Pt. 3 of 3

Even across the pond in Europe the BBC has no black people reporting news in front of the camera. There are black journalists that cover international news in the newspaper, blogs, and other media outlets but in front of the camera they are invisible. Faces that are relatable to people of color are like an extinct animal to the international television news channels like an animal I question that ever existed. BET is a network geared toward people of color and that is where African American television news journalist appears. Jeff Johnson recently went to Haiti after the disaster and covered the story for me this is the first time I had seen a black person cover an event outside of the borders of the United States. Long time news reporter Ed Gordon has become a staple on the network not just reporting on events going on in America but those that affect people of color around the globe. BET has taken the responsibility on reporting news stories on issues that are important to African Americans and others around the globe employing people of color to cover events on location outside of these borders. CNN and other major networks could take a cue from BET and trust that black television news reporters can go beyond the newsroom and report on stories of international concern. In this day and age people of color are willing and able to take on these international news stories just as their white counterparts are doing effectively.

Pt. 2 of 3

Is there mistrust or not enough faith in these people to cover news not just about American issues from a newsroom in Atlanta, in Washington D.C. or in front of a camera in New York? A station that has longed billed itself as the leader in news does not have much diversity in reporters covering news on a worldwide level. CNN is not the only news network that has an absence of African American news journalist. Even though African American’s have moved up in other positions in the newsroom there faces are behind the camera not for the world to view. Just has in many other industries the television news industry is dominated by white men. It seems as if in newsrooms not just in the U.S. but outside of our borders there is just enough room for one primary African American news anchor at a time.
Women news anchors are the majority in the television news business and even with that being a factor the number of African American women news journalist are still a small part of the workforce and also almost invisible in reporting news from an international view. CNN has more African American women anchors, reporters and correspondents then they do male. One of CNN’s most visible anchors is Soledad O’Brien and even though she is a prominent face on the network has spear headed shows such as “Black in America” and “Latino in America” here presence is mostly focuses on issues in the U.S. and she isn’t often seen reporting outside these borders. CNN international has a couple of African American women who are prominent on the network. They are Femi Oke who covers world weather and also host “Inside Africa” which gives global viewers a look into the economic, social, cultural affairs and trends in Africa. The other is Isha Sesay who is one of the anchors of CNN international show CNN Live. Even with these two women that work with CNN’s international networks they still are not seen reporting outside of the studio on world affairs.

Are there any African American news journalist that report outside the U.S. borders? Pt.1 of 3

CNN is an international news channel that covers a world of different races, cultures and backgrounds a person would think there would be more African American news journalist. Not just at CNN but on any of the major news channels in the United States there is no presence of African American news journalist covering major stories in the United States or abroad. This is very evident with the recent disaster in Haiti a country where most of the natives if not all are people of color. CNN sent reporters from all over there news office from Anderson Cooper to Dr. Sanjay Gupta but there was no sign of an African American journalist during the coverage of the earthquake. Not only are other reporters covering news on location on a worldwide scale they often have their own shows on the network. CNN has 7 African American male news anchors and correspondents out of the 24 male anchors and correspondents at the network. Don Lothian, T.J. Holmes, and Tony Harris are the only African American anchors at CNN all others are correspondents for politics, entertainment, or news issues. Since the emergence and election of President Barack Obama there now more correspondents and regular guest at the network to cover the business of the White house and the President’s activities which include Dan Lothian and Roland Martin who are both fairly newcomers to CNN. None of the African American male news anchors have their own show in such as their counter parts Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper nor do they cover news on international issues except from the newsroom. In an August 2007 issue of Ebony magazine CNN anchor Leon Harris recalled 9/11 when he was on the air when the planes hit producers asked him to go to Aaron Brown a white anchor at the station, “Then, the chairman of the company came down and said to me…, ‘Sit here and just be our back-up and cut-in guy’.

The need to globalize

Sometime as Americans we think its just us in the great big world and that alone we can stand. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you America but you're WRONG! Cellular company AT&T and computer giant Apple recognize that now with its need to continue to expand outside of the borders of the United States. With the growth of the product internationally surpassing that of the United States both company's especially Apple sees that and plans to continue growing. What's happening with Apple is happening with countries not just ones that began focus in the U.S. but to company's trying to break into the U.S. market. Everyone wants their piece of the market no matter where it comes from. In this day and age we all work together from our cellphone use, music, and the television shows we watch. We all are connected whether we recognize it or not.For example the NFL an American football league is even attempting to showcase the talents of there athletes by playing games in Europe. No longer are we the soloist country we have to as people and companies involve the world in what's going on in our global market. In every aspect of being American is entering the global culture.

Getting the message out

A lot of what I do as an event planner and promoter is about getting the word out to people. My job is a lot easier than it was five years ago when people in my field depended solely on tv and radio to reach our audience. Now only five years later the same people who were habding out flyers outside the club or running to radio to get an ad run are now sitting behind a computer. The internet is now where the word comes from and the internet has been a gift and a curse. Once something is about to happen it hitsthe internet and with the inventionof twitter it has now put a promoters jobinto the hands of the general public. Now we can see peoples response to what is happening or where they plan on partying in an instant. Facebook was the way to get feedback before by sending out invites that people at first responded to but now merely look past because of the number of events filling their mailbox daily. Even with Facebook a person clicking the "attending" tab didn't always mean that they were coming. Everyday as this form of media advances and people find new ways to get the word out and gauge people response it makes our job a little easier. But on the flip side if your not getting that response or a bad review its not in your hands to try to curb the idea a promoter just has to take it. Getting the message out is easier now it just depends on what message the people want to take.

