of xynoMedia. XynoMedia is a company that deals with social media consulting, both the business and technology sides. Essentially, xynoMedia shows companies how to use social media — blogs, podcasts, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn — and the Internet to their advantage.

Lena is a very savvy, forward-thinking businesswoman, and her ideas about entrepreneurship are different from most others I've heard — a refreshing and welcome change. Here's our Q&A exchange:

Rachel Wise: Why specifically do you think you are considered an entrepreneur?

Lena West: I guess because I have a business and I started a business. I fit the definition. My definition of an entrepreneur is someone who has founded not just one business, but multiple businesses.

RW: Please briefly describe xynoMedia.

LW: We are a social media consulting and strategy firm. We work with business and help them to use social media to increase visibility, connect with their target markets and indirectly increase sales.

RW: Is xynoMedia your first start-up/business?

LW: It's not my first business, but it was my first start-up. (I've started other businesses since.) I was co-owner of a restaurant before I started xynoMedia (in 1997).

RW: How did you come up with the idea for it?

LW: I started as a consultant. I was a full-time, on-site corporate consultant, and I realized rather quickly I would be more profitable if I had more than one client. I decided to take the services I was offering for just that on-site consulting and offer them to multiple clients.

RW: How did you turn your idea for xynoMedia into a business plan? How long did it take?

LW: I don't know that I ever turned it into a business plan, at least not initially. I just thought companies need these services, they need to understand IT, they need someone who understands their business. There are a lot of IT people who understand IT but don't understand how business operates. I'm someone who happens to understand both. So I thought, 'Wow, there's a need for this.'

I have a gift for seeing a business need and being able to figure it out because I'm a strategist — that's how my mind works.

RW: How long did it take to become profitable after officially launching xynoMedia?

LW: About a year or two. For me it was faster because we don't have traditional overhead expenses. I built this company a bit differently, in that I didn't want people to have to choose between whether they would stay home and take care of their children if they were sick, or take care of sick family members, and coming to a job. So we're totally a virtual company. There's a main office, but nobody reports in to work. We just all get our work done, we're all responsible adults, and I don't micromanage anyone.

RW: How did you initially fund your idea? What eventually became your revenue model?

LW: Initially it was funded by my pockets and consulting. I took about $50,000 that I had in savings, and I put that into building the company. We never have received a dime of outside funding, not even like a loan from a relative. We've always been a boot-strap company — what we earn, we reinvest in the company.

As far as a revenue model, we've always been a service-based business, and this year we are taking that to a different level. We're going to be offering some information products people can purchases — some books and audio CDs and stuff like that.

RW: How did you get the word out about xynoMedia?

LW: We never did any advertising. I think I took one ad way, way, way back when. I just realized that if you do good work, and you're really passionate about what you do, and you have happy customers, they'll tell other people. The reality is, unfortunately, in IT, a lot of times people don't show up and they don't deliver as promised. And I knew, if nothing else, I'd be able to do those things. I would be able to deliver on budget, on time, and I'd be able to provide top-notch service to our clients and help them look at IT from a business-case scenario.

Initially, it was word-of-mouth, but now I do a lot of speaking and writing.

RW: How many people went into creating and maintaining xynoMedia? Do you now have a consistent staff?

LW: I went into creating and maintaining xynoMedia — for years it was just me. I had some consultants and stuff like that. But now we have a consistent staff, and we've hired a couple of people. We have developers, assistants, an operation person, business-developing person.

RW: Who was your competition, and how did you manage to stay ahead?

LW: I don't even know. I never think in terms of competition. I think it comes from a scarcity mindset. To think that someone is in competition with you mean that there isn't enough business to be had, and I believe there is enough business for everyone. I never paid attention to the competition — I was my own competition. I stayed in my lane and I just focused on how can we be a better company? How can we be better?

Certainly there's something to be said about knowing what's going on in your industry and who the players are. But, in terms of identifying them and trying to beat them at their own game, I just really believe in playing your own game and playing that game really, really, really well. And that's easy to do when you're passionate about your topic.

RW: Is xynoMedia continuing to grow? If so, by how much?

LW: We're definitely continuing to grow. It's absolutely safe to say we're growing by 20% every single year.

RW: Where is xynoMedia today? Do you still maintain it?

LW: I'm the CEO, I'm still involved. I'm doing other things, and certainly there are other poeple in the company who have more responsibilty. I'm not afraid to delegate once I find the right people. But we're a growing company. We're about to change our brand, change our company name, launch a new Web site, so we have some really exciting things coming down the pike. We're about to launch some information products, so we'll have some products in the mix with our services.

RW: What are you most proud of?

LW: The fact that we've been in business for 13 years and never had a dime of outside financing. And we have a company culture that just underscores that. We don't feel indebted to shareholders or people. We don't feel we have to be anything other than who we are and how we show up.

RW: How much of your success would you attribute to your education, and how much would you attribute to trial and error and hands-on experience?

LW: Well, as far as education, I've only had one year of college. Everything I know is self-taught. If we're talking about formal education, I'd say none. But if we're talking about life education, everything. I've learned constantly from dealing with clients and being out there and understanding business. And there's still stuff I don't get and don't understand. But I'm a big believer in hiring people to help me with stuff like that.

RW: What advice would you give to emerging entrepreneurs?

LW: Pick one thing, do it well, know who you’re serving and serve them really, really, really well. Like, just pick one thing that you can be the best at, and just rock out in that category, and don't worry what everyone else is doing. Know what's going on, of course, but run your own race.

RW: Is there anything else you think would be helpful to know?

LW: Sign your own checks. I don't care if you're a multibillion-dollar business, sign your own checks.

(Photo courtesy of entrepreneur.com.)

One in 8 million really is

2010-03-05T00:39:00.004-05:00

One of the most rewarding things about being a journalist, at least in my view, is being able to meet and interact with some truly incredible people. And as a reader and viewer, the same thing is true.

One of my favorite multimedia packages is the New York Times' One in 8 Million series. During 2009, photographer Todd Heisler photographed dozens of individuals and recorded audio that multimedia producers turned into extraordinary vignettes. These slideshows, though short and simple, are remarkable in both production and content.

Todd Heisler was scheduled to come speak to my Photojournalism class a few weeks ago, but had to reschedule. I'm really looking forward to meeting him, though. This work is inspirational and a true delight to watch.

What do you think of the series? Are there any other pieces that you find inspiring?

Pioneering new media: the Web documentary

2010-03-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

In class this week, my professor, Yvonne Latty, showed us a completely interactive web documentary called "Journey to the End of Coal."

It was produced by Honky Tonk Films, a French production company that focuses on Web documentaries. Their explanation of why they use the Internet as the platform to spread their docs? "We think the internet is a place to develop new narrative formats, where interactivity can help build great stories and involve our audience like never before."

(Screenshot of the documentary. The options it gives: Enter the slum,
or get back on the road.)

I completely agree. And "Journey to the End of Coal" is a perfect example of how true this is. The premise of the documentary is that the viewer is a freelance journalist who has traveled to China to investigate some of the "most dangerous coal mines in the world." Each step of the way, the viewer is given options: where to go, who to speak to, what to ask.

It plays out almost like a video game, but the truth is everything is real and based on what two freelance journalists actually experienced. (Though, they do indicate names have been changed.)

All I can say is you have to see it yourself. It's something really different, really innovative and really cool.

Privacy and cameras — they're not what you think

2010-02-26T19:03:00.002-05:00

In class the other week, my Entrepreneurial Journalism professor Adam Penenberg was discussing the notion of "privacy" today, and how, essentially, having an expectation of privacy is almost absurd nowadays. One example he gave is that New Yorkers are caught on camera 30 to 40 times per day. There are hundreds of cameras within a 1-mile radius of any one place in New York City — traffic/red-light cameras, banks surveillance, police surveillance, ATM camera, convenience store/corner market cameras. They're everywhere, he said.

Surprisingly, this notion hadn't crossed my mind since I moved to New York. I was very aware of cameras in other places I've lived because the communities are so small, cameras seem to stand out more. But in N.Y.C.? In my neighborhood? Hmm.

I decided to start digging to see what I could find about my neighborhood. After doing some research, I found that several different groups had compiled reports, data and maps of all the surveillance cameras around New York City. The New York Civil Liberties Union completed a survey (see the PDF here) that I found to be the most comprehensive.

It reported that, in my area — SoHo and Greenwich Village — in 1998, there were 142 reported cameras. But just a few years later, in 2005, there were a reported 2227 cameras. That's almost 16X the amount in just seven years. And I'd venture to say there are even more today, five years later. (I couldn't find any updated numbers, but if you do, please share!)

And, surprisingly, the other day, I was looking out my window that overlooks Prince Street, as I have hundreds of other times, but this time I noticed a surveillance camera in plain sight. It's visible from ground level, mounted to the side of a brick building on the second floor. The building is actually a friary — yes, as in friars live there (I'm always asked that question when I mention the word 'friary').

I also saw the New York Daily News wrote an article about this issue last year, and I liked how it divided it into the good, the bad and the funny.

It's bad, they said, when someone learns they're being filmed in their own apartments by an NYPD traffic camera, for instance. It's funny when a celebrity is caught in an incriminating act. And it's good when a camera phone captures a lewd act, for example, which is what happened to Thao Nguyen when she saw a man masturbating while staring at her in the subway last year. Nguyen's camera phone caught the act, and her photo made the front page of the Daily News — and it got the man, 43-year-old Daniel Hoyt, arrested.

