Voto Latino

The Emerging Journalists' Experience

“The schedule is very tight, there is not much time between sessions, but I knew this was to going to be something intense when I applied,” says Thomas Hedges, student at Colgate University in New York and one of the twenty five-scholars who participated in the "Investigative Journalism Workshop in memory of journalist David Halberstam."

David Halberstam dedicated over fifty years of his life to write about variety of subjects including politics, business and sports. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on the Vietnam War in 1964. He is well-known for his dedication to find the truth in every story he wrote and for supporting the young journalists. He died on April 23, 2007 in a car accident in California.

The intensive seven-day workshop took place at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT from June 8-14, 2008 and was sponsored by the Center for the Study of Responsive Law and other local supporters.


Ralph Nader, current independent candidate for the U.S. 2008 presidency, decided to honor the life and career of his boyhood friend, Halberstam by creating a journalism project. Nader wanted to give young journalists a small taste of the field with some of the top journalists in the country, including former ABC news reporter Jim Wooten and Pulitzer Prize winners Seymour Hersh and Patrick J. Sloyan among others.

David Burnham, co-director of the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) and Nader’s long-time friend says he felt motivated to participate in the workshop because he believes investigative journalism is a great tool for everybody.

“It is [the] holy guardian to democracy, without it you have an uninformed public,” says Burnham.

The idea started to develop last year when Nader and a group of supporters met for the first time in spring 2007 and started to elaborate. In a record time of six months of planning, the idea consolidated. At the beginning of 2008, Adam Tapley, organizer of new projects for Nader in Washington D.C. was selected as coordinator for the workshop. He recalls that the most difficult part was to obtain support from Halberstam’s family.

“They did not want to get involved because they wanted to focus on the project that they started last year ‘Teach of America’,” says Tapley.

Nevertheless, Halberstam’s colleagues, supporters, and long-time friends decided to continue with the project and changed the title of the workshop to, “In honor of David Halberstam.”

The program main focus was investigative journalism. Tapley says the workshop became more significant because it is a term that many people question and this was the work that Halberstam developed.

“In terms of Halberstam it gives connection to go the extra mile and try to get to the truth” says Tapley.

As the deadline approached, the workshop still lacked a director. Lance Tapley, freelance investigative and political writer for the Portland Phoenix was appointed for the job due to his experience in the field and his commitment to contribute with his long-time friend Nader. Adam Tapley says he did not expect to work with his father in the project, however, due to the limited timeline they did not have many options.

“We needed a journalistic director… and one that was willing to stay for a week, come here in a short notice and have the proper credentials,” says Adam Tapley.

Starting April 2008, the workshop’s organizers started sending information to schools across the United States to recruit students. Scholarships of 250 dollars were awarded to qualified students to pay registration. By May 17, 2008 about 100 applications were received and the election began. Students were chosen based on their journalistic work, aspiration and interest in the filed.

On Sunday June 8, 2008, the rising journalists arrived.

Mariana Stebbins, student at the University of Rio de Janeiro and University of Connecticut says she was glad to be part of the first generation of students in the one-week camp. The speakers for the workshop were her motivation to apply.

“When I saw the program I saw they were trying to get the top journalists and I thought to myself when else and where else could I have this opportunity in my life to meet them and engage this experience”, says Stebbins.

She adds that investigative journalism is important and it means to go below the surface.

“Investigative journalists should have the drive, as they [the panelists] say, 'if you turn one more stone you may find the answer you are looking for'.”

As the days went by, the workshop became more intense, and the daytime was not enough for the overloaded agenda. As a final project, students were required to write an article and post it in the journalism workshop website. For many of them their sleep time was reduced to less than five hours. Most of them tried to take as much advantage possible to meet the panelists and other fellows.

On Wednesday morning the group took a tour of The Hartford Courant, the largest newspaper in CT. They had the opportunity to attend a morning meeting with the newspaper’s staff. On Thursday they participated in the radio show for WNPR Where We Live, hosted by John Dankosky. The show was broadcasted live in the Fisk Room of Wesleyan University. On Saturday morning they watched and discussed two documentaries related to war.