Our excess goes abroad

Americans are notorious for our excess no matter what the product is we want it bigger and better. we love to out do our neighbors and compete to show who's on top. One of my favorite over the top reality shows "My Super Sweet 16" has now taken Americas excess abroad. This reality show goes into a 16 year old's life to see how they can throw the biggest and best party of the year. Usually at a hefty tag to their parents along with a brand new car or two at the end. MTV plans on starting production in one of the most wealthiest and extravagant places on the globe, Mumbai. So now another side of the world can take a peek into the lives of the rich in awe at these expensive birthday parties. America's influence on television is felt all around the globe especially networks such as MTV. This forms attitudes about wealth and especially how Americans view it and the rest of the world watches some in awe and some in envy.

Whats all the buzz about?

After attending a conference today here at NSU I have come to the conclusion without a buzz you're nothing! No matter if it's trying to get a job or trying to keep a job in this industry a person has to be connectd and whatever project that's being worked has to be lookied at as the most important thing EVER. Social media fuels that need to have a buzz. Scial networking gives an outside look at how large your network is or how valuable the people in your network are to your field. Especially in my field of event palnning and marketing it's all in how many people come out to an event or at least hear about it. It's all in who you know and more importantly how you appear to people online and in person. Without a buzz nobody can hear you in this industry. People want to kno whats's going on and how they can be a part of the next biggest thing and that's my job. So, whatever I do i try to create a buzz around the event no matter how much time I have or who I'm working with.

What could I do with money?

Being a college student involves money or the lack there of whether our parents, professors or other older adults think. Nothing in life is free especially this education college students choose to embark on when they decide to enroll in a college or university. Of course tuition fees are increasing and books that are rarely used by the teacher cost us hundreds of dollars but there a lot of other things that cost but parents will not pay for. Like eating out for friends birthdays or other special events. The real cost comes in the party not just one party but the party of college. Let's add in the alcohol,drugs (not any hard drugs), and any other cost involved in living the "college life." College is not cheap and it doesn't hurt to have a little padding in your pocket. Some older people say this is when you are supposed to struggle but I beg to disagree. So when the question was asked in class "if you had millions of dollars, what would you do?" My answer to that is pay these student loans and then party like there's no tomorrow. Hey, it is college!!!!

How do they think of us?

I never thought about what people thought about "us" until I was at this years past Super Bowl. A foreign salesman spoke about people in the United States buying habits. He said "Americans you like to borrow things and bring them back". at first I paid the comment no attention but it still lingers in my mind. Is this what some people think of us abroad or is this just on salesman in a luxury department store just rambling. When I meet people especially from other universities in the area Hampton University and Old Domninion University at some point I ask them what they think about me being a student at NSU. Usaually their comments are negative and usally are not true especially from the HU students. That's what they think about "us" not just myself but any student they come in contact with from NSU. It's not fair but I think certain things about them to some things are true but a lot of the times I learn something that I didnt expectfrom them. So what people think about "us" really doesn't matter whether its "us" as Americans or "us" as students it's a lot of misconceptions that need to be straightened out.


All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
-Michael Jackson

On to the next one

Life is about changing and improving on what is already here. That's where the diffusion of innovation comes into play. Every time something is thought of someone immediately thinks of an idea to do it better or spread the idea to more people. Just look at the idea of twitter at first many of my friends weren't on to this graet new innovation of social networking. As time went on though and many of them converted once they recognized many of our friends and celebrities hopping on the twitter wave. Twitter proveed to have a relative advantage over the previous form of social networking which was Facebook and prior to that Myspace. Twitter now proved to be the outlet for ideas and a peek into a persons thoughts and ideas. The new outlet twitter was less complex and allowed you to pick who you wanted to listen to and hear their opinion. The prior social networks had gotten overwhelming and people started to shy away and find a new way to network. I guess that's life as rapper Jay Z would say "on to the next one".

Hip Hop Saved My Life

Hip hop music has been a life line that has spread from the streets of New York City now to millions worldwide. Many look has it has pure entertainment merely just another genre of music who's time will surely come to past. Hip hop to many rappers heard and unheard has become a savior from the embattled streets of Compton to the cutting edge city of Tokyo. Hip has spread now more than ever because of the internet and other new forms of media. Still, hip hop is saving lives it's helping people get out of impovershed situations and move up in the world. hip hop is feeding people and helping people not just here in America but anywhere that it can be heard. Hip Hop artist Wyclef Jean led the effort in Haiti relief after the recent earthquake and was followed by prominent figures in the hip hop community. the beauty in the music that it can happen for anyone from a Jay Z growing up in Brooklyn's notorious Marcy projects to Slick Rick a hip hop legend from London, England.

Put on another beat and got back to the mission
To get his momma out the hood
Put her somewhere in the woods
Keep his lady looking good
Have her rolling like she should
Show his homies there's a way
Other than that flipping Yay
Bail his homie outta jail
Put a lawyer on his case
-Lupe Fiasco