Nguyen is a prime example of how this kind of technology can help. And her Web site, hollabacknyc.com, collects similar photos, videos and written accounts to "empowers New Yorkers to Holla Back at street harassers." But my favorite part of their objective? "You have the right to feel safe, confident, and sexy, without being the object of some turd's fantasy." Agreed.

The question my professor posed to us at the end of this discussion is the same questions I'm left wondering: What is privacy? Do we have privacy on the phone or Internet anymore? I think not. Did we ever really? The Supreme Court argues the only time you can expect to have privacy is in your home. And sadly, I think that's true. But, as the Daily News reported, even in our own homes we might not have as much privacy as we think (and certainly not if we're using the Internet).

I think this issue poses a lot of questions as it relates to journalism — and citizen journalism, specifically — but that I think I'll tackle another time.

Details, details, details

2010-02-23T17:04:00.001-05:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Warner, my professor's former editor at the Philadelphia Daily News. He's one of those hardcore editors, a newspaperman who has been in the business for many years. He's worked at so many different publications in so many different cities, and he's still doing it today. It was refreshing to connect with someone like that again. The old-schoolers are some of my favorite people — they're journalists through and through.

One of the things Dave told us really stuck with me. He said it was a quote he had heard from a colleague and always kept it in mind:

“A good reporter is someone who is constantly astounded by the perfectly obvious.”

When I heard it, I immediately understood exactly what it means. The way I see it, it means there are stories, details, fascinating things all around us at all times. A true reporter is always be on look-out for these minute details that most people overlook.

When I asked Dave about some ways he comes up with story ideas, I realized I already knew. It's about being aware of your surroundings, questioning everything and simply being "astounded by the perfectly obvious."

It's part of my nature to be detail-oriented and to wonder what every little thing is and how it all works. Even on some of my worst days — dark days when I question whether I even want to be a journalist anymore — I know this is what I'm meant to do. It's what I'm good at. It's just how I'm built.

NYTimes and NYU collaboration

2010-02-22T14:00:00.017-05:00

Today it was finally announced: The NYU j-school will be partnering with NYTimes.com to produce a hyperlocal news site covering the East Village. For now, it's been dubbed EV Local, and it will be hosted on NYTimes.com.

I'm excited to work on this project. I've heard great things about Rich Jones, who is the NYTimes editor who will oversee the project. I'm also eager to be working in a "newsroom" environment again. The project will be structured as two classes that will operate as newsrooms — and working in newsrooms is what I truly love. (I've been working in some kind of "newsroom" since I was 10, but I've been reporting to legitimate, daily-newspaper newsrooms since I was 16.) It's like home to me.

The Studio 20 program is planning the beginning stages and launch of the project, while Reporting New York, primarily, (along with a few other stragglers) will be contributing content and running the site in the fall.

I'll make sure to keep you posted!

Journalists' involvement in stories they cover

2010-02-22T12:57:00.053-05:00

It must be hard having two professions — or two callings or two conflicting views — and being caught up during a time when both are of tremendous value. This has been the case with many journalists in the past, though they often weigh between the principles of being a journalist and simply being a human being. But for Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is both a CNN anchor and medical doctor, his dilemma was much more complex during his recent trip to Haiti.

Gupta assisted with many medical procedures, volunteering his time to help so many of the terribly injured Haitians suffering on the streets of Port-au-Prince. I'm not in any way suggesting the need for medical assistance was not great — it obviously was. What I'm saying it perhaps Gupta, and the others who were similarly involved — relinquish their journalist duties if the need for these services is so great.

In an earlier post, I discussed the general ethics of reporting in Haiti and some of the scrutiny surrounding the issue. Certainly it's very complicated, but I maintained that journalists need to avoid becoming part of the stories they cover. I've found this view to be increasingly less popular, as my colleagues have expressed the opposite view in class discussions. They say they're human first, journalist second, and if need be, they would step in. I can't say I disagree with that statement, but it was their follow-up to that I found troubling.

OK, so you step in if you have to, but then what? Most responded: nothing. They would go about reporting and covering the story as if nothing happened. But is that really possible? Is it possible to, say, carry a wounded child out of harm's way one second, and the next second stare at the lens of a camera and objectively report on the incident without any emotional investment or other similar reaction?

But recently, during a visit to NYU's Reporting New York class, USA Today reporter Marisol Bello, who covered the Haiti disaster for USA Today, expressed the very same view I have on this matter. He point of reference was to Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta, who has garnered a lot of attention and praise for their efforts in both reporting on and helping in Haiti. “I just feel like we should never be part of the story,” she said. “In this way I can be old-school. If you want to be an actor in that, and if you need to be an advocate or aid worker, do that so then you get interviewed.”

Anderson Cooper even won January's Sidney Award for his efforts in Haiti (an award my partner Katy Bolger won for her story and my photos in October for our Navajo coverage). This award is extremely prestigious, and it almost irks me that he was awarded it considering the circumstances.

An article in the LA Times quoted someone who echoes my opinion to the T: But some media ethicists said medical correspondents should consider forgoing their journalistic roles if they're going to participate in the relief effort. While reporters should help when they can save a life or prevent profound harm, "I think it's very hard for an individual who is professionally and emotionally engaged in saving lives to be able to simultaneously step back from the medical work and practice independent journalistic truth-telling," said Bob Steele, journalism values scholar at the Poynter Institute and journalism professor at DePauw University.

What do you think?

Q&A with entrepreneur Peg Samuel

2010-02-18T12:44:00.003-05:00

For my second interview with an entrepreneur, I chose to speak with Peg Samuel. Peg Samuel is an accomplished entrepreneur, author and PR/marketing/advertising expert. She has worked in the interactive media industry for more than 10 years and from that launched Social Diva, a lifestyle and entertainment Web site.

Peg was very helpful and quick to respond to my query. I enjoyed speaking with her and learned a lot from her responses. I hope you do, too! Here they are:

Rachel Wise: Why specifically do you think you are considered an entrepreneur?

Peg Samuel: I work solely on a business that I created myself from scratch. I am self supporting with my business and I create new projects, opportunities and partnerships. I also feel that being an entrepreneur is a boundless energy and spirit that I embrace.

RW: Please briefly describe Social Diva Media.

PS: Social Diva (www.socialdiva.com) is the premium digital brand speaking to a community of powerful, trendsetting woman; the influencer set. They look at our newsletters as the go-to resource for all of their lifestyle needs.

RW: Is Social Diva your first start-up/business?

PS: Yes.

RW: How did you come up with the idea for it?

PS: I was working in online advertising sales, I founded the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association with a group of other Internet marketing pioneers and I was the social chairperson, someone nicknamed me Social Diva it stuck. When I was looking to go out on my own it only seemed natural to create a business around the brand.

RW: How did you turn your idea for Social Diva into a business plan? How long did it take?

PS: I started making money immediately, I wrote a formal business plan when I changed my business model and wanted more clarity and focus around my plans. It was probably 3 years in.

RW: How long did it take to become profitable after officially launching Social Diva?

PS: I launched Social Diva in 2000, as my sole income. I went back to work for a “day job” when I moved to NYC in 2004. Since 2007 I have been running Social Diva Media full time and we are profitable.

RW: How did you initially fund your idea? What eventually became your revenue model?

PS: We are self-funded though an advertising model and sponsorship. Which is my background I have 15 years of ad sales experience.

RW: How did you get the word out about Social Diva?

PS: Grass roots, virally.

RW: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in launching your idea? In keeping it alive?

PS: One big challenge is the overall workload and finding strategic balance of which role to be focusing on at any given point. Also, evaluating the company as a whole to make sure everything in alignment with the business goals, my personal goal and ultimately the marketplace.

RW: How many people went into creating and maintaining Social Diva? Do you now have a consistent staff?

PS: I am the sole proprietor; I utilize my outside services to get many things accomplished with the business.

RW: Who was your competition, and how did you manage to stay ahead?

PS: Email marketing is a very competitive space; there are a lot of other great newsletters out there. We focus on ourselves by giving our reader exactly what they come to us for, the best content to suit their social needs. Additionally, we host our own created events, something they can’t get anywhere else.

RW: Is Social Diva continuing to grow? If so, by how much?

PS: Yes we see month over month growth.

RW: Where is Social Diva today? Do you still maintain it?

PS: Yes, we are in a massive growth phase which I own and operate the business.

RW: What are you most proud of?

PS: When my readers tell me how much they love Social Diva.

RW: How much of your success would you attribute to your education, and how much would you attribute to trial and error and hands-on experience?

PS: Most of mine is hands on experience. My education is though mentors and consultants.

RW: What advice would you give to emerging entrepreneurs?

PS: Have passion about what you believe in, find a need and fill it.

RW: Is there anything else you think would be helpful to know?

PS: Our main business is email marketing most of our revenue comes from ad sales, we host events and revenue comes in from sponsorships. We are one of the few online companies that embrace online/offline and social media to market brands in one media buy. We have a book “How to be a Social Diva” published by Easton Studio Press. We are currently producing dance music compilations with the top dance label in the world entitled Strictly Social Diva.

Photo credit: www.socialdiva.com

The Alaska House: Part 2

2010-02-17T19:26:00.001-05:00

Native people pursue dreams in New York City

By RACHEL WISE

It took Andrei Jacobs five months and 8,200 miles to realize he wanted to move from Alaska to New York City.

