Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Free Tibet in Harvard Square- soundslides
http://anitawilliams.webng.com/Free%20Tibet%20Harvard%20Sq/
I had enough trouble with the technology- however, I persevered and finally got it to work!
The next step of course is to improve the production. For example, taking audio in an outside environment with noisy background using equipment I am not familiar, is authentic but a bit murky and inconsistent. And I will get better at taking photos.....
I tried to capture the atmosphere of the Harvard Square vigil.
a
I had enough trouble with the technology- however, I persevered and finally got it to work!
The next step of course is to improve the production. For example, taking audio in an outside environment with noisy background using equipment I am not familiar, is authentic but a bit murky and inconsistent. And I will get better at taking photos.....
I tried to capture the atmosphere of the Harvard Square vigil.
a
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Elizabeth Kucinich
http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/04/eliz_kucinich.html
This is the type of peripheral nonsense-type political story that annoys me.
The wife of Congressman Kucinich, Elizabeth is a self-promoting pseudo celebrity and the media loves to pander to this - which only encourages her.
This actually detracts from the Congressman's real purpose- his left wing liberalism - and his wife should reinforce his political stance, not promote her own trivia pursuits.
However, I do have sympathy for the congressman who finds it difficult to get serious press coverage... there's no such thing as bad publicity?
Only when it trivialises the politician's real agenda.
This is the type of peripheral nonsense-type political story that annoys me.
The wife of Congressman Kucinich, Elizabeth is a self-promoting pseudo celebrity and the media loves to pander to this - which only encourages her.
This actually detracts from the Congressman's real purpose- his left wing liberalism - and his wife should reinforce his political stance, not promote her own trivia pursuits.
However, I do have sympathy for the congressman who finds it difficult to get serious press coverage... there's no such thing as bad publicity?
Only when it trivialises the politician's real agenda.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Houdini Peters
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4637052a6160.html
What started as a 'moderate' money discrepancy involving political donations has escalated into a full blown scandal for Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs in NZ parliament and the leader of the coalition minor party holding the government together.
A story like this usually falls into the 11 day category-- it should have gone away in less than two weeks- WHY IS IT GOING ON SO LONG? It has escalated into a full blown feeding frenzy as more 'donations' retrospectively come out of the woodwork.
Peters has in the past managed to neutralise negative campaigns such as this-- but this time it looks like everybody (the other 7 political parties) are ganging up to try get rid of him in the lead up to the general elections in November. The article manages to get quotes from all the other opponents.
I have a personal interest in this story because I work for this party and it looks inceasingly likely I may not have a job when I return home in September. So I may be a bit biased. I really think Peters did not know the details of the dodgy donations. A Clintonian term in politics is 'plausible deniability'. Peters would have instructed his lawyer to accept donations on a 'i won't ask, you don't tell me" basis.... so I do not think he is lying when he says he did not know-- he never wanted to know.
A column by politico Richard Long comments why the story will not go away....
I emailed;
Richard,
am i going to have a job when i return?
anita
He replied;
Hi there Anita.
I think he will hold on. Its been a wild ride, but its dying off
What started as a 'moderate' money discrepancy involving political donations has escalated into a full blown scandal for Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs in NZ parliament and the leader of the coalition minor party holding the government together.
A story like this usually falls into the 11 day category-- it should have gone away in less than two weeks- WHY IS IT GOING ON SO LONG? It has escalated into a full blown feeding frenzy as more 'donations' retrospectively come out of the woodwork.
Peters has in the past managed to neutralise negative campaigns such as this-- but this time it looks like everybody (the other 7 political parties) are ganging up to try get rid of him in the lead up to the general elections in November. The article manages to get quotes from all the other opponents.
I have a personal interest in this story because I work for this party and it looks inceasingly likely I may not have a job when I return home in September. So I may be a bit biased. I really think Peters did not know the details of the dodgy donations. A Clintonian term in politics is 'plausible deniability'. Peters would have instructed his lawyer to accept donations on a 'i won't ask, you don't tell me" basis.... so I do not think he is lying when he says he did not know-- he never wanted to know.
