Latest Entryby First Take Dec 13, 2008 Videos Leave a comment
These are the student’s stories produced and taped at BCAT Studios in Brooklyn. This video showcases the work that NYABJ’s student reporters and producers completed in 2008’s Fall Journalism Workshop.
by apruitt Oct 25, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a comment
By Leila Brown
Darius Walker, the New York bureau chief for CNN, fell in love with broadcast journalism when he started his career at his college radio station.
“I always had a passion for history, geography, and writing,” Walker said, speaking to students in NYABJ’s High School Journalism Workshop at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus.
Darius followed his passion for journalism after graduating from Northeastern University. He logged tapes at a commercial radio station and eventually worked his way up to a producer position.
A Boston native and a self-described geek growing up, Darius now overseas a team of 105 people across the Northeast, from Maine to Indiana. After he left Boston, Darius worked in New York City for ABC News, where he produced television shows including Nightline.
It wasn’t until Darius moved to Atlanta that he got his first job in management. He then moved to Washington D.C. and returned to New York to work for CNN about a year ago.
“Follow your passion,” Darius told the students.
by fromain Oct 25, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a comment
By Felicia Romain, Leila Brown and Marlon Brown
(Manhattan) At the Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller Plaza, popular Dora The Explorer debuted on the Wii home video game system to scores of enthusiastic kids.
Kids and parents were invited for a sneak peek and hands-on play with the game Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves The Snow Princess. The event was such an attraction that passerbys had the opportunity to take photos of kids playing the games and lining up to buy the product. Kids were squealing in delight that they had the chance to take pictures with costumed Dora and Diego characters.
In addition, every kid was entitled to go home with a gift and an opportunity to win a variety of prizes.
“We wanted to create a video game that kids would enjoy with their favorite characters from Dora the Explorer. We are very proud of our work and we think that lots of kids will enjoy this game very much,” said Carissa Wendkos, a publisher at 2K games.
“Parents like to play games with their kids, whether it is helping Dora shake something from a tree, or jumping up and down together,” she said.
The game is geared towards children ages 3 to 5 years old. Since the game is on the Wii, it’s made to improve motor skills for children, while being fun and educational at the same time. All of the kids had a blast as played games, while others checked out the cool graphics and jumped around to Diego’s theme song.
Jordana Drell, Nickelodeon’s director of preschool games, said parents will love the game too because it’s non-violent and educational.
“I love this game!”, said four year-old Alexa Campbell. “I love playing as Dora and Boots sliding in the snow.”
“ I enjoy helping the lil children when they watch Dora and (meet) new characters,” said Regan, who was the voice of the character Boots for 18 months.
by Tyra Francis Oct 25, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a comment
By Tyra Frances, Tiayana Logan, Edwina Bien-Aime
(Harlem, New York) At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Harlem, New Yorkers turned in their guns for cash and a good cause in the city’s first Cash for Guns program Saturday.
About 60 people were dropping off their guns at Mt. Carmel for a variety of reasons, including to make the streets safer, pick up some extra money or get rid of an old gun. “There are no age limitations to bringing in an uninsured gun and there are no questions asked,” a police officer said.
The gun donors received a $200 gift card per gun.
“I found this program beneficial because it will help the crime rate (decline) in New York City,” said John Defalco, a 43-year-old Long Island resident, noting he learned about the program from Fox News.
His pistol belonged to his close friend’s deceased brother. Defalco said he not only turned in the gun for the money but for his own safety.
Leon, a 35 year old from Harlem, turned in a gun he held for a year because he didn’t know what to do with it anymore. “I mean who wouldn’t want money?,” he said. He added that he didn’t believe the program was that beneficial for society.
“The younger generation wouldn’t come and turn in the guns because they are still using (them). The only people who will turn in their guns are the older generation; the people not using it,” Leon said. He said that since he turned in his gun he was afraid the police might remember his face and harass him.
Meanwhile, an officer nearby said it didn’t matter how old you are because it’s a good cause.
by Nadya Stevens Oct 25, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a comment
(Prospect Park, Brooklyn) Known for its scenic views, Prospect Park held a scarier theme Saturday for the upcoming Halloween. Despite the windy weather, the park was lively with The Monster Mash song blasting for its annual Halloween Haunted Walk and Carnival.
One of the hundreds of parents at the park with their children, Rebecca says that this event is great for kicking off the holiday. “We like Halloween, so we’re down here to give the kids more nature,” she said as she pulled her tot from an open brook in the park. “We enjoy the park.”
Children dressed as Batman and Princesses walked through the walk where ghouls and goblins bolted from out the blue ready to surprise any little victims brave enough to walk the path. But these spooks were not the typical malevolent ones, they were all volunteers hoping to make the best of everyone’s Halloween this year.
“I just want to have fun scaring the pants of little kids,” one volunteer said jokingly. He added, “Kids need to enjoy their Halloween and that’s what I’m volunteering for.”
“This is my first Halloween at Prospect Park, and I’m having a great time,” said one mom. She was with her three kids, after getting their faces painted. Candy bags were everywhere to build up the spirit of Halloween.
“I love candy, and I like getting my face painted,” said one boy.
