Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Patricio Chile's Response To-"Event: American Forum: American Media From a Foreign Perspective"
I also find it interesting and slightly embarrassing that the American news media seems to be less interested in foreign news. The Iraq War has indeed drained our coverage space and time in newspapers and on TV, but news corporations have also become more attached to the business aspect. Sometimes the business interests dictate what gets covered and what doesn’t, based on public sentiment. Thus, the American public also plays a role in what stories they want to hear. I can understand a greater need for coverage on the Iraq War because it is a big event for the US. However, the failure of the war itself has demonstrated how a lack of international knowledge can hurt Americans deeply.
One example raised at the Forum related to ignoring international views is the issue with Al-Jazeera, the Arabic news network which recently launched an English version available on satellite or specialty cable providers in the US. The mainstream broadcast media in the US has refused to air Al-Jazeera programming, fearing controversy from viewers. Al-Jazeera would serve American interests because it is covering the War on Terror and in Iraq. Unfortunately, it is a different perspective on international issues, “dissenting” if you will, and this does not fare well with Americans.
One example raised at the Forum related to ignoring international views is the issue with Al-Jazeera, the Arabic news network which recently launched an English version available on satellite or specialty cable providers in the US. The mainstream broadcast media in the US has refused to air Al-Jazeera programming, fearing controversy from viewers. Al-Jazeera would serve American interests because it is covering the War on Terror and in Iraq. Unfortunately, it is a different perspective on international issues, “dissenting” if you will, and this does not fare well with Americans.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Event: American Forum: American Media From a Foreign Perspective
By: Liona Chan
I attended the American Forum on American news from a foreign perspective on Monday evening. There were two panelists featured, a woman from the Washington Post, a man from the Nigerian Press, and moderator Mark Mcdonald. The entire discussion was being broadcast live on the air on WAMU.
One of the biggest issues discussed on the panel was the lack of coverage by American media when it comes to foreign news. Everything non domestic covered by the media seems to regard Iraq and the war on terror. Karen DeYoung from the Washington Post commented that the finite amount of space in the newspaper only allows for a limited coverage of foreign news. It seems that most of people in America are concerned with just that –America.
It is actually not surprising that most people do not care about foreign news, it seems that we view domestic issues as the most pressing and important. It is ironic though, that the very things that are affecting our daily lives and domestic politics and policies are occurring halfway across the world in the Middle East. Finding international coverage of anything, including the BBC proves to be a challenge at times. There are some notable differences now, however—the internet allows for a much greater flow of information and communication. I now have the ability to look at websites from around the world and automatically know what is going on several thousand miles away. Web news has become light years ahead of newspapers, and possibly even television broadcasts. I personally go online to read any news, it is updated the most frequently, and you don’t have to waste time waiting around to hear the story you are interested in.
Another comment I found interesting was African media member Sunday Dare’s remark about how radio is the dominant medium of media in Nigeria. Since people cannot afford computers or television, and internet access is difficult to come by most of the time, people rely on radios for their news and broadcasts. In America, there is a completely different phenomenon occurring—not only are newspapers becoming outdated, but radio is something that is out of the equation completely. It makes sense, however, that radio is the most popular—you do not have to know how to read, and it is extremely inexpensive, highly portable and accessible to all. It is surprising how outdated radio has become in the US today, considering its roots as one of the most dominant mediums of media. In a society where everyone is concerned with the latest, newest, and most advanced, it is extremely surprising to hear about a place where old forms of media and communications still dominate.
I attended the American Forum on American news from a foreign perspective on Monday evening. There were two panelists featured, a woman from the Washington Post, a man from the Nigerian Press, and moderator Mark Mcdonald. The entire discussion was being broadcast live on the air on WAMU.
One of the biggest issues discussed on the panel was the lack of coverage by American media when it comes to foreign news. Everything non domestic covered by the media seems to regard Iraq and the war on terror. Karen DeYoung from the Washington Post commented that the finite amount of space in the newspaper only allows for a limited coverage of foreign news. It seems that most of people in America are concerned with just that –America.