Yazmin Khan, student of the University of Connecticut Stamford says if selected, she knew the workshop would have a great impact on her career. She says that journalists should have a good understanding of how society works.

“Investigative Journalism for me means being able to use my writing as a tool for social change and social justice, knowing how to pick all my indignation and be committed to find who is responsible of the wrongs made” says Khan.

She also believes that journalists should give voice to the voiceless and bring light to the shadows.

Rising journalists heard from other expert speakers such as Roberta Baskin, veteran journalist and Director for WJLA-TV in Washington D.C., Samuel Freedman, columnist from the New York Times and Chris Hedges writer and 2002 prize-winning of the New York Times team. The masters shared their good and bad experiences in the field and gave advices to the group.

Pulitzer Prize winner, Patrick J. Sloyan says he was glad to inspire young journalists in their careers. In his session, he gave some of his best tips to write good articles and to go beyond the regular interviews.

“Good stories require more involvement, double check something, look at some documents, know where are the news, who to talk to, always introduce your self, smile” says Sloyan.

He added that all journalists should have persistence and don’t be satisfied with someone who says no.

Students met every day for one week starting at 8:00 a.m. and continuing with the established agenda until 9:00 p.m. Lance Tapley says that the workshop was very intensive.

“I admit it, we over scheduled the students but that makes the workshop worth it because the experience is important,” says Lance Tapley.

At the end of the week-long boot training, students left grateful with their learning experience and with many pages to read on their way home on how to become better journalists.

“This week I have learned the hierarchy and the structure of journalism institutions, the role of the editor and the role of the publisher. I am also seeing the difference in the discipline of journalism... It requires for you to be self-teaching in your researches,” says Christopher Hedbon student at the University of California, Berkeley.

Debate Vice-Presidencial

Students Fighting for Higher Education

North Carolina, Alabama and California election contests are bring up undocumented college students as an election year contention just prior to the Nov. elections.

In North Carolina, Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue (D) and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R), both gubernatorial candidates both say they oppose undocumented immigrants attending the state’s community colleges.

Under pressure from Perdue, the community college system banned access to undocumented students in a decision made on Aug. 15, after 11 of the 16 board members voted to restrict admissions.

In a survey earlier this year, the system identified 112 undocumented enrolled students in the 58 community colleges. “We don't know how many of the 112 are Latinos but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a majority,” said Irene Godinez, advocacy director of the Raleigh-based Latino group, El Pueblo.

Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo said he did not understand why education officials would vote to deny students an education. “We were shocked that the person who’s running for governor as an education proponent would deny so many youths an education for political gain because there was no other reason to do this.”

The North Carolina issue spilled over into presidential politics when John McCain’s campaign in the state issued a statement saying the candidate opposed providing benefits to illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Democrat Barack Obama spoke in favor or open enrollment, the traditional community college policy.

In Alabama undocumented students face a similar problem. The state board of education approved a policy Sept. 25 denying undocumented students admission to Alabama’s two year colleges.

In a 4-0 vote, with one abstention and 4 members absent, the policy will take effect in the spring, 2009.

Applicants will be required to show three forms of documentation, such as an Alabama driver’s license, a naturalization certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport or an unexpired U.S. permanent resident card in order to enroll in a community college.

Two-year Chancellor Bradley Byrne said there is no way to know how many students would be affected or how much money this policy would save, but he did not think many illegal immigrants were enrolled.

Raul Gonzalez, director of legislative affairs of National Council of La Raza said Alabama’s actions are troubling, “They need to make sure in their zeal to deny public higher education to undocumented immigrants that they may deny those services to U.S. citizens who don’t have documentation.”

In California, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed for the third year the California Dream Act (SB1301) on Oct. 30. This proposal would have enabled qualifying undocumented students to apply for aid administered by individual college and universities, scholarships and loan programs which are all funded by non-state monies.

The governor said, “Given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources as specified in this bill. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”

Senator Gil Cedillo (D), the bill’s author said the governor once again ignored strengthening California’s workforce. “It’s shocking in such difficult financial times, with the state facing systemic budget shortfalls that the governor would turn down private monies; investment that would secure our economic position and expand educational attainment to our workforce.”