In 2008, Jacobs, 34, participated in a walk put on by Native American activism organization the American Indian Movement. AIM organized a walk from California to Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Longest Walk in 1978. The group’s goal for both walks was to bring to light issues affecting Native Americans.

“(The walk was for) American Indians, Alaska Natives and indigenous people around the world who felt corporate and government interests were more powerful and were desecrating places that native people found holy,” said Jacobs, an Alaska Native, who is a quarter Yup’ik Eskimo and a quarter Inupiaq Eskimo.

Jacobs accompanied his brother on the trip, which he described as a life-changing experience. One month after he returned from Washington, D.C., Jacobs said he knew it was time for him to leave Alaska for good.

“After having met thousands and thousands of people and having experienced all the different types of emotions, I wanted to continue that and not return to my status quo … especially living in such a remote area,” Jacobs said. “New York was the logical choice for me.”

He packed his things and left for New York to pursue what he perceived to be a life full of opportunity.

And Jacobs is not alone. According to the American Indian Community House, a non-profit organization serving New York City’s Native American population, that’s the same reason many native people move to the City.

“I think it’s an economic opportunity like (it is for) any people. I don’t think Native Americans are any special group in that way,” Jacobs said. “There’s a dream that people have — making it on Broadway, making it as an artist … making it as a banker. … I’m nothing different than normal folks. It’s just the same basic story.”

With an estimated population of about 30,000, the Native American community in New York City is not insignificant, as many are surprised to learn.

“I can understand the surprise because I’m surprised myself. (But), I think it is hard for many of us to meet because … we’re a bit disconnected,” Jacobs said. “We’re not mobilized … politically, socially, governmentally, the way that we should be.”

While Jacobs admits he doesn’t know many of other Native Americans living in New York, he’s doing what he can to keep his culture alive in this urban setting.

Jacobs works as gallery associate at Alaska House, 109 Mercer St., a nonprofit organization that represents Alaska through art, education and special events. Alaska House is the only organization in New York City dedicated to promoting Alaska’s history and culture.

“As an ambassador, we have events that focus on Alaskan politics, government, our economy, our environment, cultures throughout Alaska (and) music,” he said. “If there’s any question that a person has about Alaska, somebody here’s going to be able to answer it.”

The Alaska House is a vibrant, two-floor gallery in SoHo. It celebrates the uniqueness of Alaska and Alaska Natives, and helps educate and entertain residents and tourists alike.

But for Jacobs, life isn’t only about focusing on his heritage.

“My great-grandfather was the first Eskimo Episcopal minister, and he helped to abolish Eskimo dancing and art in one community on Nunivak Island … I’m not really too happy about that idea,” he said. “I want to perpetuate culture and help to create it versus thinking about my past.”

For the 18 months Jacobs has lived in New York, he’s grown to appreciate city living and the many available opportunities.

“I wanted to see what perhaps I could get into (by moving to New York City). And I’m still in search of that idea, that vision I had,” Jacobs said. “I’m getting there — inch-by-inch, day-by-day.”

The Alaska House: Native Culture in N.Y.C.

2010-02-16T16:42:00.009-05:00

Alaska House cultural hub for native people

By RACHEL WISE

With a population of about 30,000, the Native American community in New York City relies on a handful of institutions to keep their native culture alive. One such place is the Alaska House.

The Alaska House, 109 Mercer St., is a nonprofit organization that represents Alaska through art, education and special events. It focuses on a unique community of people and has been open since September 2008.

“As an ambassador, we have events that focus on Alaskan politics, government, our economy, our environment, cultures throughout Alaska (and) music,” said Andrei Jacobs, 34, gallery associate and Alaska Native. “If there’s any question that a person has about Alaska, somebody here’s going to be able to answer it.”

When visiting the Alaska House, it’s easy to focus on the predominate collection of art. The current installation is called “Dry Ice,” which centers on artists’ interpretations of Alaska’s land and resources. And all the contributing artists are Alaska Natives.

While Alaska Natives are considered part of the Native American community, Jacobs claims there are many things that differentiate them.

“ ‘(Alaska Native)’ is a lawful word. That’s all about the federal government. That’s The Man telling me what I am,” said Jacobs, who is a quarter Yup’ik Eskimo and a quarter Inupiaq Eskimo. “The difference by law … is our treaties. Our treaties were signed in a very different way back in 1971. So I’m a tribal member, I guess, but I’m also a shareholder in a corporation.”

In 1971, President Nixon signed the Alaska Natives Claim Settlement Act to resolve the long-standing issues involving indigenous land claims and to stimulate economic development in Alaska.

“The federal government gave tribes … billions of dollars to get started with these corporations,” Jacobs said. “They could get into whatever they wanted to — oil, building hotels, owning security companies, working with technology firms.”

Another unique privilege of Alaska Natives is their usage of marine mammals parts. The Marine Mammal Protection Act enacted in 1972 prohibits the import, export or sale of any marine mammal part or product in the U.S. But Alaska Natives are partially exempt from this rule.

“You cannot sell a raw piece of marine mammal in North America unless it’s been rendered into art by a Native American or Alaska Native,” Jacobs said, as he pointed to 14-foot baleen resting against the wall. “And the reason for that is they have a traditional and customary use … and they are therefore protected.”

One traditional view that is a significant theme at the Alaska House is the focus on subsistence. A nine-line quotation by Inupiat elder Willie Hensley dominates the wall space at the gallery. It reads, in part: “Subsistence describes a way of life practiced by Alaska Native peoples for ten thousand years. Our lives are intertwined with nature and revolve around the seasons … Through it all, the arbiter of success is in the hands of nature and the skill of the hunter.”

Jacobs said this idea is central to Native Alaskans.

“When I think of subsistence, I think of my identity through language, food and culture,” he said. “If you don’t have food, then you can’t have an identity, then you can’t have language, then you can’t have art, culture.”

My journey from HTML basics to my new Web site

2010-02-14T19:39:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, I attended a two-day workshop on HTML/CSS taught by David Tristman. We went over the basics and tested out our skills by building very primitive test sites. But when the workshop was over, I wanted to keep at it.

I've had my domain for quite some time now, after my brother thankfully purchased it years ago, assuming it'd eventually come in handy. I've wanted to have my own online portfolio/professional Web site but never knew what route to go. Fortunately, the skills David taught us were enough for me to build upon to launch my very own site.

I'm happy to announce RachelWise.com is now functional and online! It's definitely still a work in progress — and there's a lot I want to do to it — but I'm just glad my domain is finally being put to good use.

And I'm also pretty pleased I can now put those HTML skills on my resume, and hopefully keep working at it. Feedback is always appreciated!

Blogging about blogging: Part 2

2010-02-12T00:10:00.001-05:00

Despite my feelings about blogging, and the fact that I don't quite understand it in terms of being grouped in the category of journalism, I do find it fascinating. I've been learning a lot about blogging and online media and the technical side of things, for which I see endless possibilities.

One post I came upon I found particularly interesting. Blogger Darren Rowse posted a blog called 29 Debates Bloggers Have about Blogging. He explores some of the key characteristics about blogging, from commenting to design to length to topic. He highlights everything from the most basic to the most advanced features.

I'm not going to list all 29 because if you want to read it, the link is above. Instead, I want to select a few points from his list and weigh in on what I think.

3. Post Frequency – Post More vs Post Less:

I think it's essential to keep a blog updates as often as possible. Obviously, for people who blog for a living or have a lot invested in a blog, up to several times per day is ideal. But for someone who maintains a personal blog, a couple times a week is enough to keep the content fresh and interesting.

11. Links to External Sources – Should Open in a New Page vs Should Open in the Same Page:

With all I've heard about Web traffic lately, I'd have to say it'd be a better option for links to open in new pages. That means the reader won't just forget about your blog and jump from link to link. Instead, your page remains open so he/she can come back after exploring the links you've posted.

14. Topic – Niche vs Broad Topics:

Either can work. I see a lot of value in focusing a blog on a particular subject because it will certainly draw a specific audience who can contribute to the conversation. But I also think having a somewhat broader topic allows for more freedom, i.e. how my blog is about journalism and media, but not something so specific. But what I don't think works is a personal blog that has no focus at all, i.e. My Opinion on Anything and Everything in the World ... Ever. Unless someone is an established "character" who is really funny or entertaining, it probably won't work.

19. Personal Blogging – Sticking to Topic vs Injecting Personality and Personal details:

In personal blogging, it only makes sense to write in first person. And by referring to oneself, that alone makes the blogger a character in the blog. Therefore it seems fitting for the blogger to offer personal anecdotes, refer to his/her opinion and embrace the ability to be part of it all. But there has to be a balance between the two — too much of topic only would be too impersonal and too much of personal details could seem a bit self-involved.

Blogging about blogging: Part 1

2010-02-11T23:05:00.001-05:00

Blogging, trending, SEO, tags, topics, niche, monetizing, content, posts, RSS, domains, hosts and ... does it ever end?

For the majority of this semester, blogging has been at the forefront of the conversation in 2/3 of my classes. We've talked basics — sites and topics and how to write a blog — and we've gone in depth — how to use keywords for SEO, how to take advantage of trending and topics/niches on which to focus. Most of this is stuff I never thought I'd need to know, and stuff I never thought I'd want to know. And, to be honest, I'm not sure yet whether it is stuff I want to know.

I guess I don't exactly get why people blog. I don't get who reads them and why. For me, I'd rather stick to journalism — and, frankly, I don't see blogging as journalism. I understand the industry is changing. I'm only reminded of that 100 times a day, on average. But that, to me, doesn't necessarily mean blogging is the answer. Why can't journalists write for an online platform, in the form of online articles?