It is actually not surprising that most people do not care about foreign news, it seems that we view domestic issues as the most pressing and important. It is ironic though, that the very things that are affecting our daily lives and domestic politics and policies are occurring halfway across the world in the Middle East. Finding international coverage of anything, including the BBC proves to be a challenge at times. There are some notable differences now, however—the internet allows for a much greater flow of information and communication. I now have the ability to look at websites from around the world and automatically know what is going on several thousand miles away. Web news has become light years ahead of newspapers, and possibly even television broadcasts. I personally go online to read any news, it is updated the most frequently, and you don’t have to waste time waiting around to hear the story you are interested in.
Another comment I found interesting was African media member Sunday Dare’s remark about how radio is the dominant medium of media in Nigeria. Since people cannot afford computers or television, and internet access is difficult to come by most of the time, people rely on radios for their news and broadcasts. In America, there is a completely different phenomenon occurring—not only are newspapers becoming outdated, but radio is something that is out of the equation completely. It makes sense, however, that radio is the most popular—you do not have to know how to read, and it is extremely inexpensive, highly portable and accessible to all. It is surprising how outdated radio has become in the US today, considering its roots as one of the most dominant mediums of media. In a society where everyone is concerned with the latest, newest, and most advanced, it is extremely surprising to hear about a place where old forms of media and communications still dominate.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
"University Diversity II" by Patricio Chile
Students at Tuesday night's University Diversity II discussion concluded unanimously that AU students are self-segregated.The event held in MGC 4 and sponsored by AU's Kappa Chi Chapter promoted frank discussion on culture and race relations in general but most importantly on AU's "false advertisements" about its "great campus diversity." The attendees were divided into ten small groups whereupon each person wrote a question on a card. The group leader would read each question and a discussion would follow among the group.
Here are two of the questions and a summary of our groups’ responses:
Is AU really diverse?
The answer is clearly no. Almost everyone stated that they were initially shocked to see the separation of races and ethnic groups when they first came to campus. One student, Adriana, said she had attended a high school where diversity was forced upon the students. She became accustomed to interacting academically and socially with students of all ethnicities. However, at AU she was surprised to see self-segregation, even among the specific nations of the Caribbean. Another student, Mia, said she had spent her first semester of college at the Tenley Campus where she became close to all of her neighbors. She said the more constrained space and its isolation from other student housing is what caused this close sense of diversity. Mia said it is the larger size of the main campus that allows students to pick and choose who they want to hang out with, rather than being forced to interact with a smaller group of people.
What should AU do to improve diversity on campus?
Several students mentioned that a proposal had been started among participating groups including the Kappa Chi Chapter, to offer a general education course teaching “White Privilege.” The purpose of this class is to demonstrate to students, primarily those of privilege, that minority and lower-class groups feel alienated from the majority, which are wealthy whites. This has been controversial because students may be reluctant to take a course that will challenge their personal beliefs or their character.
The end of the event reiterated this proposal and the larger question at hand: “How do we get the students who choose not to attend these events, to hear this information?” The problem is that many students are not aware that they are promoting self-segregation on campus. It was brought up among several members that many students hide behind political affiliations especially liberalism so as to seem righteous and honest when in fact some of these students act in a very elitist manner towards people different than they are on campus. Some groups, especially fraternity and sororities, are traditionally separated into races. Worst of all, individuals seek out people of their ethnic group or race to be friends with. This applies to whites but also to all ethnic groups across campus. One consequence of not being inclusive to all people is that a repeat of the Virginia Tech massacre may occur as a result of a student or students feeling alienated or isolated.
Here are two of the questions and a summary of our groups’ responses:
Is AU really diverse?
The answer is clearly no. Almost everyone stated that they were initially shocked to see the separation of races and ethnic groups when they first came to campus. One student, Adriana, said she had attended a high school where diversity was forced upon the students. She became accustomed to interacting academically and socially with students of all ethnicities. However, at AU she was surprised to see self-segregation, even among the specific nations of the Caribbean. Another student, Mia, said she had spent her first semester of college at the Tenley Campus where she became close to all of her neighbors. She said the more constrained space and its isolation from other student housing is what caused this close sense of diversity. Mia said it is the larger size of the main campus that allows students to pick and choose who they want to hang out with, rather than being forced to interact with a smaller group of people.
What should AU do to improve diversity on campus?
Several students mentioned that a proposal had been started among participating groups including the Kappa Chi Chapter, to offer a general education course teaching “White Privilege.” The purpose of this class is to demonstrate to students, primarily those of privilege, that minority and lower-class groups feel alienated from the majority, which are wealthy whites. This has been controversial because students may be reluctant to take a course that will challenge their personal beliefs or their character.
