Thursday, July 16, 2015

Cultural Visit to Sugarcreek

Cultural Visit to Sugarcreek
By Inna Sukhenko

Now I understand that it was necessary for me to cover Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern part of the USA to realize what I am and where I live. I had to cover 9,000 km to understand the people who live within 200 km in my region.
Click on the link to read the entire story on her blog.


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Contentment- City of Black Diamonds



By Kenneth "Cutrite" Moeng

John Winnenberg
Mary Rogus tells me, "Well you will definitely see folks doing a cookout (Braai) because it’s Saturday, sunny and no rain. This cause and effect did the trick for us as we headed north east along the contours of Wayne National Forest, passing The Plains with clouds sporadically cast over the sunny skies.
Where are we heading, we heading to study the history of The Cities of Black Diamonds in Nelsonville. This is no ordinary history with its cities lying swiftly together from Logan (Hocking County), Athens (Athens County) and New Lexington (Perry County). John Winnenberg (Member of School Board of Southern Local School District) was spot on when tour guiding us through the different cities of black diamond.
In what many today would consider differently, coal was named “Black Diamonds” in the 1900s, based on its value and employment creation. The miners had had enough trying to get rid of having to pay more for little, hence the formation of what is now known today as United Mine workers of America.Yes it started here at Ohio, Nelsonville, The Cities of Black Diamonds.
 
The mines brought about any sort of business from baber to rhapsody shops, music and more. John and his partners are working hard to preserve the little or what is left of the history of The Little Cities of Black Diamonds. Being asked about existence of associations compared to now, he says that from the 70s and 80s the associations became less and less, but the Union still exists.

 

Wrong Turn


By Kenneth " Cutrite" Moeng

Google earth, route 33
Friday night the July 10th 2015, was an exciting, chilly and at times happy encounter, hence the wrong turn.

We veered off the Route 33 East Bound, because looking at the time, we would have never made it on time to the Jazz Festival and be able to bring back the University Vehicle on time.
This agreed we searched for a way to turn back to Athens and the rain was not making it easy for us.
After an array of turns in what movie makers would call the wrong turn, we ultimately got into Route 33 West Bound and i can tell you that we passed a number of things. A cemetery is one, houses that looks deserted based on location, roads that are steep and dark.
But looking back, i remember that we even had cars that passed us at some point and this is after we were saved by Mr. Bruce with his backup for us to charge and reload Google maps.
Umar
Most of the people in the Bus, were excited, especially with the police encounter, the knocking on the window and the almost slow movement of the car. After all was done, we arrived safely at campus and what a feeling it was.
The Right Turn
On Google earth it shows that where we turned and just before parking, we should have done a 360 Degree turn into Route 33 West Bound .The Police came in handy as the car was apparently driving slow and escorted the crew.

Friday, July 10, 2015

A Royalty Week


A ROYALTY WEEK

By Kenneth "Cutrite" Moeng

It must be a part of some modernization theory or the extent of a fairly structured participatory channel that gets a number of us in this years SUSI 2015 to meet and express our own media affinities on the backdrop of our own traditions.
CI7IeKuVEAAKroX
Kenneth, George & Patricio
Whatever you perceive it to be, this has to be the greatest moment in all of our lives, having flown for hours and ultimately graciously received by Dr. Yusuf Kalyango Jr., Ph.D, who has made our own glee a pleasure to treasure.
Starting from Columbus to Ohio, though sometimes with bits of bumps here and there, the 1 and half hour journey was sweet along with fruity company and a delight of smiles from Program Assistants.What a reception indeed, not just of people, the long tree filled hills and greenness amidst the rainy clouds was just marvel, like an angelic movie.
  
11703095_10152829192010938_8512876901414354244_n
Anna,Irfan & Huyen
The next 3 three days from arrival were filled with a bit of too much to eat and little to cope with time changes and sleep, but no one chose to oversleep. Sporadic visits with glimpse of favourite squirrels to the beauty of the University, we could not stop going either downtown to uptown, from class orientations, restaurants, selfies and ultimately closing it with excellent braai by Bob and Mary.

11692482_10153559552518319_2139427616467335129_n
Fireworks
This couldn’t just end here as we experienced the most sort after fireworks at NelsonVille County ( Thunder in the Valley Fireworks). The Program Assistants spot-on with timely pickups and all, at the end e were now ready to start the hectic schedules.