IS BREAKFAST THE MISSING LINK?

By Jackie Guzmán

So who doesn’t skip breakfast? For those who want to curb excess pound, an eating lifestyle that includes breakfast may be a good start. Now there’s a reason to stop and taste at least some coffee in the mornings.

Men’s Health magazine showed in a recent article that people who have a morning meal consume fewer calories during the rest of the day. Thirty percent of breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight.

On the other hand, people who skip breakfast are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke and exercise less.

Hispanics and other ethnic populations appear to have a higher than average incident of weight and obesity issues, which can be a good reason to pay attention to how and what nutrients are taken in.

Although breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many people fall into the habit of consuming up to 1,500 calories during the morning meal. That is over 75% of their total recommended daily calories.

To make things worse, many popular establishments overload the morning fare with unhealthy fats, added sugars, and products with high carbohydrates, which help us to put on unwanted, needless weight.

A healthy lifestyle change really matters because of a Hispanic propensity through genetic and unhelpful habits leading to diabetes, cholesterol-accumulation and blood-pressure problems, especially when complemented with a sedentary lifestyle and family history of those diseases.

The American Obesity Association (AOA) claims diabetes occurs at a rate of 16% to 26% among Hispanic Americans compared with 12% in non-Hispanics. Obesity also is a risk factor for heart problems, especially when Hispanics reach their senior years.

Men’s Health researchers investigated what is the worst food in America. As a result they found some of the worst breakfasts in the country are The Breakfast Deluxe from McDonalds, with 1,360 calories and 22 g. of saturated fat, outdone by the IHOP Big Steak Omelet with 1,490 calories.

The magazine also reported the worst hot coffee. From a calorie standpoint, Starbucks’ Venti 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha is tops, with 660 calories and 14g. of saturated fat. The worst soda is Sunkist with 190 calories. The magazine awarded Baskin-Robbins’s Large Heath Bar Shake the dubious honor as the worst drink in America with a total of 2,310 calories with 64g of saturated fat.

Although it’s not exactly a cause and effect relationship, AOA makes the association between these confections and menu choices that can turn eating into an unhealthy episode for many Hispanics and African Americans, who tend to experience more overweight and excessive body fat, compared with Whites.

The organization Just Run reported that Hispanic adults have a nearly 37% obesity rate compared to almost 30% for Whites.

Since time is at a premium in most people’s lifestyles (or so they believe) and motivation can become a major obstacle, eating a nutritious breakfast consistently, helps to stop cravings later in the day.

“A key to breaking the cycle [of obesity] is Latino family activity. Eating a balanced healthy breakfast—considered the most important meal of the day—and incorporating a fun activity can help jump-start families to healthier life styles,” said Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, expert on community health.

Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director at Center for Science in the Public Interest said that, “Most Americans get a third of their calories from eating out. And, unfortunately restaurant foods play a very problematic role in our diets.”

The issue has become so important, that in California Gov. Arnold Shwarzenegger recently approved a new bill requiring chain restaurants to put calorie counts on their menus. Across the country, cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco have approved similar legislations.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

I am I going to?.... Yes I have to.... I still don't get quite well the real meaning of blogging. I even started reading the book of "Blogging for dummies" which in a way, is helping.

I'm learning so many goog things/tips that I'm sure many other bloggers still don't know. I just need to start putting them on practice.


But today, I want to talk about my latest favorite movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua",... Yes, it is an amazing movie. Besides that it has some incredible actors (even though we can not really see them, but instead hear them). The work done in this movie is wonderful. They not only talk about race and racism, but they talk about real issues such as the economic status and immigration. The good thing is that everything is done in a fun way. After all, is just a bunch of dogs talking... really talking.


I know the movie can even steal a tear out of your eyes. It has very real issues, that we ignore sometimes... actually most of the times. And the advice at the end... I loved it! If you are going to adopt a pet, you always should take care of it."


Some of the actors include Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo, Paul Rodriguez, Eugenio Derbez, among others.