A column by politico Richard Long comments why the story will not go away....
I emailed;
Richard,
am i going to have a job when i return?
anita
He replied;
Hi there Anita.
I think he will hold on. Its been a wild ride, but its dying off
Finally!!!
Politics is my beat.....
Yes, finally we get to writing about something I know about-- politics is my beat.
In early July the DNC organizers announced Senator Barack Obama was moving his acceptance speech for the presidential race from the 20,000 capacity convention center to the 75,000 capacity Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on August 28, the last day of the convention.
Thousands felt excitment that there will be a good chance they may be able to attend as Obama was opening this historic event to the masses. This certainly is rock-superstar stuff!
However, subsequent reports and bloggers have questioned whether the Democratic Campaign, already $10million short, can afford the costs of the stadium - let alone the fact it would be logistics and security nightmare.
Being on the volunteer waitlist at the Denver DNC, I emailed to ask where and when I could purchase tickets for the event only to be told tickets were not for sale - they will be 'distributed'.
To Whom????
And lately, my inbox has been bombarded with the 'lottery' to win tickets to the convention if I donated as little as $5 to the campaign.
Well, I thought the smart thing would be for the DNC to SELL the tickets to the public for an extortional price. This is the land of making money! I paid $350 for scalped tickets to take my teenage son to Justin Timberlake last year at MSG-- I would gladly pay that much to see Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.
AND DO THE MATHS!
75,000 x $150/$200= ...... that would pay all of Hillary's debt and more.
Which brings me to voter/donation fatigue.
As an Obama supporter even I am tiring of the thrice weekly emails asking for donations. I would rather just pay for these tickets -- even if it is expensive, at least I am getting immediate gratification.
Finally, a staging of this magnitude is escalating expectations of Obama's acceptance speech to astromonical-stratosphere heights. This is being promoted along the lines of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream...." speech and Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you....." ... speech....
I bet Obama's speechwriters are having sleepless nights....
anita
In early July the DNC organizers announced Senator Barack Obama was moving his acceptance speech for the presidential race from the 20,000 capacity convention center to the 75,000 capacity Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on August 28, the last day of the convention.
Thousands felt excitment that there will be a good chance they may be able to attend as Obama was opening this historic event to the masses. This certainly is rock-superstar stuff!
However, subsequent reports and bloggers have questioned whether the Democratic Campaign, already $10million short, can afford the costs of the stadium - let alone the fact it would be logistics and security nightmare.
Being on the volunteer waitlist at the Denver DNC, I emailed to ask where and when I could purchase tickets for the event only to be told tickets were not for sale - they will be 'distributed'.
To Whom????
And lately, my inbox has been bombarded with the 'lottery' to win tickets to the convention if I donated as little as $5 to the campaign.
Well, I thought the smart thing would be for the DNC to SELL the tickets to the public for an extortional price. This is the land of making money! I paid $350 for scalped tickets to take my teenage son to Justin Timberlake last year at MSG-- I would gladly pay that much to see Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.
AND DO THE MATHS!
75,000 x $150/$200= ...... that would pay all of Hillary's debt and more.
Which brings me to voter/donation fatigue.
As an Obama supporter even I am tiring of the thrice weekly emails asking for donations. I would rather just pay for these tickets -- even if it is expensive, at least I am getting immediate gratification.
Finally, a staging of this magnitude is escalating expectations of Obama's acceptance speech to astromonical-stratosphere heights. This is being promoted along the lines of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream...." speech and Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you....." ... speech....
I bet Obama's speechwriters are having sleepless nights....
anita
Friday, August 1, 2008
Love Onion
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/al_gore_places_infant_son_in
Not another story about Global Warming Angelia will say.... but this is great.
Here is a cartoon of Al Gore on the last day of the earth placing his baby son in a space capsule...... like Superman's father .......
Again, I would love to be able to write in this clever way.