The end of the event reiterated this proposal and the larger question at hand: “How do we get the students who choose not to attend these events, to hear this information?” The problem is that many students are not aware that they are promoting self-segregation on campus. It was brought up among several members that many students hide behind political affiliations especially liberalism so as to seem righteous and honest when in fact some of these students act in a very elitist manner towards people different than they are on campus. Some groups, especially fraternity and sororities, are traditionally separated into races. Worst of all, individuals seek out people of their ethnic group or race to be friends with. This applies to whites but also to all ethnic groups across campus. One consequence of not being inclusive to all people is that a repeat of the Virginia Tech massacre may occur as a result of a student or students feeling alienated or isolated.
End of Fenty's 100 Days Plan
By: KaTysha Foreman
This past week marked the first 100 Days of Mayor Adrian Fenty’s term in office. Fenty, the current Washington, D.C. Mayor, came in to office with a vengeance and a plan to reshape the District; making it as prosperous as it once was.
Mayor Fenty’s 100 Days and Beyond Initiative set in to motion seven agendas to improve the status of our nation’s capital. These agendas include Education, Human Services, Public Safety Infrastructure & Environment, Government Operations, Healthcare, and Economic Development & Affordable Housing.
Although all these agendas have been very successful, the most important and moving the fastest is the Reformation of the Education System in the District. The Mayor proposed taking on the School System and the overseeing of the schools will be done directly from the Mayor’s office.
This purposed agenda had to be approved by the City Council and was approved to move forward. Fenty has taken on the D.C. School System to give the students in the District a fighting chance.
The ailing school system has been a topic for years in the District. With the rise of the drop out rate and the increase of violence in the schools, many believe this just another campaign initiative that will go away in 6 months, just like the others.
Well, until that happens we will never know if this will be true. The public schools in the District are not preparing the students for the career world or even preparing them for higher education.
The new mayor has accomplished so much, but has a long way to go. The future and success of the district is on the hands of this administration.
For more of Mayor Fenty’s 100 Days and Beyond, go to http://dc.gov/mayor/100dayPlan
This past week marked the first 100 Days of Mayor Adrian Fenty’s term in office. Fenty, the current Washington, D.C. Mayor, came in to office with a vengeance and a plan to reshape the District; making it as prosperous as it once was.
Mayor Fenty’s 100 Days and Beyond Initiative set in to motion seven agendas to improve the status of our nation’s capital. These agendas include Education, Human Services, Public Safety Infrastructure & Environment, Government Operations, Healthcare, and Economic Development & Affordable Housing.
Although all these agendas have been very successful, the most important and moving the fastest is the Reformation of the Education System in the District. The Mayor proposed taking on the School System and the overseeing of the schools will be done directly from the Mayor’s office.
This purposed agenda had to be approved by the City Council and was approved to move forward. Fenty has taken on the D.C. School System to give the students in the District a fighting chance.
The ailing school system has been a topic for years in the District. With the rise of the drop out rate and the increase of violence in the schools, many believe this just another campaign initiative that will go away in 6 months, just like the others.
Well, until that happens we will never know if this will be true. The public schools in the District are not preparing the students for the career world or even preparing them for higher education.
The new mayor has accomplished so much, but has a long way to go. The future and success of the district is on the hands of this administration.
For more of Mayor Fenty’s 100 Days and Beyond, go to http://dc.gov/mayor/100dayPlan
Thousands March For D.C. Voting Rights
By: KaTysha Foreman
"Free D.C., Free D.C." These were the words that rang out in the street of the District yesterday by the thousand plus activists demanding full representation in the U.S. Congress.
This week started with a optimistic bill that was on the House floor to give the District equal representation in the U.S. Congress. The efforts of the bill's supports were overseen and the bill was not passed.
Although, this would be a remarkable and monumental occasion, voting-rights activists are seeing great opposition from the Republicans in Congress and most importantly, the President. The bill, that did not get through the House of Representatives, would have had a harder time making it through the Senate floor; even harder time getting it signed by the president who has openly stated that he would veto it.
March leader and activist Mayor Adrian Fenty was at the forefront of this movement. Fenty, reportedly told the Washington Post, stated that "the White House is next." Getting into the hearts of D.C. residences, firing them up for the continued movement.