I see blogging as online journals, most of the time. People can take to the Internet, write about whatever it is interests them, spout off about their opinions and call it a day. Some people might find what someone says to be interesting or humorous or informational, and maybe they like to read that blog. But what is it about this that is journalism? Can anyone help explain this?

Don't get me wrong: I'm not against blogging. Obviously, I myself am a blogger (though, admittedly, not entirely by choice). And I understand it has merit. It's a great platform for people to express themselves and share ideas, and I really see the value in that. My question is: Why can't we draw the line there?

Mostly, this curiosity comes at the heels of a panel of bloggers in my Entrepreneuial Journalism class today. They are really savvy individuals who have worked on some incredible Web sites and launched some cool ideas. But the whole blogging aspect of their jobs is what leaves me baffled.

So, if anyone has the answer to my question, I'd really love to hear it. Maybe I'm just missing something.

Save the Children benefit concert

2010-02-07T00:09:00.002-05:00

Musicians including 2010 Rock-n-Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Darlene Love, The Bacon Brothers, Patty Smyth, The Bev Leslies, Tabitha Fair and Pete Francis (of Dispatch) performed a benefit concert put on by Save the Children at the Canal Room in SoHo on Feb. 4, 2010.

Hope for Haiti benefit concert

By RACHEL WISE

After Haiti was ravaged by a historic earthquake on Jan. 12, donations starting pouring in. While some chose to send money or texts to contribute, Deana Concilio-Lenz thought of a different way: host a star-studded benefit concert.

“Instead of writing a check, I thought it’d be better to get a bunch of local musicians together to help raise money for Haiti,” she said.

Concilio-Lenz, founder and president of production company DCL Media, partnered with the non-profit charity organization Save the Children to arrange the Hope for Haiti benefit concert held Feb. 5. The idea was born spur-of-the-moment, so the event organizers had only a week and a half to put everything together.

“It was basically me contacting every Sony client I’ve ever had,” Concilio-Lenz said. “And it was Grammys week, so it was really difficult for us. Everyone was in L.A.”

Concilio-Lenz wound up securing some big-name musicians to perform at the Hope for Haiti concert: Bacon Brothers, featuring Kevin Bacon as front-man; 2010 Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame nominee Darlene Love; Tabitha Fair, who performed at President Obama’s inauguration; Patty Smyth, former lead singer of ‘80s rock band Scandal; Pete Francis; and the Bev Leslies.

The artists donated their time and the Canal Room, a club in Tribeca, donated the space. With ticket prices starting at $20 and a table set up for additional donations, and attendance at an estimated 250, event organizers agreed it was “a success.”

“The energy in the room was amazing. They had so much fun,” Concilio-Lenz said. “There were accountants, doctors, younger people … It was a great cross-section of New York who came to show their support.”

Laura Zotian, 54, of Floral Park, N.Y., was one of the New Yorkers contributing to the positive energy in the room. Zotian snapped photos and whistled loudly when her favorite musicians came on stage.

“The music is great. What’s better than this?” Zotian said. “The musicians are amazing. As talented as they all are, they have such big hearts, too.”

Zotian said she planned to donate “whatever’s left in my wallet” at the end of the night.

“Great music. Great people. They pulled off a great, great thing tonight,” she said.

Emily Pesa, 35, of Astoria, came out after reading about the event on a church Web site.

“I wanted to support Haiti and felt this was a really fun way to do that,” Pesa said. “I thought it was great. The bands were amazing. And I was pleasantly surprised to see Darlene Love on the bill — I’ve always been a big fan of hers.”

Pesa donated $20, the ticket price, but said she planned to give more “very soon.”

But despite the fun aspect of the night, the event made sure to keep the focus on Haiti. Artists thanked attendees for their support and asked everyone to donate as much as they could.

When the Bacon Brothers were onstage, Kevin Bacon raised his arm and pointed to his blue wristband — a wristband everyone was given after making a donation— and reminded the audience to remember what it symbolizes.

Save the Children displayed photos of Haitian children continuously playing on TV screens around the club. They also videotaped the event and plan to produce a video to post on their Web site in hopes of attracting more donations.

“It’s more about awareness. And it’s also important to realize we have so much, (so) we have to give back,” Concilio-Lenz said. “It’s not just about a check. It’s figuring out how we can help these people on a long-term basis.”

Q&A with entrepreneur Phil Garfinkle

2010-02-04T10:00:00.006-05:00

This semester, I'm taking a class called Entrepreneurial Journalism at NYU, taught by Adam Penenberg. We're learning a lot about entrepreneurship and doing a lot of brainstorming about new ideas. To help us with this goal of eventually starting our own new ventures, we are interviewing successful entrepreneurs to hear their stories.

I decided to interview Phil Garfinkle, a highly successful entrepreneur who, in the interest of full disclosure, is also my uncle. According to his LinkedIn page, he is a "technology visionary, ... entrepreneur, inventor, CEO, and investor, with a focus on emerging technologies. He is a four-time successful entrepreneur, held a number of senior management and engineering positions, is an active angel investor, and holds many patents." Needless to say, he knows his stuff and had a knack for creativity and innovation.

Here is the Q&A exchange between me and Phil Garfinkle.

Rachel Wise: Why specifically do you think you are considered an entrepreneur?

Phil Garfinkle: Different people are considered entrepreneurs for different reasons. Some because they enjoy taking chances in order to find success. My focus is more about taking ideas and dreams and executing in a very pragmatic approach. If something works, I keep doing it. If something does not work I am quick to stop it.

RW: What was your very first start-up/entrepreneurial venture?

PG: My first “start-up / entrepreneurial venture was starting a sand and plant terrarium business when I was 12. I would design and build custom design terrariums and sell them on contract or I would sell them on a street side stand. I personally invested in all the materials and then entered into an arrangement with a popular gas station near a lot of business buildings. But…. Based on the questions below, I will “discuss” my first venture backed start up, PictureVision.

RW: How did you come up with the idea for it?

PG: As Chief Technology Officer of a public company, I was very focused on building new technology for Document Imaging or to address the goal of the “paperless office.” I was mostly focused large-scale system design to deal with large paper flow applications. I saw the likelihood that it made eventual sense for digital cameras to replace film based cameras for consumer photography. I also saw the opportunity for networks to eventually come into people’s homes instead of just military and business applications. I wanted to lead the development and execution of this transformation. It started with the concept of kiosks because I did not think PC’s and networks would make it to the home quick enough for business success. We ultimately did both home and kiosk solution.

RW: How did you turn your idea into a business plan? How long did it take?

PG: The Company I was with was not interested in “consumer” imaging applications. Their focus was completely on business-to-business applications. So, I moved forward and built my business plan on my own time. I decided to go off to determine market interest in my idea. The business plan and concept developed over a 9-month period. As I did more research, we become more clear that the home consumer market could be successful and most effort went to pursue that path.

RW: How long did it take to become profitable after officially launching your venture?

PG: Like most start up companies, execution provided education. I learned quickly that we needed to build various technology pieces so that the company could be successful. This required substantial capital to drive monster success. In addition, we were pursuing mass consumer markets so reinvestment was key to success. PictureVision was extremely successful in gaining market share and putting the investments in place to form the various online photography markets. After a little over 3 years we merged with Kodak. Prior to sale, we were never profitable, nor did we plan to be at that stage of the company’s development.

RW: How did you initially fund your idea? What eventually became your revenue model?

PG: We were initially funded out of our own pockets. Shortly there after, we raised “Angel” financing. Our revenue model started with the goal of transactions but quickly evolved in to both transactions and “digital processing systems” for the photography business.

RW: How did you get the word out/publicize it?

PG: Even at an early stage we used a Public Relations company to help us get the word out. We participated in industry trade shows and I did a lot of interviews with magazines, newspapers, and TV. We did very limited advertising. We aligned with very large partners that did a lot of the advertising for us. Sony, AOL, Microsoft, Canon, Adobe, and others embedded our product with theirs. This was my key strategy to launching and sustaining a revenue stream with the least amount of expended capital.

RW: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in launching your idea? In keeping it alive?

PG: There were many challenges to deal with in our environment. We were building new technology to make sure our pictures were as good as traditional film pictures. Digital printers were not really good enough at the time, so we had to work with these technology challenges. As we found success many attempts from copycat companies would threaten our market position. We had to constantly balance what we spent with what we could achieve. All in all the biggest challenge was the consumer shift from traditional snapshots to digital photography. Getting consumers to boot up their photo album was a pretty big shift from opening up a scrap books of photos.

RW: How many people went into creating and maintaining your venture/business?

PG: We started with 3 people. After 4 years we were in the hundreds. We had operations in Israel, Germany, and Japan, with affiliates all over the world.

RW: Who was your competition, and how did you manage to stay ahead?

PG: Everyone. We were disrupting the entire eco-system of the photography market. Once we achieved traction, everyone wanted to compete. Our biggest competitor eventually merged with us…. Kodak

RW: Where is your idea/business today? Do you still maintain it?

PG: My idea and business represents a large portion of Kodak and its operations today. It has been re-branded to fit into the Kodak infrastructure. I have not been involved since 2001.

RW: What are you most proud of?

PG: Our approach and idea is ubiquitous in the market. It is the market and the way everyone shares digital photos. The patents that I created are the standard in how people share digital photography. It is great to see people share their photos on their cell phones and be able to put their photos on other products from coffee mugs to calendars so conveniently.