Dinner for 2
 For a moment it seemed like a daze;..
11667449_119845338353201_2375095452170194670_n
Kenneth & Inna
....an expression for pure flawlessness you might say
as the dinner with Professors, Deans, Doctors and Staff at Ohio University was in their element to officially welcome #SUSI2015
Every moment every discussion, meaningful as we get close to the meat of things, by meeting our research partners.
Speaking to Lorna J Edmonds, (Vice Provost of Global Afairs, Ohio University). I tell her how she almost reduced med to tears by expressing @djcutrite's poem and making an analogy for the speech, i came to know also that it took her to heart. The appealing thing about the dinner was in that the evening was about SUSI 2015 Scholars and nothing was left to impress upon.
From the poem titled " Sundry Minds" to the escort of the Prime Minister ( below) , the team was ready for the start of the week.
Patricio, Unnun & Kenneth

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Online Exclusive: Sara Namusoga and Betty Tsakarestou pick what they like and dislike about their media systems

By Huyen Nguyen

Both lectures from Sara Namusoga, Uganda, and Betty Tsakarestou, Greece for the International Mass Media class are loaded with facts and figures about their media systems. For this short entry, we ask them to provide us with one thing they like and one thing they dislike about the media at home.

According to Namusoga, a current PhD fellow and a former editor of the Ugandan Parliament and various online newspapers, the most interesting thing about Ugandan media is the creative public communication channels, such as the Minibuzz.

On the other hand, she dislikes the government's hiding information from the people. (Click to hear her voice)
 

Professor Tsakarestou, a senior lecturer at Panteion University, also said that she dislikes the practice of censorship, plus the irresponsibility of the media, plus the lack of local perspective.

However, she is very much interested in the op-ed articles and the use of social media as alternative channels. (Click to hear her voice)



Following are some great moments during the two scholars' presentations.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Shwe Sin Khaing and Bruce Lui talk about their SUSI lectures

By Huyen Nguyen

Shwe Sin Khaing, from Myanmar, and Bruce Lui, from Hong Kong gave the very first SUSI lectures for the International Media Class on Tuesday afternoon, showing a lot of passions.
The audience, including SUSI fellows, were thrilled at their unfolding media situations in Myanmar (Burma) and Hong Kong, especially around censorship issues.
Khaing, who has been working in the field for 8 years, was worried but also excited about delivering the lecture for American students.
She was thankful for being encouraged to share the changes in her country's media system before and after the 2012 reform. (Click to hear her voice)


According to Khaing, the political culture in Myanmar has significantly changed after the reform, which steered the country towards a more democratic direction. As a consequence, the first real, independent journalism school was launched on May, 2014, called Myanmar Journalism Institute.
Bruce Lui transformed his academic lecture into a very thrilled speech about how Hong Kong journalists fought for the freedom of press. The experienced journalist unveiled many shocking, bloody events suppressed by the media due to direct commands from the authorities via media bosses.
Bruce said he believed journalists from different media systems can co-develop solutions for media issues which happened in each other's country. (Click to hear his voice)

Monday, July 6, 2015

Small Talks with SUSI scholars on Video Shooting Day

By Huyen Nguyen


Surprisingly, many SUSI scholars are not comfortable in front of the camera, because they are more often behind it. Therefore, small talks become very good ice-breakers. Here we recall some very nice stories besides the official video shots.

Home-made food is the best!
After three days, Shwe Sin Khaing, from Burma, started craving for home-made food, especially rice. Luckily, she saw a post on Facebook showcasing food from SUSI fellow Kenneth Moeng (nickname Ken), from Botswana. He was actually making his awesome Spaghetti Ala Botswana.

Spaghetti Ala Botswana, a special dish made by Kenneth Moeng. Photo taken from his Facebook post.  

Following a nice chat, Shwe Sin was invited to Apartment 607 for breakfast on the next day. This time, Govinda Pariyar, from Nepal, was the chef with his fantastic Khukura Ko Masu (Chicken Curry with Rice). "The food was so good. I am glad that they are cooking and inviting me for a meal," Khaing said.
Khaing also let us know that she had shopped enough groceries from Walmart to prepare a traditional fried rice dish. We believe that she would invite her fellows to try a taste very soon.
Similarly, Trung Bui, from Vietnam, has been very active in cooking for his roommates. He brought some instant noodles from home, and mixed it with vegetables, chickens and other ingredients in America. "It reminds me of my studying time in Russia. I cooked a lot," Bui said.
Other scholars who have planned to make food included Patricio Vasquez, from Chile. He told us that he was going to make Pineapple Pie for everyone to try.