Not another story about Global Warming Angelia will say.... but this is great.
Here is a cartoon of Al Gore on the last day of the earth placing his baby son in a space capsule...... like Superman's father .......
Again, I would love to be able to write in this clever way.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Great way to write the close of a beloved store.....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/nyregion/27starbucks.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
I would love to write in this low-key tongue-in-cheek-way.
Standard reporting format but subtly puts across the writers point of view.
I would love to write in this low-key tongue-in-cheek-way.
Standard reporting format but subtly puts across the writers point of view.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
'Iron Man' vs 'The Dark Knight'
My Brother's media review of the two super-hero blockbuster movies.
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=129826
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=129826
Sunday, July 20, 2008
A Veil Closes France’s Door to Citizenship
This is my favorite feature story of the week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/world/europe/19france.html?pagewanted=2&ref=todayspaper
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/world/europe/19france.html?pagewanted=2&ref=todayspaper
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
'I'm on a one-way ticket. I'm going to die'
Use of a good quote--
'I'm on a one-way ticket. I'm going to die'
Murder accused Antonie Dixon told a negotiator he was prepared to die during an armed standoff with police, either by shooting himself or by forcing police to shoot him, a jury was told today.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4611962a10.html
Tuesday 8 July 2008
'I'm on a one-way ticket. I'm going to die'
Murder accused Antonie Dixon told a negotiator he was prepared to die during an armed standoff with police, either by shooting himself or by forcing police to shoot him, a jury was told today.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4611962a10.html
Tuesday 8 July 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
What bugs me most about journalism today?
Mass market/ junk market and the ParisHiltonization of the news.
What bugs me the most about journalism today is the Paris Hiltonization of the news. This includes the infiltration of infotainment into serious journalism, soft news, the column- centimetres and TV News time allocated to promoting trashy celebrity culture, and the constant pandering to the lowest common denominator.
As they say, no one ever lost money under-estimating the taste (and intelligence) of the public, but is there another solution rather than succumbing to the commercial pressures of the mass market?
Supply what the public demands? If we keep force-feeding the public a constant diet of junk media, like junk food they will become addicted to it- not to mention fat and slushy brains. Is there not an ethical and professional obligation of journalists to lift the bar in educating the public, providing quality information and raising the level of debate on serious matters of public interest affecting people’s lives? Otherwise, it is a downward spiral which is already threatening the credibility of journalism as a profession.
Where is mass journalism destined? UK tabloid The Sun has the largest circulation (3 mill+) of any English language daily newspaper in the world. The average reading age of its readership is 12. Rupert Murdoch – power and influence via his newspaper. This really bugs me.
Quality journalism deserves more than to be relegated to niche and elite markets.
Manipulating public opinion.
Another bug bear is in my own particular field of politics. Journalists are well aware of their influence in swinging undecided voters, especially in a tight election. Do we trust the media to use this influence responsibly?
Media use of polling and surveys can either have a bandwagon or rallying effect. How accurate and impartial are these polls anyway? (eg push polling and cooking the data to favour their preferred candidates).
Election media coverage tends to focus on the ‘horse race’ of the campaign rather than real policy issues. Polls and commentary to this effect intensifies as they near the finish line. If journalists constantly question politicians on policy issues during the campaign, it would maneuver emphasis away from rhetoric and style to matters of substance. It is a chicken and egg scenario—politicos respond to how the media reports politics and it becomes a downward spiral of ‘swallowing out’ campaign information.
Again I return to journalism’s democratic roles of watchdog and providing a forum for debate, rather than pushing their own agenda and too often they are ‘making the news’.
Journalists should be reporting the news; informing, educating and analyzing for public themselves to decide what is best.
anita
What bugs me the most about journalism today is the Paris Hiltonization of the news. This includes the infiltration of infotainment into serious journalism, soft news, the column- centimetres and TV News time allocated to promoting trashy celebrity culture, and the constant pandering to the lowest common denominator.