RW: How much of your success would you attribute to your college education, and how much would you attribute to trial and error and hands-on experience?

PG: College taught me how to deal with juggling a lot of issues and how to think independently. There may not be any direct correlation but taking a start up from inception to exit is about juggling many balls. It is about making tough decisions and adjusting those decisions based on their impact and reality in practice. Everything is “trial and adjustment.” I think passion and “desire to win” trumps “hands-on experience.”

RW: How did your idea change the industry?

PG: Most of professional and consumer photography leverages our original concepts today and the foreseeable future.

RW: What advice would you give to emerging entrepreneurs?

PG: You really have to believe and have passion in your product. Make decisions and be willing to adjust quickly. Surround yourself with people that you can trust and share your passion.

RW: Is there anything else you think would be helpful to know?

PG: Family is very important to drive success. Entrepreneurs need a strong support system to do the crazy things we do.

Think out of the box. The way things work today does not dictate the ways things work in the future.

Entrepreneurialism is not about taking risks. It is about taking your ideas and making them reality.

Haiti photos: gruesome, sensational — or just plain truthful?

2010-02-01T22:07:00.000-05:00

I’m sure you’ve seen it by now — images of devastation-stricken Haiti. Turn on a TV, visit a news Web site or open a newspaper and you’re certain to find photos and videos of a crumbling city and struggling citizens.

In my last post, I brought to light a recent article about the ethical considerations of reporting in Haiti. But even more apparent and striking are the photos that have come from photojournalists in Haiti.

Aside from ethics, something else I'm very passionate about is photojournalism. I recognize the raw power photographs have and their ability to express so much in such a simple way.

Almost immediately after Haiti was ravaged by the worst earthquake it has seen in more than 200 years, hundreds of journalists fled to Haiti with their cameras in tow. Most hoped to capture images that would help give outsiders an understanding of the widespread devastation the small Caribbean nation faces.

And almost as soon as many of these images were broadcast, they were met with harsh criticism. Many critics argue it is unethical, exploitative or simply in bad taste to publish photos of such blatant human suffering. But what surprised me were those who defended the images, including the ombudsmen/public editors at the New York Times and Washington Post.

Clark Hoyt, public editor of the New York Times, examined the issue in his Jan. 23 article Face to Face With Tragedy. Hoyt quoted some of the readers' reactions, that the photos were gruesome, sensationalistic and exploitative. The specific photo he pointed to were indeed gruesome: One photo depicted a father mourning the death of his 10-month-old daughter who lay atop a massive pile of dead bodies; another photo shows "a man covered in gray dust, lying alone, dead, statue-like, on a stretcher made from a piece of tattered cardboard."

I felt the explanation of the photojournalist himself summed up the exact issue at hand: Damon Winter, after being begged by Haitians to come to their homes to photograph the dead bodies of their loved ones, had to turn people down. He said it was heart-breaking because "they so desperately want people to know what has happened to them, what tremendous pain they are in, and that they desperately need help."

Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander discussed the same issue is his Jan. 24 column Horrible images of death in Haiti. One of the Post's most striking photos depicts a man crawling through rubble beside a girl who had been crushed to death by debris.

Post readers had similar complaints: The photos were too graphic, sensational and didn't belong on the front page, where one reader said he had "no choice but to look."

Ultimately, both men agreed with their publications' choices to run the photos. Alexander said, "Journalism is about truth, and the horrific images convey reality." And this, I believe, is what it's all about.

Sure, it might be hard for some to stomach the images, but for the vast majority of others, it is a wake-up call — a chance for them to step outside of themselves. The visual coverage has pushed the issue to the forefront of the conversation — from Twitter to TV — and has allowed people, especially those who otherwise don’t follow the news, to see a genuine representation of what’s happening in Haiti.

(Embedded photos courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme's Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationsdevelopmentprogramme/)

The ethics of reporting in Haiti

2010-01-31T20:53:00.000-05:00

To me, one of the most dynamic, engaging discussions in journalism revolves around ethics. Unfortunately, I don't think these discussions happen as often as they should. But with all the coverage coming from Haiti recently, I was glad to see a few articles tackle these issues.

In journalism ethics, there is a wide spectrum of beliefs that range from the very traditional views (Journalists should never be part of the story, ever, in any way, at all. Ever.) to newer, more "liberal" views (Journalists can be part of the story and still cover it with no problem whatsoever.) Then there are those views that fall somewhere in the middle (Journalists are humans first, journalists second. Give them a break!). I tend to fall in the middle, with a bit of a traditional slant. I feel the onset of citizen journalism and rising political/social involvement has begun to warp journalists' ethical framework. And it doesn't help that these discussions hardly ever occur.

So when I read Poynter's Jan. 22 article SPJ tells journalists in Haiti not to become part of the story, my interest was immediately sparked. The article address the Society of Professional Journalists' recent declaration in which the "SPJ cautions journalists to avoid making themselves part of the stories they are reporting." But what does that really mean? SPJ President Kevin Smith mentioned "advocacy, self promotion, offering favors for news and interviews, injecting oneself into the story or creating news events for coverage" as examples of failing to provide independent, objective newsgathering. Essentially, the group wants to remind journalists to "avoid blurring the lines between being a participant and being an objective observer."

One of my big projects during my undergrad examined this very issue, specifically citing the reporting on Hurricane Katrina at the height of the devastation. One particular issue involved reporters who were assisting in rescue efforts, inviting refugees onboard their boats, handing out water bottles and lending cell phones. To many, these seem like the most basic acts a person can do for another, but as journalists, is that going too far? Does this "blur the line between being a participant and being an objective observer"?

The same goes for the situation in Haiti. If a reporter is assisting in aid efforts and becoming so emotionally invested, will it affect his/her ability to report the news?

I'm not going to pretend to know the answer. This situation is a very, very sticky one, and I can never know what it would be like to cover such devastation and tragedy. I can only imagine what these brave journalists are going through. My guess is many of them will never be the same when they come back. But I do think there is merit in what the SPJ is saying. It can't be easy, but I think our jobs as journalists are not easy — they are challenging and messy and extremely trying. And it has to be essential for those journalists to do their best to provide that objective account that only they can offer.

The SPJ certainly received some harsh criticism in reaction to these statements, but I applaud them for putting out that unpopular view. At a time when no one is thinking about the ethics of reporting in Haiti, and understandably so, it's of the utmost important to remind these professionals to keep it in mind.

Thunderbird American Indian Dancers

2010-01-29T23:58:00.000-05:00

Native American dance troupe Thunderbird American Indian Dancers held a concert and pow wow at the Theater for The New City in Manhattan's East Village on Jan. 29, 2010.

Audio slideshow, with photos from Sarah Tung:

Photo slideshow from Flickr:

Portrait shoot

2010-01-25T01:10:00.002-05:00

This semester, I am taking a photojournalism course at Tisch, with Jeffrey Henson Scales, a New York Times photographer. Our first assignment was to do portraits of one of our classmates. I fortunately was paired up with Patrick Barragan, who is quite a character. Check out this Flickr slideshow of our fun-filled photo shoot on a dock overlooking the Hudson River.

Hint: It looks even better if you click on the link that takes you to Flickr.

Ethics shmethics

2010-01-25T00:30:00.001-05:00

Upcoming topics:

Journalism ethics, or the lack thereof, and the blurry lines surrounding these issues.

In particular, I plan to discuss the ethical concerns surrounding Haiti coverage, pointing to the following links:

SPJ tells journalists in Haiti not to become part of the story

NYTimes public editor: Face to Face With Tragedy

WaPo ombuds: Horrible images of death in Haiti

I hope you'll read and join in the discussion. Keep an eye out for this post in the next couple of days.

A new vision

2010-01-25T00:25:00.000-05:00

Greetings, blogosphere.

I have a confession to make: About four months ago, I started this blog — not because I had an overwhelming feeling to express my views with the world or even because I was fascinated by the notion of blogging. Rather, my intentions were simple: I was obligated.

I began grad school at NYU in September 2009, and as part of my writing/reporting class, I had to maintain a blog. So I created this account and began posting, albeit mostly just my recent assignments to what I can only assume is a very small audience.

But it's a new year, and a new semester, and the rules have changed. I am again required to maintain a blog, this time for my entrepreneurial journalism class (which in itself will make for a ton of discussion on here). However, I can guarantee the contents of this blog will be much different. I see little value in simply posting my work to likely fewer than a handful of readers.

This time around I want to discuss real issues and relevant topics. One of the most important hallmarks of journalism is the opportunity to bring to light people and issues that otherwise wouldn't be examined. I think it's hugely important to find these characters and tell their stories, and I will certainly continue to do that. But beyond that, I think it's important to look at the larger picture.

I plan to look at issues affecting the media and journalism. From ethics and photography & photojournalism to new technologies and the many innovations changing the media landscape — all these issues and more are fair game.

My goal is to inform and shed light on these matters, but even more, I'd love to start a discussion. I want to know what you know and what you think. I want to share information but I also want to learn. I hope you contribute to the conversation and spread the word.

And please, don't be a stranger. Check in often and keep me posted. I'll be sure to do the same for you.

Club Animals and Nate Hill

2009-12-15T13:52:00.005-05:00

By RACHEL WISE

In a city like New York, there are few things that turn heads. But one man, artist Nate Hill, has become an expert of doing just that.