The march was held on the of D.C.'s Emancipation Day; the day in history when the slaves where freed in the District. Mayor Fenty draws a unique parallel to the Emancipation of slaves to the Emancipation of D.C. voters.
The fight is no where near over and the solution will unfold for D.C. voters.
"Free D.C., Free D.C." These were the words that rang out in the street of the District yesterday by the thousand plus activists demanding full representation in the U.S. Congress.
This week started with a optimistic bill that was on the House floor to give the District equal representation in the U.S. Congress. The efforts of the bill's supports were overseen and the bill was not passed.
Although, this would be a remarkable and monumental occasion, voting-rights activists are seeing great opposition from the Republicans in Congress and most importantly, the President. The bill, that did not get through the House of Representatives, would have had a harder time making it through the Senate floor; even harder time getting it signed by the president who has openly stated that he would veto it.
March leader and activist Mayor Adrian Fenty was at the forefront of this movement. Fenty, reportedly told the Washington Post, stated that "the White House is next." Getting into the hearts of D.C. residences, firing them up for the continued movement.
The march was held on the of D.C.'s Emancipation Day; the day in history when the slaves where freed in the District. Mayor Fenty draws a unique parallel to the Emancipation of slaves to the Emancipation of D.C. voters.
The fight is no where near over and the solution will unfold for D.C. voters.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Reaction to news article: John Smallwood | Yes, Rutgers players were hurt, but Duke lacrosse trio nearly destroyed
By: Nicole Howard
One of my friends on the popular site facebook.com shared a link to this article and I was immediately upset at how the article compared the indecent remarks Don Imus made to what the Duke lacrosse students went through. First of all there is NO reason for them to be compared. They are two completely different stories. Why should one have to be compared as worse than the other?
This is what I am referring to:
"Radio personality Don Imus is rightfully being blasted for his despicable on-air comment of calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos." As personally damaging as that was to the Rutgers players and their families, it is a tempest in a teapot compared to what happened to the Duke players." (http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20070412_John_Smallwood___Yes__Rutgers_players_were_hurt__but_Duke_lacrosse_trio_nearly_destroyed.html)
How can someone say something is personally damaging when they are not that person and do not know the effect the remarks had on the students personally. To go even further and call it a "tempest in a teapot" is an insult in itself.
Yes what happened to the Duke players is horrible so why not give them there own story and not but two different things together because they both have something to do with race.
I do not wish to belittle the entire article because it does address the issue of race in the Duke student's case and how both sides could used race and could have disregarded the issue at hand the actual truth of what happened.
Another good point was that society has a way of making issues black and white instead of looking at the issue on its own without race behind it. Also that until this country especially can do this then there will continue to be incidents such as this.
The article clearly spoke about the issue of race but if the comparison of the racist comments were not included in the article it would have been a lot better. I just believe adding that part was not necessary and a stretch to compare them.
One of my friends on the popular site facebook.com shared a link to this article and I was immediately upset at how the article compared the indecent remarks Don Imus made to what the Duke lacrosse students went through. First of all there is NO reason for them to be compared. They are two completely different stories. Why should one have to be compared as worse than the other?
This is what I am referring to:
"Radio personality Don Imus is rightfully being blasted for his despicable on-air comment of calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos." As personally damaging as that was to the Rutgers players and their families, it is a tempest in a teapot compared to what happened to the Duke players." (http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20070412_John_Smallwood___Yes__Rutgers_players_were_hurt__but_Duke_lacrosse_trio_nearly_destroyed.html)
How can someone say something is personally damaging when they are not that person and do not know the effect the remarks had on the students personally. To go even further and call it a "tempest in a teapot" is an insult in itself.
Yes what happened to the Duke players is horrible so why not give them there own story and not but two different things together because they both have something to do with race.
I do not wish to belittle the entire article because it does address the issue of race in the Duke student's case and how both sides could used race and could have disregarded the issue at hand the actual truth of what happened.
Another good point was that society has a way of making issues black and white instead of looking at the issue on its own without race behind it. Also that until this country especially can do this then there will continue to be incidents such as this.
The article clearly spoke about the issue of race but if the comparison of the racist comments were not included in the article it would have been a lot better. I just believe adding that part was not necessary and a stretch to compare them.
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