Other food options for busy days
Half of the scholars would vote for a convenient, healthy diet with fresh fruits, yogurt, cheese, beans, and vegetables.
"I don't do cooking a lot," said professor Andrea Mino Viteri, from Ecuador. "I bought cereal bars, cheese, hams, some basic stuff for survival."
Sara Namusoga, from Uganda, had her first meal at Buffalo Wild Wing with a combo of mushroom and French fries. Not a big fan of meats, she went shopping for beans, veggies and cheese.

Greens was also the best option for Anna Lelik, a young journalism trainer from Kyrgyzstan. She had just had some salad for lunch before her video shooting schedule.
"I'm a big fan of hummus," she added. "In Kyrgyzstan, we have to prepare it ourselves, but here I can buy it at Walmart. It's kind of painful if I have to make hummus myself. The peas need up to 16 hours to absorb water before we can process it."
Coming from Athens, Greece, professor Betty Tsakarestou was not unfamiliar with American food. Coming to Athens, Ohio, she paid more attention to available healthy food options, especially organic foods, which is a "fast growing global movement."

Poetry night is up!
For Ken, Athens was such a muse. Creative works kept coming out of his mind, and he was really enthusiastic with having a poetry night in the upcoming days. Among his first poems was Sundry Minds. Click on the video to enjoy Ken's poem recited by himself.



Sundry Minds
Bloom so bright and kind in the morning like Athens
Through the day, silk into a colour of scent
Like rain from the milky sky upon these giggles
As sundry minds ponder the next drop.

Who is Who?
Just a few days, but SUSI scholars quickly recognized prominent features of their fellows. Professor Inna Sukhenko, from Ukraine, said she was very impressed by how fast roommate Andrea Mino Viteri can run.
"She makes everyone jog with her along the river, she always encourages us to do exercises," Sukhenko said.
Professor Viteri happily explained jogging would help a lot after days eating fast food like pizzas. "I'm surprised by the size of pizzas here. There are 16-piece pizza, and that's why we have to jog and gym," she said.

Professor Yan Lin would absolutely agree with her, because she also told us the size of food serving in America gave her an incentive to take a walk on the trail nearby.
Also, according to Sukhenko, Bruce Lui, from Hong Kong, was the one who can organize everyone, and Ken always made everyone laugh.


Saturday, July 4, 2015

Getting from Trung

Hello,

i'm Trung - new SUSI 2015 scholar.
Good luck to you... :)

Monday, May 11, 2015

YALI Connect Camps in Namibia Produce Innovative Project Proposals

By Kate Hiller

Fourteen young African leaders from six different countries have gathered here in Windhoek, Namibia to participate in the third and fourth YALI Connect Camps, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute for International Journalism.


The third Connect Camp is comprised of seven Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni and their mentees from Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia. The purpose of the Connect Camps is to invest in the next generation of African leaders through intensive executive leadership training, networking and skills building in order to prepare them to create social change in their respective communities by achieving the following goals:
  1. Give up to 160 young African leaders the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and network with U.S. and African resource experts and with each other during the eight YALI Connect Camps; to develop innovation strategies that build on their professional skills, engage in hands-on experience with low-bandwidth technologies, conduct community outreach, and build their capacity through mentoring, networking, and using strategic civic leadership for social change.

  2. Use a stimulating canvas model of leadership to develop skills in entrepreneurship and creating social change by engaging in five-days of facilitated interactive sub-group workshops, and fostering mentorship relationships between the Mandela Washington Fellow alumni and their chosen mentees for the Camp.

  3. Demonstrate some community-oriented enterprises using applied technology that supports innovation and collaboration in community development and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management.

  4. Develop leadership skills among delegates through mentoring relationships, between themselves, as well as with American and African facilitators.

  5. Provide participants with opportunities for face-to-face networking and to facilitate a collaborative, innovative project or projects that further YALI goals.