Hill’s latest project has him donning a dolphin mascot head and white tuxedo as he delivers $1 bags of "candy crack” — or packs of crushed up sugar cubes colored and flavored with snow-cone syrup — to anyone who calls in an order in Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

“It’s just the theater of the drug dealer,” Hill said.

Hill’s project is part of a performance art group called Club Animals, a secret society of mascots formed in early 2009. The group has performed several other acts, including the popular “Free Bouncy Rides,” where Hill, dressed in his dolphin costume, sits on a bench in the subway and offers strangers knee-bouncing rides.

The idea for Club Animals, Hill said, came after he and a friend were visiting an art gallery in Chelsea.

“It was so stuffy and pretentious, and we were joking that wouldn’t it be funny if we were in mascot costumes right now?” he said. “It started from wanting to be absurd in public.”

Hill, who acts as creative director of Club Animals, classifies his latest work as “regression art.” After he turned 30, he said, he felt the need to “rebel against aging.”

“I just wanted to start acting extremely young. I wanted to act like a child … but also keep the fun stuff about being an adult,” Hill said, “like being able to do drugs and have sex. That’s why the bouncy rides are somewhat sexual, and candy crack is about drugs.”

Hill said his work has become relatively well-known, thanks in part to the Nonsense NYC list, an e-mail newsletter that alerts subscribers to “weird events, strange happenings, unique parties, and senseless culture in New York City,” its Web site says.

“I realized there was a thing we could do without even going anywhere,” said one candy junkie, who preferred not to be named. “I thought it was fun to have strange people come to our house.”

But not everyone is amused. In August, Hill came under fire after the New York Daily News published an article about how his candy crack delivery service angered community activists.

“I hate anybody who jokes about drugs," Ismael Torres, 75, president of the tenant association at the Borinquen Plaza in Williamsburg, told the Daily News. "I've seen too many cemeteries, too many hospitals, too many funeral parlors. The cops should stop this guy."

But Hill said he wasn’t fazed by the criticism.

“Either you get it or you don’t,” he said. “Either it’s funny or it’s not.”

Hill’s entry into the art world began with “urban taxidermy,” he said, where he would sew together different animal parts to create large-scale pieces of art. Then he founded Club Animals. But what’s next, Hill said, is yet to be determined.

“I want to be a real artist. ... I want to be transformative. I want to keep changing and reinvent myself … so I can prove to people I’m not just a spectacle,” Hill said. “I think that’s the mark of a real artist — if you have something new to say every year.”

'Suicide House' slideshow

2009-10-24T18:20:00.000-04:00

This is another slideshow produced after our trip to Navajo Nation. Arlene Jasper-Begay and her family have been through a lot. After dealing with several deaths, suicides and suicide attempts, Jasper-Begay and her two daughters feel hopeless. Their home no longer feels like home, and all they want is to get a fresh start.

Slideshow with music

2009-10-14T19:15:00.001-04:00

First audio slideshow

2009-10-14T11:17:00.003-04:00

This is my most recent, updated and hopefully final version of the audio slideshow I procuded as a result of my recent trip to Navajo Nation. I had only 15 minutes with this woman, Rolanda Tahani, and I had no idea it would wind up being the feature of my slideshow. But I felt her story was so compelling, it deserved a platform. Take a look, and feel free to let me know your thoughts.

Aventures through Navajo Nation

2009-10-13T16:33:00.009-04:00

Friday, 8:39 p.m. EST (7:39 p.m. somewhere over the Midwest)

We’re more than halfway through our first day of travel. We met at the J-school at noon to gather our equipment and meet our Super Shuttle that would take us to Newark Airport.

We arrived at EWR well before we needed to, and passed through security problem-free. Feeling well prepared and ready to get on with our travels, we arrived at the gate to find our flight had been delayed by almost an hour. And with little more than an hour layover in Chicago, we began to worry.

Darragh called the airline to try to make a fallback plan, only to be told that our flight to Albuquerque was the last of the night. After much panic and nail biting, we spoke to a customer service rep who assured us our plane was going to arrive in time to get us on our second flight of the day.

And it did.

(Good bye, New York. Hello, Navajo Nation!)

We got off our plane at O’Hare and made our way to the gate. We got there with just enough time to grab a quick bite and board the plane. Now we’re flying somewhere over the Midwest en route to our great Navajo adventure.

And if so far our only real dilemma has been the fear of missing a layover flight, then I say we’re in pretty good shape for this exciting journey.

We’re all eager, anxious and impatient. We can’t wait to get there and hit the ground running. I think for most of us, we’re researched out. We’ve all been reading for weeks now about the issues affecting Navajo Nation. We’ve made phone call after phone call, planned out our days as best as we could and tried to prepare for what lies ahead. It will be so refreshing to put faces to these names and to actually see what we’ve been hearing about.

These issues are real, and these people are hurting. Housing, uranium, coal mining. So many factors affect the Navajo, but so few people are even aware. It appears their government looks the other way or claims these issues don’t exist. The federal government has gone decades and decades without reaching out to help the Navajo. And they’re at their wit’s end.

And that’s where we come in. We want to spend a few days with the Navajo people and hear them out. We want to look closely at these critical concerns and get to the bottom of it. Even if the Navajo Nation government doesn’t want us there (which is what we’ve heard), we’re coming and there’s nothing — at this point — that will stop us.

Next stop: Navajo Nation. Stay tuned.

Saturday, 2:00 a.m. MST (Navajoland Inn, St. Michaels, Ariz.)

We've just arrived at our hotel. Our two-hour drive turned into a four-hour drive, and for sleep-deprived grad students who have to wake up in three hours, this is not OK.

Saturday, 11:59 p.m. MST (Quality Inn, Tuba City, Ariz.)

We've had a long, but remarkable first day. Katy and I trekked through the state of Arizona, and we're now at our hotel in Tuba City. I promise to update you on the incredible details as soon as I can.

Sunday, 10:54 p.m. MST (Navajoland Inn, St. Michaels, Ariz.)

We've finished our last day reporting in Navajo Nation. My partner Katy and I traveled with a man named Earl Tulley.

(Earl "The Pearl" Tulley, our wonderful guide.)

We drove more than 450 miles around the state of Arizona and saw some truly remarkable things. I have taken thorough notes about the littlest details that I think speak the most volume. I also have taken more than 900 photos of our travels.

But right now, we've all been instructed to begin working on our individual pieces. For me, I will be producing two audio/photo slideshows: The first is about a woman named Rolanda who has been drinking — and still is drinking — water contaminated with uranium. The second is about a woman who has lost three family members in the last several years, two from suicide. Depression is a serious issue facing Navajo people, and the issues with housing only deepen their pain.

I'm just so awestruck by the beauty of both this place and these people. There is something majestic about the miles and miles ... and miles ... of rocks and canyons and mountains and dirt.

And there's something so profound and humbling about these people.

(Mr. and Mrs. Tso during a gathering of the Forgotten People in Box Spring, Ariz.)

I can't wait to share with you what I've seen on this incredible journey. Although, I must admit, editing 900+ photos isn't exactly the ideal way to spend the next several days.

At any rate, stay posted. And maybe I'll even post a few samples photos for you on Flickr ...

(Good bye, Navajo Nation. Hello, NYC, home sweet home!)

UPDATE:

I have arrived home safe and sound. Our plane landed at LGA around 9 p.m. EST Monday. The jet lag was severe, and I felt more drained than I have in a long time. Darren, Katy and I split a cab to the West side, and although we were all exhausted, it was a nice way to end the trip. We reminisced about our favorite moments as if they happened weeks ago, which is really how it felt. We talked about the people we met and the struggles they face; the bond our small group now shared; and how grateful we are to have been chosen to partake in such a journey. It was truly life-changing.

Day-by-day details:

Saturday

Katy and I met our guide, Earl, at 7 a.m. to hit the road. I didn't have any clue where we were going, and I don't think Katy did either. I knew we were going to meet people affected by uranium. That's about the jist of my knowledge.

We drove for a long time. A long, long time. And for the entire time we drove, only a few minutes were spent driving on paved roads. The other, oh, 85% of the time, we were driving on dirt "roads," if you can even call them that. It was bumpy, rocky, jerky — exhilarating. I know Katy had a hard time stomaching the shaky ride, but I kind of felt it was fitting. It summed up our journey from beginning to end.

During the drive, when I was not dozing off after only three hours of sleeping the night before, I was captivated by the surrounding beauty. You can see the images — on TV, movies, in magazines — over and over and over. You can think it will look just like what you've seen before and expect not to be impressed. That was the case with me. But as we wound through the desert, I was completely stunned by what I saw. The colors: the bright blue sky, the warm orange dirt and the brownish-green shrubs. Unbelievable.

So, naturally, I take my camera out to shoot some photos of the scenery during our lengthy drive. I know I probably won't use these shots for much of my work, but when you have 24 gigs of memory, why not?

It was then I realized I underestimated the rocky ride. As I held the camera to my face and viewed the beauty through my viewfinder, I repeatedly was smashed in the face by my own equipment. And if I was not smacked in the face by my camera, I smashed my camera into the the window, or my head into the window. But I did not falter: I continued to take a beating all in the name of art.

I'm glad I did.

What was really great that first day, though, was getting to know our guide, Earl. I had no idea what to expect of him. But quickly he proved to be one of the friendliest, warmest, most knowledgable men I've ever met. He shared with us stories of Navajo culture, facts about the language and even some traditional Indian food: Hopi bread. Hopi bread is blue corn charred over fire. It's this crispy, thin corn rolled into the shape of a burrito. Later in the trip he also had us try dried salted plums. Interesting.

