These are some links to some vital articles which I am collecting and thinking about.  They may or may not be of interest to you, but it could help some of my own research.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/science/31conversation.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwvaJnTyAt8

What I can extract from all of these opinion and news pieces is that languages are important in general; however, I am still looking for articles proving languages and their importance in Journalism.  It is constant that Spanish is the second most used language in the United States and the world.  I would also like to add that Arabic is also important as it is the language of 1 billion Muslisms and has dialects of Arabic in more than 100 countries in the Middle East.

Knowledge of a Language is Power!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/anderson-cooper-attacked-punched-egypt_n_817352.html

In my research, I intend to find instances where having knowledge of a second or third language could have saved the problem from escalating.  With the link above, Anderson Cooper, reporting from Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution was an instance much like the one I am referring to.  Had he been able to understand what the pro-Mubarak supporters were saying, they would have been able to avoid the situation all together.  The other problem I see in this scenario is that Anderson did not mention if he had a translator on hand, who could have assisted Anderson in his trip through downtown Cairo. 

In the realm of International Journalism and affairs knowing another language becomes a key tool to communication and receiving the information in a non-bias form.  Dipolmats and journalist should take Coopers attack as a word of caution and a lesson.  As a word of caution--that may seem obvious to some--in a foreign country where there is a revolution going on, lay low and get to know a local to help you find your way around.  When actual getting to know a local or someone who is more familiar with the area, they can assist you in finding what it is you are looking for. 

However, if you have been living in the country for several years--like Anne Patterson, the American Ambassador of Egypt, who has been living there for 9 years--you should take the time to learn the language and not assume everyone will speak English.  I was shocked for me 4 years ago on my trip to Egypt that the ambassador had no high school level knowledge of Arabic.  As an dipolmat representing the United States, knowledge of a second or third language should not only be encouraged, but required of all dipolmats.  How can we agree with other countries on issues if we can't even speak their language?

Morocco Here I Come

For the month of June, I will be traveling to Morocco to study Arabic at Al-Akhwayne University in Ifrane. As I am also a journalist, I will be combinding my two favorite things, learning lanugage and journalism. I am interested in seeing the connection learning and knowing a different lanugages to having a vital role in journalism espeically with a career. In addition, to my research on multi-lingual journalism, I intend to report on my lanugage discoveries with arabic, post my videos and pictures, and--ofcourse--the food!

For now here is some information about Morocco

Lyrics

Closing the book on another chapter,
Thinking of everything I've been through and everything I learned.
Somethings lost and somethings found,
And every part of the puzzle re-arranged around.
But every time a paged was turned
Every time a goal was earned,
The book was the same,
The pages intact,
No turning back.
Open the door
Fly....no....
soar!!!!!!!

Brian Ross

How many people can say they have been slapped by the pope, put at gun point, and been on a hijacked plan? 

For Brian Ross, father of YDN’s Colin Ross, this is just another day in the office—getting his hands on the best and most respected investigative reporting material.  Today at SJP Ross talked about his career path and where broadcast journalism has led him. 

Originally, Ross started off at his high school sports desk, later studying at Northwestern and the University of Iowa.  He said that his choice for broadcast journalism was twofold—he liked being in front of the camera and broadcasting seem like a more creative part of journalism news.

After college Ross had several jobs at local networks in Iowa, Miami, and Cleveland, but it was his individuality and motivation that brought him up the ladder of success.  He didn’t always do what he was told and at his first job was fired for investigating and running a story his boss said was not news worthy.  This unemployment did not stop Ross he kept moving, and later went on to working on stories about Watergate and Mobsters in Ohio.  His story of these Mobsters eventually made it to national news.  It just goes to show you as Ross said, there is a story with potential everywhere, treat each story as essential as possible and you might surprise yourself. 