As they say, no one ever lost money under-estimating the taste (and intelligence) of the public, but is there another solution rather than succumbing to the commercial pressures of the mass market?
Supply what the public demands? If we keep force-feeding the public a constant diet of junk media, like junk food they will become addicted to it- not to mention fat and slushy brains. Is there not an ethical and professional obligation of journalists to lift the bar in educating the public, providing quality information and raising the level of debate on serious matters of public interest affecting people’s lives? Otherwise, it is a downward spiral which is already threatening the credibility of journalism as a profession.
Where is mass journalism destined? UK tabloid The Sun has the largest circulation (3 mill+) of any English language daily newspaper in the world. The average reading age of its readership is 12. Rupert Murdoch – power and influence via his newspaper. This really bugs me.
Quality journalism deserves more than to be relegated to niche and elite markets.
Manipulating public opinion.
Another bug bear is in my own particular field of politics. Journalists are well aware of their influence in swinging undecided voters, especially in a tight election. Do we trust the media to use this influence responsibly?
Media use of polling and surveys can either have a bandwagon or rallying effect. How accurate and impartial are these polls anyway? (eg push polling and cooking the data to favour their preferred candidates).
Election media coverage tends to focus on the ‘horse race’ of the campaign rather than real policy issues. Polls and commentary to this effect intensifies as they near the finish line. If journalists constantly question politicians on policy issues during the campaign, it would maneuver emphasis away from rhetoric and style to matters of substance. It is a chicken and egg scenario—politicos respond to how the media reports politics and it becomes a downward spiral of ‘swallowing out’ campaign information.
Again I return to journalism’s democratic roles of watchdog and providing a forum for debate, rather than pushing their own agenda and too often they are ‘making the news’.
Journalists should be reporting the news; informing, educating and analyzing for public themselves to decide what is best.
anita
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Personal Statement
What I hope to achieve from this class?
What skills do I want to develop?
What questions I want answered?
In my second undergraduate year, I had an academic essay marked down for being ‘too journalistic’. I was not too clear at the time what this meant but academics obviously thought it inferior to ‘academic writing’.
Also, a professor once told me he did not like writing features for newspapers because they edited his articles. He wrote an academic dissertation introducing his thesis at the beginning before outlining all his arguments, and ending with a solid conclusion. He said newspapers editors wanted the conclusion at the beginning. Newspaper readers needed a strong lead paragraph to capture their attention, especially in a topic area in which they were not normally interested.
What I want to achieve from this course is to develop a definite skill distinction between the two types of writing.
What is a ‘journalistic style’?
What and when is either style appropriate?
Are the differences in emphasis or language?
Are the research methods the same?
What are the formulae for journalistic reporting of the news?
How much artistic licence is allowed?
How objective is objective?
I recently started work for a political party as a communications assistant which involved political writing such as press releases, articles, short speeches and web postings. Previously they employed ex-journalists for this position because a knowledge of how journalists would report press releases would be an advantage.
This is a journalism class with graduates from all different schools. I would enjoy reading, talking to and learning from other students who are not political science majors. My writing tends to be research based and political argument as opposed to creative writing. It would be great to develop creative story telling skills.
What skills do I want to develop?
What questions I want answered?
In my second undergraduate year, I had an academic essay marked down for being ‘too journalistic’. I was not too clear at the time what this meant but academics obviously thought it inferior to ‘academic writing’.
Also, a professor once told me he did not like writing features for newspapers because they edited his articles. He wrote an academic dissertation introducing his thesis at the beginning before outlining all his arguments, and ending with a solid conclusion. He said newspapers editors wanted the conclusion at the beginning. Newspaper readers needed a strong lead paragraph to capture their attention, especially in a topic area in which they were not normally interested.
What I want to achieve from this course is to develop a definite skill distinction between the two types of writing.
What is a ‘journalistic style’?
What and when is either style appropriate?
Are the differences in emphasis or language?
Are the research methods the same?
What are the formulae for journalistic reporting of the news?
How much artistic licence is allowed?