He also knew his way around that land like I couldn't imagine. There were no signs, that I saw. And there weren't really even roads half the time. But he navigated the desert as I'm sure he has hundreds of time before.

Our first stop was in Black Falls, Ariz. near Box Spring, a uranium-contaminated well. There was a gathering at a home there of the Forgotten People, a group of Navajo people who feels no one cares about the issues they face. They were there to speak to Katy and me.

However, many of the them weren't there because they were at a funeral of a man who died from cancer, reportedly caused by uranium. But the ones who were present were unbelievably open to speaking with us and extremely gracious. I couldn't believe how many thanked us for being there. I was just appreciative of their welcoming us into their lives.

I quickly picked up bits of the Navajo culture, such as the way they greet one another. When they approach someone to say hello, they grasp hands, sort of like a handshake, for a few seconds. They say, "Ya'at'ééh," which means "welcome." (FUN FACT: Literally translated, it means "The sun / there is it is" or "The sun / it's still there." The language is very poetic.)

Katy and I sat inside the house for nearly four hours talking to the people about the uranium situation.

The most in attendance at one time was about 25 people packed into the small room, not including the two of us. The majority of the people spoke Navajo, so everything they said had to be translated. And if they spoke for about 10 minutes, the translation was only four or so because of the structure of the language. It was fascinating, but hard to stay focused at times.

At the end of our stay at the house, a woman named Rolanda Tahani came in.

Rolanda is the owner of the house but was just returning from the funeral. As she spoke briefly to us, I knew she was someone I wanted to talk to for my audio slideshow. I had gathered a number of other sound bites, but her story and the way she spoke were elements that made her stand out.

They took us back to Box Spring to see the well and collect a few gallons of water. Rolanda knows the well is poisionous but drinks the water any way because she has no other method of getting clean water. If she wanted clean water, she'd have to drive miles and miles to a big city to buy some, but she doesn't have a working vehicle that can get her there. So she collected her drinking water as I snapped as many photos as I could in just five minutes.

It was a shame that I had very limited time with her before we had to leave. We stayed at the house for longer than planned, and we had other things on our agenda. So my time with Rolanda was short, which made it difficult for me after the fact because I decided to devote one whole piece on just her story. The visuals of her house and her gathering water were great, but I needed more to beef up the incredible audio she provided.

From there, we traveled far and wide, and ended up in Gray Mountain. We looked at a number of houses affected by the Bennett Freeze, a law enacted in 1966 that prohibited people in certain areas from building new components or even making repairs. That meant that if a window got broken, a resident could not legally fix it. And if he did and officials found out, they could issue a fine or even come in with bulldozers and destroy any changes made. Only in May of this year was the ban lifted.

Stay tuned for more details.

Testing CoverItLive

2009-10-06T17:50:00.002-04:00

Interview with Elisa Lagos

First video report

2009-10-04T22:14:00.000-04:00

This is the first video report produced by me and my classmate Sarah Tung after we attended a protest outside the U.N. during the general assembly Sept. 24.

Article No. 3: Park(ing) Day in the UWS

2009-09-19T16:47:00.006-04:00

     Meg McDonnell, teacher at the Lower School, and her
     students from The Calhoun School in the Upper West
     Side attach wishes to a biodegradable balloon and release
     them into the sky.
     "How can your wish help Mother Earth?" McDonnell asked
     her students. Hugo, 5, replied, "I want to world to be clean!"
     For more photos, visit: Flickr

Students snag parking spot to “reclaim the city”

By RACHEL WISE

MANHATTAN — There was an unusual sight at the corner of West 80th Street and Broadway today. In the place of a typical roadside parking space were colorful activities including a bicycle-powered blender, biodegradable balloons, and a loom made from rags and PVC pipe.
Passersby stopped, scratched their chins and craned their necks to get a better view. But they still weren’t sure what was going on.

Fortunately, the hosts of the street-side celebration, sixth-grade students from The Calhoun School, were happy to fill in the blanks.
“It’s Park(ing) Day,” said Clark Vaccaro, 11, the lead student organizer of the event.

Park(ing) Day, according to the official Park(ing) Day NYC Web site, “is an international event that reclaims parking spots and transforms them into engaging, people-friendly public spaces for one day a year.” This year it fell on Sept. 18.

Clark was inspired by the international effort, but says he has a different idea of what it means to him and his peers.

“Some people say we’re reclaiming the city, but I don’t think of it that way,” Clark said. “I say this city is made for people, not cars. That’s why we’re here.”

Clark and his father, Steve Vaccaro, are members of Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit organization that describes itself as “an advocate for cycling, walking, and mass transit as the most sensible alternatives to automobile dependency.” T.A. is a partner in the Park(ing) Day phenomenon, which is how Clark found out about this unique idea.

“The idea’s been around for a while,” Clark said. “I’m just working with the school to bring it here.”

Throughout the day, teachers from The Calhoun School brought students of all ages to take part in the celebration. And pedestrians on the street even stopped in to listen and learn.

Beth Krieger, director of communications at The Calhoun School, said she was impressed with Clark’s initiative to make this celebration come together.

“When students come up with ideas, we try to encourage them and really promote (their ideas),” Krieger said.

The Calhoun School, according to its Web site, is “a progressive, coeducational, college preparatory school for students in early childhood through twelfth grade.” The Lower School, for children ages three through first grade, is at 160 W. 74th St. The main location is at 433 West End Ave.

“At Calhoun, we promote social activism, which is very much a part of the school’s mission,” Krieger said. “We want to teach kids to be citizens now rather than later.”

     The activities at the celebration were designed to be both fun and environmentally focused. There was a bicycle-powered blender that made smoothies from ice, fruit and yogurt; a loom in which students used rags to weave a colorful tapestry; and biodegradable balloons attached with environmental wishes attendees released.
     And the students had a blast soaking up the fun and the meaning behind it.
     Fourth-grader Lindsay Jackman, 9, donned a colorful “Go Green” T-shirt for the special day.
     “It’s really great to have an environmentally happy day,” Lindsay chirped. “I like the smoothie the best because you get a hard workout and then you get to enjoy what you made.”
     Lucas Rogers, 11, is Clark’s classmate who helped him organize the event. Even though he hopes everyone had fun, he says the message behind it all is even more important.
     “We have to care about the earth,” Lucas said. “Most of all, I hope (attendees) realize the importance of going green and environmental protection.”
     Steve Nelson is the head of school at Calhoun and said the Park(ing) Day event is the kind of thing they encourage their students to do, in and out of the classroom.
     “We ought to think abut how we affect the world,” Nelson said. “They have to think about what it means to be citizens.”
     Lisa Freedman, Clark’s mother, described the day as more than just a family and school-wide project. She said it was also an effort in community outreach.
     “It’s a great teaching tool for the younger kids, but it’s a chance for the older kids to share ideas with the adults around them, too,” Freedman said. “It’s hard, though. Especially because strangers don’t even talk to each other in New York.”
     But Clark and his peers didn’t seem to have any trouble in that department. They handed out pamphlets and smoothies, and chatted up everyone who walked by.
     “This is something people of all ages can enjoy,” Clark said. “I just hope it gives everyone a great sense of enjoyment and togetherness.”
     For more information, visit www.parkingdaynyc.org.

... and this is just the first week

2009-09-15T23:19:00.000-04:00

         Residents of the Upper East Side gather in Ruppert Park to protest on
         Sept. 12, 2009. On the right side of the photo you can see me in action,
         in the midst of absorbing my surroundings and scribbling down
         nearly illegible notes for my story (below). Photo courtesy of Geoffrey
         Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates.

Talk about jumping right in. It's hard to believe it was just a week ago today that my journey as a graduate journalism student began.

As I left the classroom after our 6-hour-long class (I wasn't aware classes this long existed, though, I must note, it was a pretty good first meeting), I had so many ideas and considerations darting around in my mind. I was primarily focused on the first two assignments I had been given. The first was relatively focused: Attend the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony in Lower Manhattan, and come back with a story. OK, so maybe the directions were a bit less than specific, but at least I had a framework in which to work. The second was as broad as I could imagine: Some time in the following week, find some event taking place by way of the AP Daybook (an online database where short press releases of happenings in and around New York City are posted) and cover it.

Hm. OK, I thought.

The first assignment I got around to was the 9/11 memorial. The experience was simultaneously exactly and nothing at all like I expected. What I mean is that this particular Sept. 11 happened to fall on one of the worst weather days in New York that I had yet experienced. Of course my first day reporting wouldn't be like the rest of the sunny, mild days I had experienced weeks prior. Instead, it was pouring down rain, windy and about 15 to 20 degrees colder. It was the kind of thing journalists must always be prepared for — the completely unexpected. This is something I've learned over the years, but somehow it's just not the same in New York.

I arrived at Zuccotti Park, adjacent to Ground Zero, where the annual ceremony was taking place. It was complete chaos. All around me were people shoving through the dense crowd, trying to get to work. Meanwhile, there were dozens of people lining the streets, congesting sidewalk traffic. No one knew whether there was a press check-in or how to control the crowd. I have never before seen such a mix of raw emotions: There were people mourning while others were screaming at cops for not taking care of such a disorganized mess. There were others in awe of the madness, as some passersby didn't even register what was going on around them.

