meet the pros: final project

As each generation grows older we seem to lose sight of what's important in life. The media has conducted itself to adapt to the times. Every day under reported news goes unnoticed while entertainment news keeps everyone in a frenzy. It so easy to ignore an international crisis when you aren't in that country; yet people aren't even aware of what goes on in the United States! Recently I attended a seminar for the Pulitzer Center, "Meet the Pros", a grant offering students the opportunity to report on international affairs. There I meet Allison Shelley and Melissa Turley, both previous winners of the Pulitzer Center. Shelley reported on women in Nepal and the practice of chuapdi in their culture. Turley reported on closing the gender gap in South Africa by supporting prostitution. And yet, I have never heard about this. Most people have no idea that every day women are being raped and are able to do nothing. Women are quarantined during their menstrual, and again, are able to do nothing. No one knows that events such as these continue to go on, we need to do better; considering that American women themselves lives in a male dominated culture, beyond that of constitutional debate. After all if the problem was completely resolved there would be no glass ceiling. Link to video with clips from "Meet the Pros" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuyRADNOiA0&feature=em-upload_owner Together we can make a difference, tell a friend to tell a friend. xx

WCC Hosts Pulitzer Center's "Meet the Pros" Event

    The Pulitzer Center is a well known and well established organization dedicated to the advancement and betterment of journalism and journalists. On April 25th 2013 Westchester Community College hosted the Pulitzer Center’s “Meet the Pros” event. In which, students had the opportunity to watch presentations by professional journalists. Students were additionally given the opportunity to interact directly with these speakers via a question and answer period. Specifically, those presenting were Allison Shelley, a well established photo-journalist, and Melissa Turley, the 2012 student fellow from George Washington University. They both spoke at length about journalism, the Pulitzer Center, the various programs they have been involved in and the center offers, and their experiences as well. They also granted deep and personal insight to the students via the question and answer period. After the presentation, students of Professor Luther’s Multimedia Journalism class had the chance to interview the presenters, as well as staff and students involved with and attending the event. This media is chronicled in the small video linked below.

VIDEO HERE

If you are further interested in the event or the Pulitzer Center see the relevant links below.

Pulitzer Center Website - http://pulitzercenter.org/

Allison Shelley - http://pulitzercenter.org/people/allison-shelley

Melissa Turley - http://pulitzercenter.org/people/melissa-turley

A Parallel Experience During the Cuban Missile Crisis

In today’s world, we constantly hear about the prospect of nuclear attacks.  The nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran are always talked about on the news and the potential for war is higher than ever.  While we don’t live in perpetual fear, the possibility of a nuclear bomb being launched at the United States is at the back of our minds. 

Only two nuclear bombs have ever been used.  During World War II, the United States dropped these bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively ending the war.  The damage to the people and the cities themselves was catastrophic. 

While nuclear weapons have not been used since, there have been many tense periods in history in which the threat of a nuclear attack strongly existed.  None of these were scarier than the Cuban Missile Crisis.  For thirteen days in October of 1962, the Soviet Union had nuclear missiles positioned on the island of Cuba, aimed at the United States.  Citizens of the US and Cuba were terrified that a nuclear war might start between the two countries and the Soviet Union, culminating in the death of millions of people.

Living through the Cuban Missile Crisis was stressful enough, but it was even more so for Rita Kalish and Georgina Pallerols Thompson.  Rita went into labor on October 27, 1962, and gave birth to her daughter Janet one day later, the last day of the Crisis.  Georgina gave birth to her daughter Alicia one day later.  Coincidentally, Janet and Alicia met at Hamilton College and remain close friends to this day.  Rita and Georgina met and their daughters’ graduation, and spoke about their similar circumstances 21 years earlier that occurred 1500 miles apart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVCIX4iwLQQ&feature=youtu.be

This here is a video I created for the MMJ class on Meet the Pros.

During the spring semester at Westchester Community College, there was an event called "Meet the Pros" where to great journalists named Melissa Turley and Allison Shelley were there to explain their experience on what they saw visiting the countries that they did and how it impacted them in thoughtful ways and yet sad. I found it really cool.

http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/Westchester-Community-College-Allison-Shelley-Melissa-Turley-Nepal-Chaupadi-South-Africa-Gender-Equality-Sexuality

http://pulitzercenter.org/people/melissa-turley

http://pulitzercenter.org/people/allison-shelley

Meet The Pros: International Reporting on Women and Children in Crisis

On April 25^th, 2013, Westchester Community College hosted a conference put on by the Pulitzer Center called Meet The Pros. Meet The Pros featured two journalists; Melissa Turley, a former student fellow from George Washington University, and Allison Shelley, a photojournalist. Both women traveled across the globe to report on women and children in situations of crisis.

We here at Westchester Community College appreciate them taking the time to come and present their stories.

Meet the Pros: International Reporting Stories

 On Thursday April 25th, I attended the annual Meet the Pros event at Westchester Community College. And there spoke Melissa Turley and Allison Shelley about women's and children's crisis in other countries. Melissa is a student reporter that went to Africa to cover a story on women's rights and Allison Shelly went to India, and Nepal to cover a story on chaupadi. Which were both very interesting topics.

If you want to learn more: 
http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/Westchester-Community-College-Allison-Shelley-Melissa-Turley-Nepal-Chaupadi-South-Africa-Gender-Equality-Sexuality

After Thought of the Pulitzer Experience

Pulitzer is a program that allows young, enthusiastic students to go out and explore the under reported news around the the world. Some stories have been heard of but luckily in our own Westchester Community College "Meet the Pros" students alike were allowed to take a look at the crisis going on in Haiti, India, Nepal, and Africa.

Allison Shelley and Melissa Turley, have done reports that are informative and instructive as to what people can do to make a difference. Professor Eric Luther of Westchester Community College shared with everyone how important it is to stay informed with international crisis. This event sparked interest in many students, at the very least created a bit of curiosity. Professor Luther was interviews briefly on how people should care. He makes a point hat there are just too many things to care about in this world. Journalists have to do the hardest job and that is to find a connection between their story and the people reading it. 

For individuals that would like to be a journalist, Professor Luther tats "You need to be curious, dependable, and interested." If you feel you possess all those qualities then journalism is the career for you.

Devon thinks she's ready for the challenge. As Devon begins to answer more and more questions of her soon to be journey, she becomes nervous and anxious. Almost as if she had a realization of how much research and preparation is needed in order to have a successful visit to Ireland and take notes. She was humble, grateful, and just a bundle of joy to speak with, especially when it comes to things she is passionate about. As Devon prepares herself to go to Ireland the members of Pulitzer Organization are patiently waiting  to hear, view, and read of her experience. 

Pultizer- http://pulitzercenter.org/

Allison in Nepal- http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/nepal-chaupadi-women-religion-periods-reproductive-health-allison-shelley-picture-show

Melissa Turley- http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/south-africa-gender-inequality-womens-rights-sexual-acceptance