In addition to the face painting, and the haunted walk, there was also a scary story time at the Lefferts Historic House for anyone who was interested.
Among the masses of volunteers, were young female missionaries. They came from around the country and helped out by making arts and crafts with hundreds of children from the New York City area.
“I love it. It increases my appreciation for Brooklyn since I am not from here,” said a nun who was part of the missionary.
Indeed, the other missionaries also said they loved volunteering at the festival and were appreciative they had the ability to help out.
Halloween season isn’t the only time the sisters participate; they also do volunteer work every Wednesday in the park. The missionaries are in New York for a year and a half as part of a missionary program at their churches. One volunteer from Ohio was very excited to bet there.
Other activities that took place at Prospect Park include the Haunted Walk, Haunted Carnival and Haunted Carousel.
The families at the park highly anticipated the event of the day, which was the Haunted Walk. Volunteers in costume as vampires, zombies, and creepy old men (strikingly similar to the ones commonly seen in Scooby-Doo mysteries) were also excited about the event. “It doesn’t feel like Halloween until you scare the pants off some one” said one volunteer dressed as a dead colonel. “So yea, I’m here to join the festive fun… and scare little kids,” he said before scurrying off to scare a child dressed as a pumpkin. At the carnival, children were giggling and excited about getting their faces painted. “It’s fun to see friends and to see the different costumes” said Malaika Rumeka, 9. Rumeka’s best friend, Grace Kurkqood, 9, agreed stating, “It’s more festive.”
There were many kids running around in costumes enjoying themselves, as well as adults, including Daniel and Amanda who were having a blast with their mother Laura.
Daniel had so much fun he said he didn’t remember what he was playing.
“I had fun hitting the cans and playing Frisbee,” said Amanda.
By Cyndi Yahya, Nadya Stevens, Kimberley Banjoko
by apruitt Oct 4, 2008 Speakers, Uncategorized Leave a comment
By Kimberley Banjoko
As vice president of ESPN Magazine, an author of a new book set for release next year and a top executive at ESPN station, Roxanne Jones may seem to have a charmed career.
“As an African American female, I have felt that people looked at me thinking; What is she doing here? Even at ESPN,” Jones said, speaking at NYABJ’s High School Journalism Workshop at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus.
But, luck alone didn’t propel Jones’ professional career as a journalist, especially considering where she came from, where she’s been and where she’s headed.
Jones was raised by a single mother and grew up poor with her two siblings in Philadelphia.
“The only people who truly believed in me were a few librarians and my mother,” she said, adding that everyone else asked “Girl, what (you) doing?”
Jones knew what she was doing. One of Jones’ notable jobs was at the Philadelphia Inquirer where she won numerous awards. Jones jumped to other papers until finally stationing herself at ESPN. Having developed a reputation as a hard-working journalist producing stellar work, she was recruited by ESPN to help launch the new magazine.
At first, I was a bit (skeptical) but since it was to be fun and exciting, I took …the offer,” she said.
Despite the fact that Jones is the most high profile woman at ESPN, her initial ambition wasn’t to be a sports journalist. She originally studied broadcast journalism at Penn State, got a tv gig. I “didn’t like it,” Jones said.
So she switched to newspapers covering politics. Jones got into sports reporting when she was promoted to assistant sports editor at the Daily News. From there, she was welcomed into a team of journalists working to develop ESPN Magazine.
by Jasmine Tronchin, Nadya Stevens, Tallon Taylor Nov 23, 2007 Community Leave a comment
If you are going to check out a book or do some research at the brooklyn public library you’ll notice that the building is undergoing some major changes. There has been an expansion at the brooklyn public library located on grand army plaza. Read More..
by Jordan Temple Nov 17, 2007 Community Leave a comment
College is a time for growth mentally as well as socially. It is very important that College is an option for young people after high school, as many fall by the wayside. The reality is that we do not know all of the answers, and that we are not those perfect people that our parents may see. Our generation, generation X is overstimulated, over-indulgent, overeating, and just over-the-top. Many kids are not graduating school on time, which made President Bush institute the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. The Act puts pressure on individual schools for overall academic achievement, and makes sure that there are well-educated teachers in the classroom as well as updated textbooks among other things. Read More..
by Nikki Newton Nov 10, 2007 Speakers Leave a comment
On November 3rd, CBS news anchor and correspondent Russ Mitchell was invited to speak to the young teenagers of the New York Association of Black Journalists. Anchor of both the Sunday edition of the CBS Evening News and The Early Show, Russ Mitchell grew up in St. Louis, Missouri to a loving and supportive family. Interested in politics and writing, he decided to pursue Read More..
by Nikki Newton Oct 27, 2007 Speakers Leave a comment
Graduate of the renowned Harvard University, Diane Cardwell graced her presence with the young, aspiring journalists of NYAJB on Saturday, October 20 th.
Currently the City Hall Borough Chief of the prestigious New York Times, she discussed her trials and tribulations of her journalism career. Growing up in a struggling middle class family residing on the Upper West Side, she was destined to fulfill her father’s dream of becoming a doctor. Nevertheless, she decided Read More..