Eventually, the chaos died down, and that's when I was able to speak to those lining the sidewalk, craning their necks in hopes of seeing or hearing some of the ceremony as buses and taxis zipped by, blocking the view and drowning out the noise of the speakers. But what was incredible to me was that no one seemed to mind the inconvenience of the weather or the location.

I spoke to about 10 people outside that day — a man who had witnessed the events of Sept. 11, 2001; a man in the Army who heard about it overseas; a woman who flew from Australia to New York just to pay her respects; a man who worked on a History Channel documentary about 9/11; a woman who was working at a call center whose customer first alerted her of the attacks. So many different people with such varying perspectives.

Standing out there that day, I truly had no idea how I would take all of what I saw and heard and shape it into a story with some common focus. I came home and transcribed my notes and just let what I witnessed sink in. I reflected on each person's emotion as well as their words, and eventually I felt there was a cohesive theme I could pull from my reporting. It took me a short while to actually write the article, but it was the reflection and the contemplation that consumed the better part of the day.

What a way to start — reporting New York in its most vulnerable state.

The next day is when I embarked on my second assignment. For this, I chose to write about a protest being held at an Upper East Side park. Apparently, a private company owns the land and wants to demolish the open space and build a 40-story building in its place. Residents, some of whom have lived there since the early '70s, are furious about this. The way I saw it, you really can't go wrong with a protest. People will want to speak to me; photo ops will be aplenty; and activism — and New York City parks — is something that evokes a lot of passion, especially in New Yorkers.

I showed up and was immediately a little surprised. I'm not sure what I had in mind, but what stood before me wasn't exactly it. What I walked into was a rally, where elected officials, group organizers and residents of all ages — and I mean all — were banned together to express their deep concerns.

State assemblymen stood atop benches, speaking out against development, while 10-year-old children marched around, waving their handmade protest signs. They had face-painting tables next to petition tables across from send-your-mayor-a-tennis-ball-and-message tables. It was like nothing I'd ever imagined, and certainly something you couldn't make up.

I made it a point to speak to as many diverse people as possible. I spoke to a 10-year-old and a 79-year-old. And again it took me aback to hear the stories these people told. So many of them had been there when this place became a park; they assisted in the clean-up efforts that transformed it into one of the area's only open outdoor spaces.

And, what was even more peculiar, I thought, was that in the entire city, this particular neighborhood had the least amount of parks and open areas. In the entire city. And this developer wanted to knock it all down and build a high-rise, despite the obvious and outspoken objection of what appeared to be the entire neighborhood. No wonder these people were upset.

But the whole time I was there, I witnessed very little anger or animosity. These residents might have been mad, but they chose not to express it that way. Instead, they gathered to exercise their First Amendment rights, and reach out to executives and officials in creative and productive ways. It was a phenomenal sight, especially considering all of the children present — what a positive and inspiring example they set.

I could go on about these two experiences, but I know I have to move on and look forward. Because if I was able to report on these two incredible events in just the first week, I can only imagine what else is in store for me.

Oh, New York ...

Article No. 2: Protest in the UES

2009-09-12T18:21:00.000-04:00

Alex Kaplan, 10, of Yorkville, holds his homemade sign in front of Ruppert Park on
Sept. 12, 2009. Alex says it would be a shame if he couldn't come to play at the only
park close to his home.

For more photos, visit: Flickr

UES residents band together to save their park

By RACHEL WISE

     MANHATTAN — Dozens of Upper East Side residents want their voices heard. And for at least a few hours Saturday afternoon, they were — loud and clear.
     “Save our park! Stop Related!” they shouted in unison.
     Residents of Yorkville, a neighborhood in the Upper East Side, gathered at Ruppert Playground on East 92nd Street between Second and Third avenues on Sept. 12. Their purpose?
     “We’re here to preserve our park and stop it from being developed,” said Oscar Fernandez, 34, lead organizer of the Save Ruppert Playground and resident of Ruppert Housing, a 42-story apartment building adjacent to the park.
     The signs, banners and chants were an effort to get the attention of city officials.
     “We would like the city to negotiate a deal to get the land back. They sold it to a private company, and that was a very bad deal for taxpayers,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates and long-time UES resident.
     The Department of Housing Preservation and Development sold the approximately 1-acre property to developer Related Cos. in 1983. The agreement required Related to maintain the park for at least 25 years, but the deal expired in June 2008.
     Earlier this year, residents began to worry about the fate of their beloved park when they heard rumors Related planned to turn the area into a 40-story building. And, according to residents, that’s the last thing their neighborhood needs.
     Andrew Zador, 79, has lived in Yorkville for 30 years, and he said building another high-rise would be “terrible” and would “turn the city into a jungle.”
     And Croft, of NYC Park Advocates, agrees.
     “This community has the least amount of parks and open space in the entire city,” Croft said. “(Ruppert Playground) is an important part of our community. It has tremendous meaning to us all.”
     But since April, Croft said they have made some headway. Certain elected officials have heard their calls for help. In fact, a few were present at Saturday’s protest. Among them were City Councilman Daniel Gardonick, and State Assemblymen Jonathan Bing and Micah Kellner.

     During the rally that kicked off the event, each official had a chance to address the residents.
     Councilman Gardonick was first.
     “We need to make sure this neighborhood, which is starved for playgrounds, doesn’t lose this critical gem,” he shouted, his fist raised in the air.
     State Assemblyman Jonathan Bing chimed in, too.
     “The mayor (Michael Bloomberg) wants his legacy to be preservation. Well, this is where his mark will be made,” Bing said. “You need to ask (elected officials) what they are doing to preserve Ruppert Playground. If their answer is not good enough, don’t vote for them!”

     Fernandez, lead organizer of Save Ruppert Playground, said the next step is to continue reaching out to city officials in hopes that negotiations will be made. One of their creative approaches allows concerned citizens to send tennis balls with attached notes to Mayor Bloomberg and executives at Related.
     So far, volunteers said, they have sent about 200 tennis balls and messages, asking officials to take action.
     In the last 30 years, Ruppert Park has seen the likes of many different games: tennis, basketball, handball, hopscotch. It’s been a place for residents of all ages to enjoy.
     But now, in the midst of plans that would demolish the park and perhaps the community, some fear, it comes down to one final game.
     “Now it’s just a waiting game,” Croft said. “We’ll have to wait to see their next move.”

Article No. 1: Sept. 11 ceremony in NYC

2009-09-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

     An NYPD officer patrols the street in front of Zuccotti Park for the
     Sept. 11 memorial service in Lower Manhattan.
    For more photos, visit: Flickr

Ceremony onlookers vow ‘never to forget’

By RACHEL WISE

     MANHATTAN — Emmett Newton was driving his car in Lower Manhattan when he noticed smoke billowing into the sky. When he glanced over, he saw the two 110-story towers of the World Trade Center engulfed by flames.

He sat and stared in disbelief until the first tower began to tumble down.

“I saw a flash and heard a rumble,” he said, looking over to where the buildings used to stand. “I was horrified.”

Eight years later, Newton, 49, of Newark, N.J., was one of hundreds lining the street across from Zuccotti Park to witness the 9/11 memorial ceremony.

The space within the park was reserved for family members of the deceased and volunteers. Anyone without special credentials had to brave the wind and rain while standing along a crowded street a block away from the park.

But most didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah, the weather’s kind of messy, but we’re still here,” Newton said.

Douglas Bruce, 59, is new to New York, but he said coming together with the rest of the city was something he couldn’t pass up.

“The fact that New Yorkers would come out today in the freezing rain and wind is remarkable,” Bruce said. “I think it really says something about the strength of community.”

Bruce was teaching a class at University of Texas when he first heard the news eight years ago. And even from across the country, Bruce said he felt that same sense of community.

“I remember having an overriding feeling, just wishing there was something I could physically do to help. I mean, we could send money and prayers, but the hardest part was not being able to do something,” he said.

Bruce said his urge to give back persisted for years after the tragic event, so much that he was compelled to work on a documentary for the History Channel, “Countdown to Ground Zero.”

“Working on that film gave me a real and deep connection to this day, to these people,” he said.

Andrea Hall, 41, of Newark, N.J., recalls most vividly the connection she felt to her neighbors.

“It was the one day everybody in the world was unified. Strangers were embracing each other. There was prayer in schools,” she said. “It was incredible, but it’s a shame it took tragedy to bring us all together.”

And even though unity is one thing some remember most, it’s the tragedy of it all that most others still can’t shake.

“It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can still see it,” Newton said. “I remember watching people jump out of the windows because they didn’t want to burn alive. I saw the firefighters watering down the streets then running into buildings — they all died.”

Tanya Guymer, 47, of Australia, flew to New York just for Sept. 11 to “see and feel what all Americans are feeling.” The anguish is still fresh in her memory, she said.

“The day it happened, people even in Australia were devastated. Everyone stopped going to work and just watched the TV,” Guymer said, shaking her head. “My birthday was only a few days away … but I don’t celebrate it anymore. It’s too sad.”

But despite the sadness, there are some things we have to keep in mind, Guymer said.

“It’s tragedy like this that makes everyone stronger. We all pull together,” she said. “It goes to show, we’re all on this earth together; it doesn’t matter what country you come from.”

“Yes, we live in a world where people do cruel, unspeakable things,” Bruce said. “But there were a lot of lessons learned, lessons that should not be forgotten so quickly — not five, eight, ten, twenty years later.”

And for most, that won’t be a problem.

“(Today) is a day to remember. Remember the people. Remember our strength,” Newton said. “Remember never to forget.”

— Rachel Wise, Pavement Pieces