As far as the actually writing goes, Ross off- camera, writes all of his own material just like Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos.  Ross also said that writing for television is difficult because all material must be condensed into two minutes, while in a newspaper it might be eight paragraphs long.  Broadcasting also requires visuals, time, and a means of displaying the information as clearly and concisely as possible.

Ross said he loves his job because it feels good getting justice for others and letting others to confide in him for help.

Deliciou Hampburger Salad

        Instead of purchasing lunch from one of the cultural restaurants in the Yale-New Haven Area, I brought my own pre-made special lunch to SJP.  Last night for dinner, my family came over and as usual in the summer we had hamburgers on the grill.  As I was cleaning up the kitchen I noticed there were two hamburgers left so I decided to create a new way to eat leftover hamburgers.  My recipe is:

            First, chop a third of a white onion and cut your leftover already-grilled burgers into cubes.  Then place the chopped onion and hamburger in a pan with a little smudge of butter.  As that is cooking add ketchup and a drizzle of Worcestershire sauce  to a point where it looks like a sloppy-joe and add any other type spices like coriander, paprika, and cumin.  For those who like a slight kick to their food they can add chilly powder or jalapeno pepper.  After everything is mixed in the pan take your favorite type of lettuce leaf and place the meat over the lettuce, and later if you wish to add any tomatoes or pepper you can make it into a delectable and new way to eat salad with meat. 

Yale Summer Journalism Program

Tax Free Week Deals Arrive in New Haven

By: Dominique Bonessi and Jennie Mu

Clutching identical shopping bags from Urban Outfitters containing their recently made purchases while browsing the neighboring Laila Rowe’s summer sales, high schoolers Charlli Brooks and Kelly Smyth were pleased to discover that this week was indeed tax-free week.

“I didn’t notice it was tax-free week. I was just doing some shopping for fun and back-to-school clothes,” Brooks said as she shrugged.

For six days in August, from the 15th to the 21^st, New Haveners are spared the usual six-percent sales tax on their purchases of clothing and footwear. The 10th annual Tax Free Week comes as a refresher to New Haven retailers and small businesses, as the back-to-school period is the second largest shopping season, next to the holidays. This joyous time also comes with one exception: anything over $300 has sales tax added on.

“Consumer spending with out sales tax can jump start a recessive economy,” said Vice President of New Haven Chamber of Commerce Susan Godshall. 

Despite the back-to-school shopping frenzy, August is traditionally a slower shopping period for some businesses according to Keisha Blake, the co-owner of Seychelles—a clothing boutique on Chapel Street. Several stores have strategically paired the tax holiday with various in-store discounts. Yurway sales associate Amanda Montanez described how the store’s discounts of 30% to 50% off all items plus the exempt sales tax attracted more customers to make a purchase.

“It definitely helps motivate customers to buy more clothing items from the store,” Montanez said.

“Genius,” said Curt Sutherland, a bookseller at the Yale Bookstore, while evaluating the annual event’s timeliness. During the weeks of August, older students and parents of school-age children are traditionally more receptive to shopping deals.

Various advertisements have been listed in local newspapers for consumers to take advantage of shopping this week. Blake, the Seychelles co-owner, described how she advertised for her store through Facebook by putting up an ad to remind consumers of the lack of sales tax and the store’s additional 15% discount for students.

Despite the good late summer timing, few businesses are actually affected by the benefits of tax-free week, according to some store managers. With most stores already offering discounts, Ann Johnson, the store manager of Laila Rowe, said the impact of tax-free week on recent sales has been insignificant—almost inexistent.

“The shoes are all discounted, and they just don’t ring up to over $50,” she said.

Even if the shops themselves are giving the tax free week mixed reviews, the shoppers say keep it coming. But Godshall said that it would be difficult to maintain a year round tax break. If urban and suburban legislatures were to agree on a zero sales tax policy, there would have to be a huge spike in income tax to keep a balance, she described.

Until then, some Connecticut residents may suffer from envy of certain nearby states.

“I wish we had tax free week all the time,” said Smyth, “like in Delaware.”