How objective is objective?
I recently started work for a political party as a communications assistant which involved political writing such as press releases, articles, short speeches and web postings. Previously they employed ex-journalists for this position because a knowledge of how journalists would report press releases would be an advantage.
This is a journalism class with graduates from all different schools. I would enjoy reading, talking to and learning from other students who are not political science majors. My writing tends to be research based and political argument as opposed to creative writing. It would be great to develop creative story telling skills.
15 minute interview with Masters journalism student
Nemat Sadat
Afghanistan 1984 needs no explaining. This was the year in which five year old Nemat Sadat, along with his mother and siblings, escaped from their ravaged country to seek refuge in America. His imprisoned father joined them six years later.
Immigration is a self-selecting Darwinian process and especially so in cases of forced migration. Overcoming discrimination and all the issues associated with cultural and economic dislocation, Nemat’s parents had high hopes for their children as they started their new life in San Diego, California.
So let me introduce this remarkable young man.
Most of us in this journalism class fancy ourselves competent writers. Nemat is quad-lingual, English being his third language after his native Farsi-Dari and German, and French which he speaks equal to English.
Nemat’s academic qualifications include undergraduate degrees in International Business (in German) at CalState University Fullerton, and Near Eastern History and Middle Eastern Politics at the University of California Irvine.
He went on to work in retail banking, in two internet start-ups as customer service manager and as a web analysis German language specialist.
Remember, English is Nemat’s third language in which he is also pursuing his passion for creative fictional writing. He is currently completing a manuscript for his first novel “The Merchant of Gold Rice”.
Most interestingly, as an independent contractor to the US government, Nemat delivers graduate level seminars on Afghanistan to the military at various bases around the country. Cultural Intelligence training for US soldiers is “crucial because misunderstandings of Afghan culture by American soldiers have exacerbated the resurgence of the Taliban” says Nemat. “Culturally aware soldiers serve as a ‘force multiplier’ for their commanders in military terms” and reinforces the prime objective of the American government of “winning the hearts and minds” of the Afghan people.
I asked Nemat, why he chose to pursue a Masters degree in journalism at Harvard? Why embark on a career change at a time of declining media opportunities as newspapers downsize making journalism very competitive and rarely financially rewarding?
Simply, he found it no longer satisfying to work in commercial environments meeting sales and marketing targets. He offered words and phrases like ‘developing his creative thinking’, ‘influence’, ‘challenging ideas’, ‘thinking outside the box’, ‘perspectives’ and ‘policy making’; and wanting to apply his (not inconsiderable) skills to higher ideals born of his bi-cultural heritage and a growing awareness of purpose since participating in the military seminars. He also related a personal experience of post 9/11 discrimination for which he bears no ill-will.
“My reward is more than just monetary compensation or a sense of doing my patriotic duty as a citizen. I carry a strong sense of survivor’s guilt after safely escaping to a better life while my country-people still endure disease, hunger, opium addiction, refugee camps, terrorism, war, and abject poverty. This unrelenting thought is unsettling to me. That’s why I have pursued higher education and hope to use the power of knowledge to counter ignorance and extremism” Nemat writes.
Certainly, higher ideals and life purpose. A unique perspective. An extraordinary American citizen.
(500 words)
anita
Afghanistan 1984 needs no explaining. This was the year in which five year old Nemat Sadat, along with his mother and siblings, escaped from their ravaged country to seek refuge in America. His imprisoned father joined them six years later.
Immigration is a self-selecting Darwinian process and especially so in cases of forced migration. Overcoming discrimination and all the issues associated with cultural and economic dislocation, Nemat’s parents had high hopes for their children as they started their new life in San Diego, California.
So let me introduce this remarkable young man.
Most of us in this journalism class fancy ourselves competent writers. Nemat is quad-lingual, English being his third language after his native Farsi-Dari and German, and French which he speaks equal to English.
Nemat’s academic qualifications include undergraduate degrees in International Business (in German) at CalState University Fullerton, and Near Eastern History and Middle Eastern Politics at the University of California Irvine.
