Two Decades

It is kind of amazing to think back over the now 2 decade span of my life and realize all of the things that happen in the world in 20 years time. To be able to witness the birth of the modern computer - to be there when Windows 95 was revolutionary - and to see the digital age take over so much of the world. I have been alive during the terms of three presidents, two wars in the middle east, and an new type of warfare targeting terrorism. I have seen on live television the worst attacks on the American people in U.S. history. I witnessed the dawn of a new millennium - not just in the United States, but around the world. And now, a presidential election where Americans are seriously considering for the first time electing a woman or African American president. Such dramatic change has occurred, and - for better or worse - it was an exciting time to grow up in. I can't imagine what changes the next 20 years will bring.

Remembering Dr. King

It's Martin Luther King Day - a time to reflect on how far we have come in achieving equal rights in the United States and elsewhere. It is also a time to work together to continue that progress and recognize that there is more work to be done. I was reminded of this last night as I returned to my campus apartment in Syracuse. As I walked through the parking lot to the car, I heard a rustling near the trash cans of one of the houses. The sad thing is that I knew exactly what, or who, it was. On one of the coldest winter nights, the sound came from a homeless man of color who was delicately combing the recycling bins for cans and bottles. It hit home - myself just getting off a six hour shift for more than $7 an hour, and this man searching the city day and night for 5 cents here and there. And he is only one. I'm sure there are hundreds more in Syracuse - some lucky enough to be in warm shelters for the night, but too many are, like this gentleman, out on the streets. There is still work to be done.

More trouble at Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times, owned by Chicago-based Tribune Co., apparently is continuing to have strained relations between senior management and its editorial staff. The New York Times reports that the paper's top editor was fired after refusing to make more newsroom cuts. This is the latest in several cases of editors either being fired or resigning - all having to do with the same issue of eliminating positions. This is not the only problem at the paper since having been purchased by the Tribune Company in 2000. Many editors and media experts were concerned with the Tribune Co's closing of several of the Time's oversees bureaus a few years ago. This has been a recent trend that has affected all forms of journalism, especially the broadcast networks. More and more, management wants less people to do more work. And whether we like it or not, the quality of news today is driven more by a bottom line than a commitment to public service.

"Our Town" from the movie Cars

The value of mid-sized cities

Perhaps it is easy for me to appreciate smaller cities when I have never been to places like NY or Chicago. I have spent short amounts of time in London and Toronto, and loved them, but there is something that they cannot provide. I find that when I am in large cities everything becomes blurred into a mass of glass, steel, and pavement. I find it hard to find a sense of belonging in these sprawling metropolises. Smaller cities like Rochester and Syracuse offer a sense of culture that you can connect with. They offer distinct examples of period architecture that turn a walk down the sidewalk a step into the past. You can see where they have come from and, with a little imagination, you can see where they are going. Imagination - that is the problem for so many younger people in Syracuse, especially attending Syracuse University (which is located near downtown area of the city). Students don't see department stores and Starbuck's on every corner, and they decide that the place is the armpit of the universe and that there could not possibly be any redeeming qualities. Even more disturbing, countless students in the Newhouse school of communications feel the same way, and can't understand why professors make them become familiar with the workings of the city and county. All too often I hear the "I don't live here, why should I care" mentality. Even worse, there is the "I don't need to understand Syracuse to be a good student reporter here" attitude held by some journalism (especially broadcast journalism students). It is no wonder that so many people complain about the media, and that there seems to be a downhill trend in local TV news. In smaller markets, new college grads stay three years, or however long their first contract is, and then move on. This as the same stations reduce the number of reporters and constantly try to do more with less. WTVH, the CBS affiliate in Syracuse just fired Maureen Green, its most veteran reporter of 22 years. We need more reporters in smaller and mid-sized markets who have experience working there and have a deep understanding of the community. This takes time, but anyone can get on a quick track by looking in between the cracks and getting a behind the scenes look at a city or any other community. Explore, volunteer, and get to know the stories of the people who live there. This what a real community is about - not bricks and mortar, but the human connections and the collective successes and failures of a group of people. Once you tap into that, anyplace can become fascinating and rewarding. More students in Syracuse should try thinking this way, in between the weekly drinking parties, and actually give the chancellor's "scholarship in action" a try before they ignorantly reject it. The issues facing mid-size cities is interesting to me, and it is a topic that will be discussed in depth here in the months to come. For now, I invite you to take a look at the pictures of my home - Rochester, NY - and see if you can't see some of the charm I am talking about.