“I had had no training as a journalist and I used to listen to the CBS News hourly reports.
That was my classroom.” Ed Bradley
What has Will been up to?
One of my entries, from June, at Wright's Journal earned the attention of leaders at American Public Media's Center for Innovation in Journalism. Because of the critique that that entry leveled, I feared that I was in for it when one of them called me. It was cool that she said she agreed with me wholy.
Also I have applied for Third Coast Audio Festival's (TCF) "minority" student scholarship, so that I may attend the October event with fewer expenses. We'll see what the gods decide about that. To prepare for TCF I filed a brief piece for their radio ephemera competition. Who wants to show up for the biggest radio storytelling event without something to share and "show?" Please listen to it here.
In other news about my concern for people, voices and sensibilities of color in public media, especially public radio, my basic, but candid question to the DirectCurrent forum at Current.org was important enough for them to acknowledge and link to it. I had to ask why so few people, of color and not of color, knew how well public media are doing in recruiting and hiring people of color. One crisis that remains is the terrible lack of programs that attract us.
Also, that experiment with the story what would commemorate Malcolm X's 83rd birth is still in flux. You can keep calling it an experiment! I could have been kinder and gentler on myself, and not opted for a seven-minute cut, but X's legacy receives too little due from people; I will not be one of them.
An experiment with Malcolm X
So the story of Malcolm X and his legacy is pivotal for many African-American men. Because of the global, human and peace diasporic perspective to which he awakened during the tail end of his life, to goes broader than that.
X rests on my mind because I plan to file my next public radio story to mark the 83 rd anniversary of his birth on May 19, 1925.
My first question was how to produce a story that will give the listener something new; an innovative and unconventional acknowledgement of him and his meaning. Soon after deciding that I must do a story on him, I asked myself, "what do the Anglo undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota think or know about X?"
It might be interesting, even fascinating, to ask them about that as a straw poll. It could reveal how well, poorly or accurately X was remembered, in the majority community, more than a generation later.
My next question was how to shape this into an essay...
In Writing
I write the scripts and web copy for my radio stories.
My talent with words is often applauded and sometimes revered. I have written cultural commentary, film criticism and articles about self-confidence. In May 2007, I wrote for Insight News. I wrote about the seeming increase in "positive" and "constructive" characters and portrayals in African-American made or oriented feature films. I also wrote a critique of anti-racist activist, author and scholar Tim Wise's speech, also in May, at the University of Minnesota.
- Current events
- Cinema
- Media competence (literacy)
The story is my focus. I want to find fascinating, distinctive and compelling stories and strong anecdotes and facts. I try to go beyond the basics when possible.
