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I am looking at dog fighting in the USA for an Assignment programme which I am hoping to make in July.
The dog fighter, turned possible friend I am referring to, is of course Michael Vick – the NFL football player who was jailed for dog fighting after 66 dogs were found at his property and who is now being offered a hand of friendship from the American Humane Society which could help repair his reputation and show how remorseful he may be after his conviction over animal cruelty. Here’s that apology … do you believe he can change?
Vick has pledged to get involved in a campaign which discourages young kids who are walking around training dogs for fights, thinking that this is the gangster thing to do. I came across Tio Hardiman – who is doing amazing things to teach people a new way to live with their dogs on the streets.
The Your Story project is part of the World Have Your Say family and their debate on Tuesday was contraception. 17 year old Your Story citizen jounalist, Michelle Rashad contributed to their debate which was the subject of the report she did. Listen to her report here, and comment on it here. Just want to say, well done Michelle!
While the world worries about swine flu, unprotected sex is infecting millions of young people with sexually transmitted diseases.
Michelle from Chicago, USA is 17 years old (pictured), she has been recording a citizen journalist report on this because she’s worried about what she sees and hears from her friends and peers. She is part of the Your Story project I helped set up in Chicago.
The stats are pretty shocking. The Centre for Disease Control says that the highest number of cases ever reported for any condition was for chlamydia. Young African American women are reported most at risk.
Why would it be that young people, especially, African American females are not protecting themselves?
The young people Michelle asks give a variety of answers – some say it’s hip hop.
Blatant sexual lyrics have been blamed for sending out a message which some people think is leading to a lax attitude to sex. If you have an opinion on that let me know.
Some others say that it’s about not getting the right support from schools and parents. And then the fear and embarassment factor means young people don’t want to get themselves tested, leading to more infections. MTV are running a campaign at the moment – Get Yourself Tested - under the banner that one in two young people (under 25) will get an STD.
Michelle’s report is online now. Click here to listen.
I have been trying to find someone to work with from Southern Sudan as it is not always easy for us as a news organisation to get on the ground reportage and personal, local stories from there. The idea was first raised by the editor of Outlook - Gavin Poncia.
A great woman called Eman has been helping me out and she says that she will be forwarding me some more names of people who might be able to help. We’ve found out it’s not safe to give a recorder to someone living in a camp – there are also some bureaucratic hurdles to be overcome before recording can be done in some places.
My colleague, David Whitty just got back from Southern Sudan- see all his photos on flickr
His advice was that Juba might be the best place to find someone who is an English speaker with access to a good internet connection and with local links to the area.
Then I had a quick look on twitter. You can follow Your Story’s twitter updates here. I found a guy known as one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” – he has quite a story of his own – read more about him here – and he has been studying in the US but who wants to return to his home country to help with giving medical treatment. I’ve emailed him to see if he is planning a trip there anytime soon and if he might want to do a Your Story citizen journalist report.
I also have been in contact with my Chicago high school students so hopefully I will get some audio from them this week.
Also been in contact with the very popular Afghan blogger, AfghanLORD.blogspot - who has been posting about Your Story on his blog, see the entry here.
He forwarded me a contact from someone who has recorded a harrowing interview with a woman who suffered domestic violence. I have seen some of the photos – which I still need to make some extra checks on so have to hold off on posting here yet.
If you would like to spread the word about Your Story on your blog, I am looking to expand my links into the blogosphere. If you can help, please let me know by posting here.
Jean Carter Hill is trying to do good in her hood. She lives in Englewood, Chicago. She is a retired school teacher working with kids who live in a poor community blighted by violence, drugs and crime. I met her today.
She runs a project called Imagine Englewood If …
Jean is helping me set up a citizen journalism project among young people in Chicago.
She introduced me to these three photographed here. They are all teenagers in the Chicago public school system. From left to right they are Johnnie, Michelle and Marcus.
I have given them recorders and some advice on interviewing, although they have already done some radio work before with Chicago public radio.
Michelle says she’s interested in doing something on HIV/AIDS in her community. Johnnie might do something on the high levels of lead in the soil and in the window paint in many homes in Englewood which can cause children to have learning difficulties. see more research on this here.
Marcus talked about how his school is going through alot of upheaval – twice now the local authority in Chicago have been replacing the teaching staff at his school in an attempt to improve standards. See more about turnaround schools here.
There are lots of issues for them to explore. I found this blog which gives some idea of the kinds of issues going on in the chicgo public school system.
Looking forward to getting their material – expected first week of March, we’re doing a test piece on the expectations of Obama’s presidency among Chicago public school students.
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