Unlike the YALI-MWF training programs, which take place at about 20 universities across the United States, the Connect Camps are being conducted as follow-on training workshops in four sub regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The first two camps were conducted in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in March, and the fifth and sixth camps will be in Cote d'Ivoire later this year.

From May 3-9, the third cohort of mentors and mentees invited to Namibia worked together to develop new social ventures using a comprehensive, iterative, one-page modeling tool based on the original "Lean Launch" business model canvas, and recrafted by camp facilitators as the "Venture Model Canvas." Camp participants used the poster-sized modeling tool to identify and hone their proposed new ventures value proposition for identified beneficiaries, to decide how the value was to be delivered and what was required for delivery. Participants also enumerated the fiscal, social and environmental costs, and benefits associated with the proposed venture.

The proposed ventures modeled during the camp encompassed a wide range of southern African start-ups:
  • "My Hostel, My Home, My Responsibility," a Namibia-based youth boarding school vandalism reduction program led by youth councils and geared toward reeducation and reintegration of vandals,
  • "The Green Machine," a mobile, youth-consciousness-raising program in a wheeled truck, traveling to Ethiopian primary schools with a program of competitive fun and education, all centered on recycling and greening the environment,
  • A university-based young women's engagement and empowerment entity working simultaneously in Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana,
  • A non-partisan Zambian consultancy focused on educating and engaging the electorate in the democratic process (initial emphasis on youth), and
  • A Botswanan youth employment service bringing together unemployed youth, educational institutions, and employers in an effort to improve needed skill sets to fill existing jobs in the modern workplace.

The participants practiced and presented pitches for the ventures to hypothetical new venture partners and funders. The audience for the final pitches included US Embassy representatives, an external evaluator, and local educators.

In addition to working with the Venture Model Canvas, participants also learned about community mapping through two representatives from the Humanitarian Open Street Map Team, Mikel Maron and Benson Wilder, visited Natures Way, a natural health clinic set up by a MWF, and a textile factory. A facilitator representing the Open Learning Exchange (OLE) from Ghana, West Africa, Kofi Essien, also presented to the group via Skype about his work with low-bandwidth technology in the education sector. Educators from Ohio University, Faith Knutsen and Judy Millesen, spent five days of the training with the participants facilitating on various topics including innovation and leadership for social change and much more.

The young professionals and future leaders have forged friendships across borders that will keep them together for years to come.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

International Journalist visits Ohio University, studies journalism ethics

By Cassie Kelly

Romina Spina giving a lecture at the E.W. Scripps School
of Journalism. Photo courtesy of Yusuf Kalyango

Visiting international journalist, Romina Spina, says she has found many differences in the American journalism industry compared to her experiences in Europe. Ms. Spina visited Ohio University, courtesy of the Institute for International Journalism, in late March to early April 2015. Spina is a fellow of the Transatlantic Media Fellowship with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which has given her an opportunity to visit over 25 cities in the United States for three months. Along the way, she is researching journalism ethics and the role of the public editor, or ombudsman, in a newsroom, as well as globalization and economic development in the United States.
“It seemed like the perfect opportunity to see places that typical journalists wouldn’t coming to America,” Spina said. “It’s a different world with all walks of life.”
Spina is a freelance correspondent in Rome for a Swiss daily newspaper known as Neue Zürcher Zeitung, with a circulation of about 100,000 readers. About 10 percent of the population in Switzerland are of Italian decent. So, when a position opened up for a freelance correspondent in Rome, she ceased the opportunity. She covers business and politics as well as other interesting events happening in Italy.
During her visit to Ohio University, she lectured in many journalism classes to discuss her views on ethics and also met with student leaders of publications. One of the many things that surprised her about the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism was that the students are 85 percent female. She also was intrigued by the idea of pursuing an 'American Dream' to aim for a better future.  
“I am fascinated by the resilience and optimism that you can do things and that things can happen for you,” she said. “People in Italy tend not to focus on ‘all of that.’”

After some research, she has found many differences in the American journalism industry compared to her experiences in Europe. For one, in Italy, you have to take an exam to become a journalist, which entails studying their code of ethics.

For the remainder of her trip, she will be visiting Texas, California, Nebraska, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Washington D.C

Listen to her conversation with WOUB's Tom Hodson about her observations on American Journalism Ethics so far. 


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)