He went on to work in retail banking, in two internet start-ups as customer service manager and as a web analysis German language specialist.
Remember, English is Nemat’s third language in which he is also pursuing his passion for creative fictional writing. He is currently completing a manuscript for his first novel “The Merchant of Gold Rice”.
Most interestingly, as an independent contractor to the US government, Nemat delivers graduate level seminars on Afghanistan to the military at various bases around the country. Cultural Intelligence training for US soldiers is “crucial because misunderstandings of Afghan culture by American soldiers have exacerbated the resurgence of the Taliban” says Nemat. “Culturally aware soldiers serve as a ‘force multiplier’ for their commanders in military terms” and reinforces the prime objective of the American government of “winning the hearts and minds” of the Afghan people.
I asked Nemat, why he chose to pursue a Masters degree in journalism at Harvard? Why embark on a career change at a time of declining media opportunities as newspapers downsize making journalism very competitive and rarely financially rewarding?
Simply, he found it no longer satisfying to work in commercial environments meeting sales and marketing targets. He offered words and phrases like ‘developing his creative thinking’, ‘influence’, ‘challenging ideas’, ‘thinking outside the box’, ‘perspectives’ and ‘policy making’; and wanting to apply his (not inconsiderable) skills to higher ideals born of his bi-cultural heritage and a growing awareness of purpose since participating in the military seminars. He also related a personal experience of post 9/11 discrimination for which he bears no ill-will.
“My reward is more than just monetary compensation or a sense of doing my patriotic duty as a citizen. I carry a strong sense of survivor’s guilt after safely escaping to a better life while my country-people still endure disease, hunger, opium addiction, refugee camps, terrorism, war, and abject poverty. This unrelenting thought is unsettling to me. That’s why I have pursued higher education and hope to use the power of knowledge to counter ignorance and extremism” Nemat writes.
Certainly, higher ideals and life purpose. A unique perspective. An extraordinary American citizen.
(500 words)
anita
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Testing 1,2,3,4....
This is Anita's blog, created 24 June 2008 whilst attending Harvard summer school, Cambridge Massachusetts.
Anita is from New Zealand and loves spending her summers in the US.
Her only complaint is the intensity of air conditioning in some buildings she cannot get used to-- both on a physical and ethical (ie environmentally conscious) level.
Why use your buildings like refrigerators in the summer and ovens in the winter?
Oh yes, 40 years ago New Zealand suffered incredible short term pain (for long term gain) by decimalizing EVERYTHING from their currency to all weights, measures and distances in one foul swoop! All subsequent generations of 10 fingered school children now only have to remember three numbers; 1, 10 and 100.
So Anita thinks in centimetres, kilometres, litres, kilograms and celsius.
But has become adept at conversion from imperial measures after the time she unwittingly agreed to a 20 mile hike in the Appalacians in 90 dgre Fahrenheit carrying 3 quarts of water, but neglecting to pack a 2 fluid ounce tube of SPF 30 with insect repellent.
This is Anita's very first post.
Anita is from New Zealand and loves spending her summers in the US.
Her only complaint is the intensity of air conditioning in some buildings she cannot get used to-- both on a physical and ethical (ie environmentally conscious) level.
Why use your buildings like refrigerators in the summer and ovens in the winter?
Oh yes, 40 years ago New Zealand suffered incredible short term pain (for long term gain) by decimalizing EVERYTHING from their currency to all weights, measures and distances in one foul swoop! All subsequent generations of 10 fingered school children now only have to remember three numbers; 1, 10 and 100.
So Anita thinks in centimetres, kilometres, litres, kilograms and celsius.
But has become adept at conversion from imperial measures after the time she unwittingly agreed to a 20 mile hike in the Appalacians in 90 dgre Fahrenheit carrying 3 quarts of water, but neglecting to pack a 2 fluid ounce tube of SPF 30 with insect repellent.
This is Anita's very first post.