Before Olivia reveals her deepest secret to those she feels she can trust, she first likes to play a game of “What If.”
“What if I had one leg?” she asks. “Would you still be my friend?”
“What if I was missing all of my teeth,” she continues cautiously.
“What if I never combed my hair?”
And finally, she pauses for a moment and then asks the one question that is always on her mind.
“What if I had AIDS? Would you still be my friend?”
Full Story here.
Ismail Watkins was on his way to see his son when he was shot in the neck.
He was walking down the front porch steps of a house near Lincoln Road in Northeast Washington, D.C., when a guy came up behind him and said, “Give it up.”
Watkins, who thought it was a cousin or friend joking with him, started to turn around but did not get very far before he heard and felt the gunshot. His whole back locked up.
“I felt like I was in the matrix,” Watkins said. “And I got real numb.”
He remembers everything that happened as he was laid on the ground. A friend’s father took off his shirt and pressed it tightly against his skin to stop the blood gushing from Watkin’s neck. His cousin, who was with him, kept telling him “you gon’ be alright.”
Full story can be found here.
Maps are such a useful and cool way to explain trends, and with so much new technology, maps are cooler and more unique than they have ever been. Business Insider released this compilation of 15 maps that explain some current world trends. And while I wonder about the criteria used for the creation of some of these maps this is still a really neat and relevant way to view our world.
Take a look! via Business Insider
As a print journalism major with minimal multimedia experience, I didn’t realize how much work would go into making a short, 3 minute video. One of the hardest parts was coming up with an idea for my project; unlike a print story, I had to think about how to get good video, audio and multiple photos with the equipment I had, which consisted of a five-year old Kodak handheld recorder, a semi-functional point and shoot camera, and a cell phone. And then there was the (unforseen) difficult task of getting the footage off of those devices and into a suitable format for editing on an Apple computer. And this is all before I even began with the editing process, which was a whole other battle by itself.
However, I found the more I practiced with all of the software, whether it was FinalCut (hard), Windows Movie Maker, iMovie or Audacity, the easier it became. And now that it is all over, I found that I actually really enjoy doing this. Although I do not want to be a reporter, with whatever I decide to do in communications I know these skills will be invaluable. Already on several job requirements I am seeing Adobe and video editing skills needed. Now that I know the basics of multimedia, I can continue to make video, audio and photo projects and keep building my skills. And an added bonus: my dad is now into video editing and bought FinalCut for our home computer! Now he and I can work on some great projects together!
For a link to my first video click here or the picture below.
For a link to my story please click below
While looking at bios of Knight News Challenge winners, I came across one of the creator of this company.
Local Data is a tool that can help businesses, community leaders and government agencies simplify the process of data collection. Instead of using traditional, handwritten tools, Local Data simplifies this process through technology. Through its app, Local Data allows users to collect data in the field and use it in a way that can help their business or group. The idea is that users can bypass ‘data experts’ and collect and visualize data easily from their own phones.
Once launched, Local Data can be an essential tool for journalists looking for quick and easy ways to collect and visualize data for their readers. Most news organizations make use of info graphics to visualize statistics, especially with the growth of digital news media. Now, as journalists in the field are collecting data for their stories, they will have a simple way on their phones to input and visualize that data in order to quickly spot any trends. An app makes it easy for on-the-go journalists to make sense of the information they gather in the field and send it back to their editors. For example, during this past presidential election, as journalists all over the country were recording trends at voting polls, this app would have assisted them in inputting data they were collecting and visualizing it so they could see any relevant trends that might develop into stories.
For more information please visit: localdata.com
On Friday, (September 28) I attended the convocation ceremony to hear U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, speak. As a young black women it is so inspiring to hear the stories and the wisdom of successful black women, whoever they may be, and Susan Rice did not disappoint. Aside from welcoming the Howard class of 2016, Rice delivered a message of encouragement and unity, as well as a call to action. She spoke of the legacy of the Joshua generation, and our role as the young generation of today. I’m so glad I got the chance to hear this wonderful woman share her knowledge with us. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the day:
“Success should never be an excuse for complacency.”
“Whatever path you choose, set the bar high.”
“Change comes when each and every one of us lifts our voices and acts.”
“Today, we’ve got unfinished work to do to expand the reach of democracy, human rights and human dignity around the world. “
” Go forth, make the world safer, more just, more free.”
“Today, nothing is impossible.”
Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett’s recent blog post about White House and State Department efforts to empower women and girls in the United States and abroad. These are important initiatives that address women’s participation in public life and human trafficking, which disproportionately affects women. This week has been an eventful one for foreign policy hounds, as the 2012 presidential election agenda focuses in on foreign policy issues.
American Embassy Design via The Atlantic
In light of the recent kilings of U.S. diplomats in Libya, an interesting piece on the importance of U.S. embassy design. What I found most intriguing is how embassy architecture is used to promote messages of strong American presence in different nations.
Amber I. Ravenell 